Support from ARU before you apply/as an applicant
Whether you're just starting to think about higher education, or you're in the process of applying, our Outreach Team is here to help.
Our email address is [email protected]. If you have any questions, let us know!
Shope Fashade is the named Schools and Colleges Engagement Officer (Outreach) for Care Leavers or Care Experienced applicants at ARU.
If you have specific questions for Shope please email [email protected]
Other members of the Outreach Team are: Ciaran Shantz (Cambridge), Toby Pallatt (Cambridge), Meenujah Logasounthiran (Chelmsford), Georgia Downs (Chelmsford), Jade Mott (Chelmsford).
Our Outreach Team offers a great range of activities and events, some of which are exclusive to care leaver/care experienced students.
Some events need to be booked by a teacher or carer, and some you can book yourself.
We organise:
- open days (book yourself)
- subject and university taster sessions
- campus tours and visits (book yourself)
- conferences
- talks about how to choose a course, student finance, personal statements and more…
We also visit schools and colleges to talk about applying to university and the support on offer. Find out more about talks in schools and colleges.
If you'd like to attend an event, get help completing your UCAS application, or ask about anything related to higher education, please email [email protected].
You may get special consideration in the admissions process, and we can support you throughout. This includes support (if needed) to prepare for interviews or submit portfolios.
If you'd like any advice or support, please email [email protected]
Please tick the ‘in care’ box on your UCAS application to let us know that you have been in care for three months or more.
This doesn't put you at a disadvantage, in fact, it puts you at an advantage. We'll be in touch to tell you about all the support that's available once you start studying here (should you want it – we appreciate that everyone is different!).
If you’ve been in local authority care on or after your 16th birthday, you'll be eligible for University-managed accommodation while studying here.
We offer University-managed accommodation in Cambridge (see under ‘Campus accommodation and university houses’), Chelmsford and Writtle.
You're eligible for this accommodation:
- throughout your studies
- all year round
To guarantee a room in your first year:
- apply for accommodation by 30 June
- tell our Residential Service Team that you're a Care Leaver and provide the relevant evidence. To do this email [email protected] if you're planning to study in Cambridge, or [email protected] if you're planning to study in Chelmsford/Writtle
- firmly accepted ARU as your first choice.
If you speak to the Residential Service Team after 30 June, we'll do our best to accommodate you. However, we can't guarantee a place in ARU-managed accommodation in your first year.
We ask for a £400 deposit to secure accommodation. If you're struggling to pay this, please email Debbie on [email protected] or call 01245 684288 to check if we can defer payment until you receive your student funding.
If you're planning on renting privately, we can't move the due date for any deposits, but in exceptional circumstances we may be able to pay any Care Leaver’s Bursary early.
When you start studying at ARU, your main point of contact changes to our Student Advice Officer Team.
Every year, we run a Welcome event to:
- introduce you to the team
- explain the support that's available
- link you up with other students at ARU who are Care Leavers/Care Experienced.
Events usually take place just before you're due to start at ARU.
If you ticked the box on your UCAS form, or have contacted the Outreach Team directly, we'll automatically invite you to an event.
If you didn’t tick the box on your UCAS form but would like to join our next event, please email [email protected].
We welcome enquiries from carers, personal advisors, support workers and teachers who are helping young people to transition to higher education.
We also run an annual conference for foster carers, designated members of staff and other care professionals.
For more information, please email [email protected].