Student Carers Support Package

What support is available?

We recognise that students with caring responsibilities are already trying to juggle a lot alongside studying and other commitments.

We have created the Student Carers Support Package and Passport to help alleviate some of this additional pressure on you.

Please read this webpage in full, as it outlines additional support and adjustments you could be eligible for and how to apply.

We are here for you during your studies.

We Care – Supporting Student Carers to succeed

Are you a Student Carer?

“A student who cares full time and unpaid, for a family member or a friend who due to illness, disability, a mental health problem or an addiction cannot cope without their day-to-day support.”

Please note: These duties would be in addition to the usual caring responsibilities that a parent would have for a dependent child unless the dependent child has a serious illness, mental health problem or disabilities.

What is the difference between the Package and Passport?

The support offering is split into the Package and Passport and has been designed with student carers and local carers associations to offer financial, pastoral and academic support to enable you to get the most out of your University experience.

Please note, if you cannot get evidence stating that you are the primary carer for an individual but you do balance your studies with other caring responsibilites, please contact the Participation team for more infromation on alternative support - participationstudents@swansea.ac.uk

What next?

Am I eligible?

You are the primary carer and take on all care and responsibilities for that individual.
You are a ‘Home’ student (EU and International students are not eligible for the financial support, but can access the Pastoral and Academic support).
You are enrolled on an Undergraduate or Postgraduate Course.
You are Full Time or Part Time (*Part Time will be paid on a pro rata basis).
Please note that these duties would be in addition to the usual caring responsibilities that a parent would have for a dependent child, unless the dependent child has a serious illness, mental health problems or disability.

What evidence do I need?

You will need to obtain a piece of evidence dated within the last 12 months to prove your carer's status. This should be about your caring responsibilities not about the person you care for.

Examples could include, a letter from your GP, other medical professional, or voluntary sector organisation confirming your carer's status. The letter or email must be on a headed paper and include the following:

your name,
who you care for,
confirmation you are the primary carer for this person,
a brief outline of the care you provide

Please note: You will only be required to provide evidence once if you continue to access the carer's support for the duration of your studies. If your caring responsibilities do change during your studies, you will be expected to notify the Participation team of these changes.

How do I apply?

Please email participationstudents@swansea.ac.uk to find out more about applying!

Frequently asked questions

What if I have not told anyone I am a carer so I can't obtain the evidence?

Please email participationstudents@swansea.ac.uk and advise us of your situation. You may not be able to access the package at this time, but we may still be able to offer you practical advice and guidance.

In the meantime, you may like to consider disclosing your caring situation to either your GP or Social Services. Most GP practices would welcome your disclosure and most have support and advice available for carers.

Even if you do not feel that you would be eligible for financial support from Social Services, you can still request a carer's assessment, which may include non-financial support options. Talking to your GP and/or Social Services is advised by the NHS and please be aware that we will still consider applications later in the academic year once you are in a position to provide evidence. Please see the NHS advice for carers for more information and links to further support.

Is there support available for short-term carers?

The University recognises that students may find themselves in the position of being a 'temporary carer' at some point during their studies. This could be because a family member has had an accident, been diagnosed with an illness, or is undergoing treatment and the student needs to take on additional caring responsibilities for a short period whilst they recover.

Students who have temporary caring responsibilities are welcome to apply for the Student Carers Support Package. Applications will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. These applications will be reviewed on a 6 monthly basis, however, if your circumstances change, we ask that you inform your named contact.

How long will it take for my application to be processed?

Your application for the Student Carers Support Package may take up to 5 working days and can be longer during busy periods.

When applying for the bursary, this can take up to 10 working days for the Money Advice team to process your application.

Do I need to reapply each academic year?

You will only be required to provide evidence of your carer's status once if you continue to access the package for the duration of your studies.

You are not required to re-apply for the Carers Support Package, but it is the Students responsibility to inform the University if there are any changes throughout the year.