About the Unite Foundation Scholarship Scheme – Guidance for Students
What is the Unite Foundation?
The Unite Foundation is a charitable trust, registered as a charity in England, Wales
and Scotland. It is governed by a Board of Trustees and managed by a very small
central team.
The Unite Foundation was founded in 2012 by the student accommodation provider
Unite Students. The company pledged to give a substantial donation each year to
help young people go to university who might not otherwise have the chance. The
mission of the Unite Foundation is to support young people ‘for whom a secure
home is of particular significance’.
What is the Unite Foundation Scholarship Scheme?
The Unite Foundation Scholarship Scheme offers its Scholars free year-round
accommodation at a designated Unite Students property plus a cash scholarship of
£4,000 per year, for the duration of their course.
Since 2012 there have been 125 Unite Foundation Scholars across the UK; in 2015
four of our Scholars graduated from university.
The Unite Foundation does not offer Scholarships directly to students; instead we
work with a network of university partners who allocate the Scholarships using an
agreed criteria. All applications for a Unite Foundation Scholarship should come
through your university.
University College London will be offering five new Unite Foundation Scholarships in
September 2016.
These Scholarships are designed for students who have previously been in Local
Authority care or are estranged from their parents. Priority will be given to students
who have been residing in Foyer or similar residential provision for young homeless
adults in the UK, or who are living in temporary accommodation with friends before
starting university.
Am I eligible to apply?
To be eligible to apply for a Unite Foundation Scholarship:
 You should have applied to start your first full-time undergraduate degree at
University College London in September 2016
 You must intend to stay in your free allocated accommodation for the
duration of your degree
 You must have given Student Finance England ‘consent to share’ your
financial information with University College London
 You should be a care leaver or estranged from your family. If you do not fall
into either of these categories then you must demonstrate your need for the
accommodation element of this Scholarship in addition to your financial
need.
What accommodation is offered as part of the Scholarship Scheme?
The accommodation offered will be in a Unite Students building located close to
your university. Scholars will be offered a single ensuite bedroom in a shared flat with
a communal kitchen; the flat will be shared with a mixture of other students. Your
accommodation will be available all year round – including through the holiday
periods – for as long as you are still eligible for the Scholarship.
What conditions are attached to a Scholarship?
For each academic year that you live in the free accommodation provided by the
Unite Foundation Scholarship Scheme, you will need to sign the normal rental
agreement for your room.
You will not be required to pay rent, a deposit or supply a guarantor. However you
must abide by all the other terms and conditions of your tenancy agreement. In
particular you are advised that persistent antisocial behaviour or criminal activity
within the accommodation is likely to result in the withdrawal of your Scholarship and
eviction from the property.
We would normally expect you to stay in your free accommodation throughout your
time as a Scholar. However if you choose not to take up the free accommodation in
future years, no alternative or equivalent accommodation benefit will be offered.
The cash element of scholarship may continue to be paid.
If University College London and the Unite Foundation agree, you may be able to
opt out of the scholarship for an academic year and return to it the following year.
This may be the case if you take an approved placement or study abroad year, or a
temporary break in study due to personal circumstances. In some
cases you may be permitted to repeat a year of study. You should obtain written
permission to take a break from the scheme for any reason from the Undergraduate
Funding Team, Student Funding Office. Any permitted break from the Scholarship
Scheme cannot exceed one year.
Should you leave your course for any reason you should also notify Undergraduate
Funding Team, Student Funding Office to let them know that you are withdrawing
from the Unite Foundation Scholarship Scheme. No further cash payments will be
made and you will be asked to leave your accommodation. However University
College London and the Unite Foundation will be flexible and give you reasonable
time to find alternative accommodation before you need to move out.
In accepting the Scholarship, you agree to do the following which will help evaluate
and improve the scheme, and promote it to future Scholars:
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Provide us with your first name or an ‘alias’, and a short 100-150 word profile
that we can use on our digital platforms or printed materials
Complete a short online annual survey (you can do this anonymously if you
wish to)
Submit a short update about the difference that the Scholarship has made to
you by the end of the academic year to the Undergraduate Funding Team,
Student Funding Office.
Applying for a Unite Foundation Scholarship
This guidance tells you how you can apply for a Unite Foundation Scholarship using
the attached form. Please ensure you answer all questions and complete all sections
of the form. The questions help us to assess if you are eligible for a Scholarship. If you
would like any help in preparing your application please contact Undergraduate
Funding Team, Student Funding Office.
You should email the completed form to Undergraduate Funding Team, Student
Funding Office together with scanned copies of any supporting documents and
your supporting statement.
Make sure you complete the form in full and attach your supporting documents; if
anything is missing this could delay your application.
The closing date for applications is Friday, 10th June 2016
When will I know the outcome of my application?
If you have completed all sections of the application form and sent all your
supporting documents by the application deadline, you will be notified of the
decision by mid-September.
Application Checklist
Before sending the form, please ensure that you have done the following:
 Completed all sections of the application form
 If applicable, sent evidence that you have applied for your maximum UK
government student loan, tuition fee loan and maintenance grant for 2016/17
 Provided evidence that you have previously been in Local Authority care, or
residing in a Foyer or similar residential provision for young homeless adults, or
are estranged from your parents. This may be in the format of a letter
confirming your circumstances from a teacher, social worker, carer or
accommodation manager. If you are unsure of what evidence to submit,
please contact Undergraduate Funding Team, Student Funding Office before
submitting your application Ensure you submit photocopies only, as originals
cannot be returned.
 Emailed your personal statement as word/pdf document to
[email protected]