��ݮ����

We wanted to reassure you that getting a place at university may not be as daunting as you might think. ��ݮ���� provides additional support to applicants who are also carers. This includes minimum entry requirements and a guaranteed offer* to the course you have applied for.

To make this process easy for you when you are applying for a place at ��ݮ����, you will be asked to tick a box to indicate your caring responsibilities on your UCAS form. This information is held confidentially but will allow you to access the resources available to you within the university. This includes pre-entry guidance, financial support and information about the QMCares community.

Caring Responsibilities can include:

• Practical tasks –like cooking, housework and shopping
• Physical support –like helping someone with their movement or exercise
• Personal care –like washing, dressing and helping with toileting needs
• Organisational tasks -like handling the household budget and collecting benefits and prescriptions
• Administering Medication
• Providing emotional and wellbeing support
• Advocating on behalf of someone you care for

These tasks can be on a daily, weekly, monthly or on an ad hoc basis.

*We will try, wherever possible, to guarantee you a place on the specific course you have applied to, but this will not be possible in every circumstance.

It might not be possible to offer you a place on your chosen course if, for example:

• It is a course with lots of applicants and not many places
• Places are strictly limited by the Scottish Government (e.g. Education Studies (Primary), Nursing, Paramedic Science).

In some subject areas minimum entry requirements also include successful performance at interview or audition, or a successful portfolio assessment. Where entry to a course is determined largely by interview, audition, portfolio assessment or similar, we will guarantee your progression to that stage of the application process.

Your performance at this stage will determine whether you are offered a place.

Dependants' Grant��

If the person you care for is also financially dependent on you, you may be eligible to apply to SAAS for the Dependants’ Grant. You do not need to pay this back.  They pay this grant on top of the normal-support package of fees, loan and bursary.��

Further Information is available from .����

The Scottish NUS have also compiled this guide to student finance in Scotland ��������

Young Carer Grant����

A yearly payment of £326.65 for young carers in Scotland aged 16, 17 or 18 years old. You can get a Young Carer Grant once a year, up until you turn 19. You must also have been caring for 1, 2 or 3 people for an average of 16 hours a week for at least the last 3 months.��

Further information is available from mygov.scot ����

��ݮ���� Discretionary Fund ��

If you are finding it difficult to meet your living costs then you may be able to access some money to help you in the short term. The University manages a government-provided Discretionary Fund, introduced to help students whose initial or continuing access to education may be placed in jeopardy due to financial difficulties.����

You can find out more about financial assistance at ��ݮ���� here.����

Have you ever wondered:�� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� ��

If you are eligible for financial support?��

• You can find out more about from SAAS if you are a Scottish home student.
• You can find out more about financial support from The Student Loans Company if you are a non Scottish UK home student.

If there are other people out there like you? ��

• ��
• ��
• ��

Who else can you get support from externally?��

Carer Centres can offer practical support, advice and care information for you in your local area – either by phone, online drop-in or outreach surgeries.��

East Lothian:��

• ��
• ��
• ��

Edinburgh:��

• ��
• ��
• ������
• ��
• ��
• ��

Fife:��

• ��
• ��

�Ѿ�����dzٳ󾱲���: ��

• ��
• ��

West Lothian:��

• ��

What other Support Organisations are out there?��

There are many other organisations that offer advice and support if you're a carer or a person using self-directed care.��

• - 0808 808 7777
  • Gives expert advice, information and support to carers.��
•  
  • Aims to improve support, services and recognition for anyone caring, unpaid, for a family member or friend.��
•  
  • Ensures that carers' voices are heard at local and national level.��
•  
  • Supports Black and Minority Ethnic carers to access support and services suitable for their personal situations.��
•  
  • Offers lots of information for young carers, including how to apply for the Young Carers Package, a range of leisure and learning opportunities for young carers.��
• - 0800 12 44 222
  • Provides information, friendship and advice and a confidential freephone for older people, their carers and families in Scotland.��
• - 0138 362 2462
  • Works to improve the quality and provision of short breaks for carers in Scotland.��
•  
  • Family Fund's Take a Break Fund supports families and carers of disabled children and young people to take a short break.��