University of Sussex is now a Unite Foundation partner institution.
Posted on behalf of: Widening Participation
Last updated: Thursday, 29 October 2026
We are delighted to announce that, in partnership with the Unite Foundation, the University of Sussex will offer three Unite Foundation scholarships for the 27/28 academic year onwards.
Unite Foundation scholarships provide care experienced and estranged students with up to three years of free, year-round accommodation. These scholarships are effective and currently the only intervention evidenced at Office for Students Tier 2 level to significantly improve progression, completion and attainment outcomes of care experienced students.
The scholarship scheme is a partnership between the University of Sussex and the charity, with both partners contributing funds to ensure a stable #HomeAtUniversity for up to three years accommodation.
Kate Brown, Unite Foundation Co-Director, said: “We are proud to be working with the University of Sussex and welcome their important commitment to the academic success of care experienced and estranged students.”
Vicky Speirs, Widening Participation Partnerships Manager, at the University of Sussex said:“We are really proud to be working with the Unite Foundation and to be able to offer this support package to care-experienced and estranged students here at Sussex. It demonstrates our commitment to supporting these students throughout their studies, and I’m proud to work for an institution that recognises the importance of providing this support and helping students succeed at university.”
The University will be part of the Unite Foundation’s largest ever network of university partners: 41 Higher Education Institutions across England, Scotland and Wales. Together, these partners will support the largest ever cohort of Unite Foundation scholarships – with another 110 students benefitting from a home at university.
We are delighted to work in partnership with the Unite Foundation to build a #HomeAtUniversity for care experienced and estranged students.
Further information and guidance will follow to support key departments across the University in understanding the scholarships and how best to support eligible students.
Applications for the 27/28 academic year will open in January. The Unite Foundation will manage the administration of the scholarship scheme, including the application process.
If you would like to find out more information, please email vicky.speirs@sussex.ac.uk.
Further information: https://www.unitefoundation.org.uk/scholarship/