{"id":4919,"date":"2025-11-24T09:14:15","date_gmt":"2025-11-24T09:14:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/library\/?p=4919"},"modified":"2025-10-22T10:42:48","modified_gmt":"2025-10-22T09:42:48","slug":"caring-and-studying-how-edinburgh-napier-university-supports-student-carers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/library\/2025\/11\/24\/caring-and-studying-how-edinburgh-napier-university-supports-student-carers\/","title":{"rendered":"Caring and Studying: How Edinburgh Napier University Supports Student Carers"},"content":{"rendered":"

Caring and Studying: How Edinburgh Napier University Supports Student Carers<\/h1>\n

Balancing caring responsibilities with university life isn\u2019t easy \u2014 and Edinburgh Napier University (ENU) recognises that. Whether you\u2019re a young carer, an unpaid adult carer studying part-time, or a care-experienced student who needs extra support navigating higher education. Napier has a range of dedicated services, bursaries and staff who can help you get to, and stay in, your studies. Below, we break down what\u2019s available, how to access help, and some practical tips for student carers making the campus work for them.<\/p>\n

What support is offered<\/h2>\n

Edinburgh Napier\u2019s webpages for care-experienced students, student carers and estranged students<\/a> explains the tailored help available before and during study, from admissions support and evidence gathering for funding applications to named advisers who can guide you through practical barriers to participation. This is where to start if you want a single point of contact and personalised advice.<\/p>\n

The university\u2019s Wellbeing & Inclusion services<\/a> (My Napier) provide mental health and disability support that dovetails with carer-specific help \u2014 for example, reasonable adjustments, exam or assessment concessions, and onward referrals for counselling or disability inclusion support. If caring duties affect attendance, coursework or placement availability, the Student Adviser and Disability Inclusion teams can work with you and your tutors to put supportive arrangements in place.<\/p>\n

Financial support & bursaries<\/h2>\n

Money is often the biggest worry for student carers. ENU runs a dedicated Care-Experienced Bursary<\/a> (a small one-off payment currently advertised at around \u00a31,000) and offers help from the Student Funding team when you need documentation to evidence care experience or caring responsibilities for external funding bodies. These funds don\u2019t replace statutory carer benefits, but they can help with immediate study costs like transport, equipment or laptop repairs. Make contact with the Student Funding or Awards team early \u2014 they can advise on eligibility and help you apply.<\/p>\n

There is also national support that student carers may be eligible for (e.g., Social Security Scotland carer payments, Young Carer Grant etc.), and Napier staff can signpost you to that advice. Check out Scotland’s Hub for Success<\/a>, which supports carers to get in, stay in or return to education.<\/p>\n

Practical adjustments and day-to-day support<\/h2>\n

Napier\u2019s support is practical: named Student Advisers can help with attendance concerns, timetable clashes, negotiating extensions, or organising placement alternatives if your caring role prevents you from undertaking a placement at short notice. The Disability Inclusion team<\/a> can arrange adjustments such as flexible deadlines, alternative assessment arrangements or assistive technology access. The accommodation and campus teams can also advise on housing or privacy needs if you\u2019re balancing care and study from halls or a private tenancy.<\/p>\n

The university\u2019s careers and employability services<\/a> collaborate with Wellbeing & Inclusion to support students who disclose caring responsibilities \u2014 offering help with CVs, part-time job searches, and realistic career planning that reflects your caring role and timetable.<\/p>\n

How to access support<\/h2>\n
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  1. \n

    Reveal your circumstances early<\/strong> \u2014 contact the \u201ccare experienced \/ student carers\u201d entry point on Napier\u2019s site or email the Student Funding \/ Student Adviser teams. Early disclosure helps staff put measures in place before problems escalate.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  2. \n

    Get documentation in order<\/strong> \u2014 the Student Funding team can help gather evidence of care experience or caring responsibilities needed for bursaries or partner funding.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  3. \n

    Ask for reasonable adjustments<\/strong> \u2014 talk to Disability Inclusion or your course team about deadlines, extensions, or placement alternatives.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  4. \n

    Look into national entitlements<\/strong> \u2014 Napier advisers can signpost to Social Security Scotland and carer organisations for statutory benefits and grants.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Tips from student carers<\/h2>\n