The scholarships have been announced as part of a series of offers from the Open University designed to support groups who face barriers to accessing higher education including people with care experience, carers and black students.
The care experienced scholarship is being made available to four people aged 25 or under on 1 September this year, have experience of care and have not previously been to university.
Applicants must also earn under £25,000 per year, be a UK resident or eligible for tuition fees paid by UK residents to access the courses for the 2023/24 academic year.
To apply, those eligible will need to provide proof of care experience, the Open University states.
“This could be a letter from your local authority confirming your care leaver status, or a letter from a GP, social worker, care experienced support service or other professional person from the local authority in which you were looked after,” according to its website.
The scheme is linked to the John Lewis Partnership’s existing Building Happier Futures programme, which looks to improve the lives of young people who have grown up in care.
Jhumar Johnson, chief of staff to the vice-chancellor at The Open University, said: “Our students tell us what a difference quality education makes to their lives but far too many people are excluded from that life-changing experience. Our scholarships will change more lives and communities, just the way our scholars from prior years already are.”
For more information and to apply visit: www.open.ac.uk/courses/fees-and-funding/care-experienced-scholarship
