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Term Opening Times

Morning Drop in Cathays Campus

Monday-Friday:
Phone/Email Only

Drop in Heath Campus

Monday-Friday:
Phone/Email Only

Advice@cardiff.ac.uk Advice@caerdydd.ac.uk
+44 (0)2920 781410

Estranged Students

The term estranged means a person who no longer has the support of their parents, and often also other family members, due to a permanent breakdown in their relationship which has led to ceased contact. This might mean your biological, step or adoptive parents or wider family members who have been responsible for supporting you in the past.

Together at Cardiff offers additional dedicated support and information on top of the general Student Life Services to estranged students.

Information on the support for estranged students at Cardiff University can be found here.

FAQs

What can Student Advice do to support me?

Student Advice is a free, confidential and independent service available for students of Cardiff University. We are independent of the University and our role is to give you impartial advice and guidance and help you understand the options available to you.

If your circumstances are impacting your wellbeing and/or ability to study and perform at your usual level, we can:

advise you on how to report Extenuating Circumstances to the University;
advise you on how to submit an Academic Appeal if you have missed the Extenuating Circumstances deadline, or you circumstances have been refused;
advise you on how to take an Interruption of Study and what you need to think about when deciding what to do;
signpost you to other support services.

How can Cardiff University Support me?

Cardiff University are committed to supporting estranged students. The University encourage you to make yourself known to the Together at Cardiff, who can support you with applying for funding. Once you have made your circumstances known to the team, you will be allocated a dedicated member of staff who can help with:

Support you with student funding issues, including making an application and liaising with your funding body if there are any problems.
Assist you in managing your money while at university.
Support you with academic related issues including liaising with your academic department or assist you to apply for extenuating circumstances.
Sign-post towards other university services such as Disability and Dyslexia Service, Counselling and Wellbeing or Study Skills.
You can also contact them if you simply just someone to talk to.

I need to speak with someone about my finances, who is the best team to contact?

The Student Funding and Advice Team may be able to support you with financial queries:

studentconnect@cardiff.ac.uk

+44(0)2922 518 888

I am having issues with Student Finance, who can help me?

One major difficulty faced by estranged students is being able to prove their independent status to their funding body in order to be assessed as an independent student and receive maximum funding.

If you needed any help with liaising with Student Finance, please contact the Student Funding and Advice Team

Does Cardiff University offer any additional Financial Support for estranged students?

Estranged students may be eligible to a bursary from the University. More information regarding the Estranged Student Bursary can be found here. This bursary may be in addition to the Cardiff University Bursary.

Cardiff University's Advice and Money Team can also give advice on finanical support, including access to the Money Support Fund if you experience financial hardship whilst studying.

I can’t get a guarantor for my student housing, what should I do?

If you are trying to secure private accommodation whilst studying in Cardiff but you do not have a guarantor, you may be eligible for the Cardiff University Guarantor Scheme.

Contact Student Advice

Advice@cardiff.ac.uk
+44 (0)2920 781410

Last updated: 08 Oct 2025 14:40