Research
At the Unite Foundation we believe that research should drive interventions that best support care experienced students to access, progress and complete their studies in higher education at the same rate as their non-care experienced peers.
This currently isn’t the case. Just 15% of care leavers go onto higher education, and those that do are 38% more likely to drop out over their course. This page provides a repository for some of the research that the Unite Foundation as commissioned or produced over the last few years.
Student Academic Experience Survey
2025Using data from the Student Academic Experience Survey (SAES), we’ve explored how the
attitudes and experiences of care experienced and estranged students compare with their
non-care experienced peers across several key aspects of university life. The findings reveal
both encouraging similarities and important differences that highlight where more support
may be needed.
Care and Learning in Higher Education
2024This analysis from the Social Market Foundation sets out the barriers to educational outcomes for care experienced and estranged students. The paper makes a series of recommendations on what policy levers can make the difference.
View#HomeAtUniversity evidence
2022JISC data analytics: a quantitative impact analysis on 10 years of Unite Foundation accommodation support for estranged and care leaver students. Demonstrating the positive impact that the Unite Foundation scholarship has on progression, completion and grade outcomes.
ViewOFS EORR Implementation Summary
2023A summary of where evidence and best practice examples exist across the Office for Students Equality of Opportunity Risk Register areas. Compiled alongside NNECL and StandAlone
ViewCovid-19: An update
2021Almost a year into the pandemic and in a new lockdown. What do estranged and care experienced students need in order to be healthy, happy and academically engaged?
ViewResponding to Covid-19
2020During the first week of the Covid-19 lockdown over 23-27 March 2020, we carried out a UK-wide survey of estranged and care experienced students in higher education.
ViewPositive Impact?
2020What factors affect access, retention and graduate outcomes for university students with a background of care or family estrangement?
View