Abstract

The term ‘estrangement’ is used to describe the loss of a relationship
between family members and it can occur for several reasons including
neglect, physical and emotional abuse and differing beliefs and values,
and may also result from divorce, forced marriage and family rejection
(Office for Fair Access, 2017). It is estimated that family estrangement
affects at least one in five families in the UK (Stand Alone, 2014) and
this includes higher education (HE) students – based on student finance
data, it is estimated that there were approximately 8000 estranged
students in England, Wales and Northern Ireland in 2017/18 (Stand
Alone, 2019). Estranged students are aged between 18 and 24, studying at
university without the support and approval of a family network (Stand
Alone, 2018). The situation of estranged students in UK HE has been
highlighted in recent years by the charity Stand Alone which supports
people estranged from their family or children. Their research suggests
that most estranged students remove themselves from a family situation
without professional intervention (Bland, 2016). This chapter explores
the experiences of estranged students in HE based on two institutionally
funded, qualitative research studies.