Bursaries
There are two different bursaries available to the 16-18 age group. Bursary payments do not have to be repaid. If you or your parent/carer receive certain benefits for example income support, you may also be entitled to free college meals.
Find out more about free college meals
Vulnerable Student Bursary
The fund is aimed at the groups outlined below:
- in care
- care leaver
- receiving Income Support, or Universal Credit because they are financially supporting themselves or financially supporting themselves and someone who is dependent on them
and living with them such as a child or partner.
- receiving Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payments in their own right as well as Employment and Support Allowance or Universal Credit in their own right.
Please note that eligibility is no longer a guarantee of the full £1200 award from the vulnerable bursary fund.
There is the possibility of a limited award or even no award at all. The amount of any individual award will be based on individual needs, which will include costs such as travel,
kit and trips. The onus will be on the applicant to demonstrate individual course costs on the application form,
so please ensure you complete all sections of the form.
16–18 Student Support Fund
You could get up to £90 a year paid through the 16–18 Bursary Fund in three termly attendance-related payments.
We may also be able to help you buy compulsory kit and help towards the cost of trips and work placement travel costs if the following applies:
- you have an annual household income below £25,000 or up to £30,000
if there are three or more dependent children living in the household (aged 0-4, or up to 19 and in full-time education).
Application form request
If any of the above applies to you please complete an SF1 application form (16-18 Vulnerable Student Bursary, 16-18 Student Support Fund and Free College Meals) which can be requested below. We cannot process your application until the start of your course and it may take up to six weeks to hear from us.
Childcare
If you are a young parent and need help with childcare costs this will be funded through Care to Learn.
Find out more about Care to Learn
Student financial support booklet
For further information please download our student financial support booklet.
View student financial support booklet
Contact us
To discuss your eligibility or to request an application form please contact the student financial support team: