Bursary Funds

Eligibility criteria:

Eligibility criteria:

• Aged 16 or over but under 19 on 31 August 2026, or;
• Aged 19 or over and continuing on the 2nd year of a 2 year programme you began aged 16 to 18 (19+ continuer), or;
• Aged 19 to 25 with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP)

and

• Living at home with a parent/guardian and can provide evidence that the total household income (after tax) is less than £36,000pa (This figure will/can include all benefits)

Types of support available:

• Support with travel costs to and from college that are not covered by the 16+ Oyster Zip Card or for students who need to travel via. rail as they live 1 hour or more from college via. bus route
• Oyster Zip Card application fee
• Essential course equipment (e.g. hair/beauty kit, uniform, art materials)
• Course-related books
• Essential educational trips & visits
• UCAS application fees
• Costs for authorised university visits (e.g. university interviews or Open Days)
• College arranged work experience/placement related costs
• Discretionary free college meals
• IT equipment support
• Childcare costs

Applications are assessed on an individual basis to ensure the financial support is used in a way that benefits the students the most, with in kind support offered in the first instance.

Eligibility criteria:

• Aged 19 or over as of 31^st August 2026; and
• Can provide evidence that the total household income (after tax) is less than £36,000pa (this figure can/will include all benefits)

 Support available:

• Course related costs (e.g. essential equipment, uniform etc). Essential course equipment will be determined by each course area, and costs must be claimed by 8^th December 2026.
• UCAS fees, including authorised university visits (e.g. university interviews).

Childcare Support

Eligibility criteria:

• Aged 19 or over as of 31^st August 2026; and
• Can provide evidence that the total take home (after tax) annual household income is less than £36,000pa (this figure can/will include all benefits)

Support available:

• Maximum award of up to £195 per week for one child aged up to 13. This is up to a maximum of 36 weeks during term time only.
• Support will only be provided for the times student is timetabled to be in college, and up to 1 hour travelling time each day.
• Payments will only be made to Ofsted registered providers, after any free Government entitlement to childcare has been exhausted.
• Any Early Years Free Entitlement (EYFE) is expected to be used first.
• IT equipment support

Eligibility criteria:

• Aged 19 or over as of 31^st August 2026; and
• In receipt of Advanced Learner Loan approved by the Student Loan Company and confirmation from our internal Finance team; and
• Can provide evidence that the total take home (after tax) annual household income is less than £36,000pa (this figure can/will include all benefits).

 Support available:

• Course related costs (e.g. essential equipment, uniform etc). Essential course equipment will be determined by each course area, and costs must be claimed by 8^th December 2026.
• UCAS fees, including authorised university visits (e.g. university interviews).
• IT equipment support

Childcare Support

Eligibility criteria:

• Aged 19 or over as of 31^st August 2026; and
• Can provide evidence that the total take home (after tax) annual household income is less than £36,000pa (this figure can/will include all benefits)

Support available:

• Maximum award of up to £195 per week for one child aged up to 13. This is up to a maximum of 36 weeks during term time only.
• Support will only be provided for the times student is timetabled to be in college, and up to 1 hour travelling time each day.
• Payments will only be made to Ofsted registered providers, after any free Government entitlement to childcare has been exhausted.
• Any Early Years Free Entitlement (EYFE) is expected to be used first.
• IT equipment support

Eligibility criteria:

• Aged 16 or over but under 19 at 31st August 2026, or;
• Aged 19 or over and continuing on the 2^nd year of a 2-year programme they began aged 16 to 18 (19+ continuer), or;
• Aged 19 to 24 with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP)

FE Free College Meals are targeted at disadvantaged students. Free meals in FE defines disadvantage as students being in receipt of, or having parents who are in receipt of, one or more of the following benefits:

• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• The guarantee element of State Pension Credit
• Universal Credit

A student is only eligible to receive a free meal when they, or a responsible adult on their behalf, have made a successful application and provided evidence of their eligibility.

Students who meet the criteria for either  the 16-19 Vulnerable Bursary Fund or the 16-19 Discretionary Bursary Fund, but not the FE Free Meals will be awarded Discretionary Free Meals.

Students who meet the criteria for FE Free Meals but exceed the £36,000 threshold will only be awarded the FE Free Meals (topped up to the £6 daily allowance) and no other support type will be given.

You can apply online by clicking here.

You will be asked to provide evidence of your circumstances, and we cannot process your application without this. If you don’t provide everything that we ask for we will contact you, but this will delay your application being processed.

Once you have registered on the online portal you will be able to access your account and view any correspondence that we send you, the status of your application, and information about your payments if your application is approved.

How to upload the correct evidence:

Click here to view the supporting guidance.

Bursary Guidance

Click here to complete a declined bursary appeal form

Find our Student Financial Support Policy 2026/27 by clicking here