Financial Support for Students Aged 16-18

If you are aged 16-18 on 31.8.24 and you or your parent receive one of the following welfare benefits,  you may be eligible to receive FE meals.

• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 (ASS)
• The Guarantee Element of State Pension Credit
• Child Tax Credit (provided you are not entitled to Working Tax Credit) and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190 as assessed by HMRC
• Working Tax Credit run on – paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
• Universal Credit with net earnings not exceeding the equivalent of £7,400 pa
• If you are aged between 19 and 24 and are subject to an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP) you may be eligible for FE meals.

You will be eligible for food at any college centre up to the value of £6.50 for each day you attend college.

The Discretionary Bursary is paid weekly in arears based on attendance (85%) and other conditions set out in the College/Student Agreement.

An assessment of need will be based on household income, household members and the course studied to establish the level of support that will be paid each week.

To be eligible to receive this bursary, you must come from a household whose income is under/up to  £25,000

There is extra support available if you claim certain types of benefit or disability support in your own name, or if you are in care, are a care leaver or a young carer.

To qualify for this bursary you must meet the following criteria:

• Aged 16-18 at the start of your course

and

• come from a household whose income is under/up to £25,000

and

• study with us on a full study programme

and be

• A care leaver or in care

or

• In receipt of Income Support or a Universal Credit in place of Income Support because you are financially supporting yourself and someone who is dependent on you and living with you such as a child or partner

or

• In receipt of Employment and Support Allowance or Universal Credit instead of ESA and Disability Living Allowance/Personal Independence Payment in your own name

or

• a young carer

or

• in informal or private kinship arrangements between parents and relatives

or

• in registered private foster care

Please note: evidence from a professional third party is required for all categories.

Payment Details

An assessment of need based on household income, household members and course studied will establish the exact level of support paid each week:

• Up to £40 per week for 35 weeks per year
• Paid directly into your bank account via BACS

You must meet at least 70% attendance a week to be eligible for payment.

You can apply for help with travel during term time (weekdays only) if you:

• live 1.5 miles or more from the college centre where your classes/placement are located

and

• come from a household where the income is under/up to £25,000

or 

• receive the college’s Progress Bursary (see details above)

Please note:

1. If you lose your pass, you will be required to pay £10 for a replacement to be issued
2. Only one replacement pass will be issued at £10. Further replacements can be issued but this will be at the full cost of the pass.
3. Your travel pass may be at risk if your attendance at college is low.

Students whose course of study is fully funded should not be charged for equipment and facilities required to successfully complete their course. We will also pay the costs of any required kit if a student is receiving financial support subject to requests directly from curriculum staff.

We will pay the cost of educational trips and visits provided they are:

• An essential requirement of the course

and

• The student has already been assessed as eligible for support via Pay My Student

We will support students with UCAS fees where the student is receiving financial support from the college:

• £22.50 for a single choice
• £27.50 for multiple choices

If you are aged between 16 and 19 and require childcare support, you can apply to Care to Learn, the government scheme that helps to fund the cost of childcare for students attending college.

Click here for more information.