Financial Support

You must be aged between 16 years and under 19 years of age on 31st August at the start of the academic year. The funding support is split into two types:

Access to Education Bursary (Full Bursary)

The 16-19 Bursary is available to eligible students in any of the following categories:

• young people in care;
• care leavers;
• young people claiming Income Support in their own name;
• young people claiming Universal Credit in their own name;
• disabled young people who receive both Employment Support Allowance and Living Allowance in their own name.

Discretionary Support

Discretionary Support is designed to help with travel to and from college (college contract buses and Bluestar termly bus passes), course materials and resources (see our online college shop for a list of available materials and resources), and essential college trips.

Discretionary Support may be available for students whose parent/guardians’ household annual income is less than £35,000 or if the parent/guardian living with the student is receiving one of the following benefits:

• Income Support;
• Income Based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA);
• the Guarantee Element of Pension Credit;
• Income-Related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA);
• support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999;
• or Working Tax Credit/Universal Credit.

If your household income is less than £35,000 and you live more than two miles away from college, you will be able to receive support with your travel to and from college.