| 16-18 Priority Fund | 16-19 Discretionary Bursary | 19+ Discretionary Learner Support (DLS) | 20+ Childcare Discretionary Learner Support (DLS) | Advanced Learner Loan | Care to Learn | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weekly payment | ✔ | |||||
| Travel passes | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Equipment | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||
| Assistance with educational visits | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||
| College meals | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||
| Help with course associated costs Eg. UCAS fees | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||
| Childcare costs | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
The Priority Bursary (also known as Vulnerable Bursary by EFSA) is not income assessed and you could receive a bursary of up to £1,200 per academic year.
To be eligible for the 16-18 Priority Bursary, you must meet all of the following criteria:
✓ Be aged over 16 and under 19 on 31 August 2023
✓ Be enrolled on an approved Government-funded programme (ESFA, ESF, publicly funded, traineeship programme)
✓ Fall into one of the following criteria:
- a) Be in care
- b) Be a care leaver – someone who has recently been in care for at least 10 weeks but is no longer in care
- c) Receiving Income Support or Universal Credit because you are financially supporting yourself, or supporting yourself and someone who is dependent on you who is living with you, such as a child or partner.
- d) Receiving Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independent Payments in your own right as well as Employment and Support Allowance in your own right. Students on the Priority Bursary may receive the following, depending on their individual circumstances:
✓ A weekly payment
✓ Travel passes
✓ Equipment
✓ Books
✓ Help with the cost of field trips/educational visits
✓ Help with the cost of meals in college
✓ Help towards other course-associated costs such as UCAS application fees
The 16-19 Discretionary Bursary is an income-assessed fund, so students will need to submit their household income to prove that they are eligible. It is available to students who have barriers that would prevent them from taking part in learning, and it can be used to help with course-related costs.
To be eligible for the 16-19 Discretionary Bursary, you must meet all of the following criteria:
✓ Be aged 16 or over and under 19 on 31 August 2023
✓ Have a gross household income of £30,000 or below to be eligible for all forms of support
✓ Meet the residency requirements
✓ Be enrolled on an approved Government funded programme (ESFA, ESF, Publicly funded traineeship programme)
✓ Be timetabled for a minimum of five guided learning hours in college per week
16-19 students who are studying a Higher Education course or waged apprenticeships aren’t eligible.
Students on the 16-19 Discretionary Bursary may receive help with the following course-related costs, depending on their individual circumstances:
✓ Travel passes
✓ Help with the cost of college meals
Also include Assistance with:
✓ Equipment
✓ Books
✓ Other course-associated costs such as UCAS application fees
19+ Discretionary Learner Support is an income-assessed fund, so students will need to submit their household income to prove that they are eligible. It is available to students who have barriers that would prevent them from taking part in learning, and it can be used to help with course-related costs.
To be eligible for 19+ Discretionary Learner Support, you must meet all of the following criteria:
✓ Be aged 19+ on 31 August 2023
✓ Have a gross household income of £30,000 or below to be eligible for all forms of support
✓ Meet the residency requirements
✓ Be enrolled on an approved Government funded programme (ESFA, ESF, Publicly funded traineeship programme)
✓ Be timetabled for a minimum of five guided learning hours in college per week
Students on the 19+ Discretionary Learner Support may receive help with the following course-related costs, depending on their individual circumstances:
✓ Travel passes if you live over 1.5 miles walking distance from the campus where you study
✓ Equipment
✓ Help with the cost of college meals
20+ Childcare – Discretionary Learner Support (DLS) is an income-assessed fund, so students will need to submit their household income to prove that they are eligible. It is available to students who have childcare barriers that would prevent them from taking part in learning, and it can be used to help with course-related costs.
To be eligible for 20+ Childcare – DLS, you must meet all of the following criteria:
✓ Have a household income of £30,000 or below, if you’re not studying an Access to HE Level 3 course funded by an Advanced Learner Loan. If studying an Access to HE Level 3 course, individual income assessment will not be required
Students who access this support may receive help with childcare costs up to £7,000, to cover childcare during timetabled college hours in term time. There is a daily cap of £55 and a cap of £30 for a morning or afternoon session.
The childcare provider you choose must be OFSTED registered. Informal childcare Cannot be funded, e.g. provided by family members, or friends.
To view childcare FAQs, please click here.
The Advanced Learner Loan Bursary is an income-assessed fund, so students will need to submit their household income to prove that they are eligible. It is available to students who have barriers that would prevent them from taking part in learning, and it can be used to help with course-related costs.
To be eligible for an Advanced Learner Loan Bursary, you must meet all of the following criteria:
✓ Be aged 19 or over on the first day of your course on or after 31 August 2023
✓ Be enrolled on an eligible course at Level 3 or Level 4
✓ Have a loan approved by the Student Loans Company
✓ Have a gross household income of £30,000 or below to be eligible for all forms of support
✓ Meet the residency requirements
✓ Be enrolled on a loan funded programme
✓ Be timetabled to a minimum of five guided learning hours in college per week
Students on the Advanced Learner Loan Bursary may receive help with the following course-related costs, depending on their individual circumstances:
✓ Travel passes if you live over 1.5 miles walking distance from the campus where you study
✓ Equipment
✓ Books
✓ Help with the cost of field trips/educational visits
✓ Help with the cost of college meals
✓ Help towards other course-associated costs such as UCAS application fees
✓ Childcare costs
Students using an Advanced Learner Loan to fund an Access to HE course are eligible for support through the Learner Support Fund, if their household income is £30,000 or below. Students who fall into this category are eligible for support with meals, travel and childcare.
Childcare costs are available as part of the Advanced Learner Loans Bursary, which is an income-assessed fund. This fund is in place to assist students with childcare costs to overcome barriers which may prevent them from taking part in or continuing in learning. Receipt of this funding is dependent on the outcome of household income assessment.
Free College Meals are aimed at disadvantaged students. For the purposes of eligibility for free meals, ‘disadvantaged’ is defined as a student being in receipt of, or having parents who are in receipt of, one or more of the following benefits:
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
- 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 Child Tax Credit (provided they 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 WTC
- Universal Credit
As well as being in receipt of any of the above, to qualify for Free Meals:
✓ You must be aged over 16 and under 19 on 31 August 2023, or on an Educational Health Care Plan (EHCP) if aged between 19 and 25 on 31 August 2023
✓ You must meet the residency requirements
✓ You must be enrolled on an approved Government-funded programme (ESFA, ESF, Publicly funded, traineeship programme)
Eligible students will receive a free meal for each day they are timetabled to be in college (for at least 5 hours). This would be via our cashless system in our canteen. (Supermarket vouchers or equivalent may be provided for off-campus activities where appropriate). Students must meet the full terms and conditions, including the minimum attendance requirements.
To be eligible for travel support, you must meet all of the following criteria:
✓ Meet the income threshold for your funding stream (16-19 Bursary, 19+ Bursary, or Advanced Learner Loan)
✓ Meet the residency requirements
✓ Be timetabled for a minimum of five guided learning hours in college per week
✓ Students aged 19+ must live over 1.5 miles walking distance from campus of study
Students who live on a Transdev route will be offered a smart code (electronic ticket) to ensure best value for money and efficient processes.
The following will be available in exceptional circumstances for those who may not be able to use other forms of travel:
✓ TransDev Card
✓ Payment by BACs to students towards help with travel
Exceptional cases are assessed centrally by the Support Fund team. Under exceptional circumstances, the Support Fund team will use their discretion to meet students’ needs.
The Care to Learn scheme can help with childcare costs for students who are under 20. It covers help with your childcare, including deposit and registration fees, a childcare taster session for up to five days, keeping your childcare place over the summer holidays, and travel help to take your child to the childcare provider.
How do I apply for Care to Learn?
You will need to apply via the Student Bursary Support Service online or contact 0800 121 8989. Harrogate College provides information and advice on childcare including Care to Learn via our Childcare Advice Officer. For online applications, use this link.
Applying for financial support
- How and when do I apply?
- Do I need to submit evidence with the application form?
- I have applied and provided all the relevant evidence – what happens next?
- What will my award include and will I receive any payment?
- What exactly will I receive?
- What should I do if I am not happy with the outcome of my application?
- What do I do if there are changes in my circumstances?
- I am on benefits: do I need to inform the Department for Work & Pensions (DWP)?
- Will attendance have an impact on financial support?
- What is an EHCP?
- What are Professional and Career Development Loans?
- What is an Advanced Learner Loan?
- How is the 16 to 19 Tuition Fund used?
- My question hasn’t been answered, how do I contact you?
- How do you use my information?
My question hasn’t been answered, how do I contact you?
For more information, please email supportfund@leedscitycollege.ac.uk
Students must be aware of the following terms, conditions and notes:
- Students should note that false or inaccurate information could result in refusal or withdrawal of fund payments and that this includes any childcare payments
- Funding is limited. Meeting the eligibility does not guarantee nor give an entitlement to an award out of the discretionary funds, and allocation will be subject to the availability of funds
- Each application to the financial support fund will be individually assessed
- If a student withdraws from a course the college reserves the right to request all monies paid and any equipment purchased by the college to be returned
- Students are required to inform us of any change in circumstances that may affect eligibility
- All applicants to childcare financial support must make themselves familiar with childcare agreements
- A student will only be awarded student financial support funds if they have provided a completed application form and the relevant required evidence that proves their eligibility for the relevant fund
- All awarded students will be informed that they will be supported from the financial support fund in the form of in-kind awards such as course related books, equipment, travel pass or food via the cashless system. In exceptional circumstances and where appropriate, the College may pay students by BACS payment (money direct to a student’s bank account). Any such payment must be fully assessed and approved.
- Students are expected, encouraged and supported to attend 100% of all their classes as well as work placement and any timetabled events
- Whilst a student is on programme we will regularly monitor attendance, behaviour and attainment, review and may make changes to the amount of financial support to ensure it is used effectively. A minimum attendance of 90% is required to continue receiving support