Students under 18 years

Students under 16 - Funding for your living costs

Please note if you are under 16 years of age at the start of your studies, student support funds are only available to students who have passed their official school leaving date. Until this date, you may be eligible for support for your travel and study costs through your school or the local education authority.

If you are under 16 on 30^th September 2024 but turn 16 before 1^st March 2025, then we can fund you from January 2025.

Students over 16 - Funding for your living costs

If you are eligible for funding to cover your tuition fees you may also qualify for student support funding to help with your living costs.

If your parental / household income is less than £24,421 or £26,884 with more than one dependent child in the household, you could receive a potential award of:

• Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) of £30 per week 

From the first day of term after your 16th birthday you will be eligible to apply for EMA and Bursary for the cost of travel and study costs. If you are in receipt of EMA you may be eligible for an additional £49.91 if you will live away from home for the course - for example, in term time accommodation. 

• Travel Award (*under 22’s travel free by bus in Scotland)
• Study Costs
• Tuition Fees

If your parental/household income is over these thresholds you are still entitled to travel* and study costs.

Benefits recipients

If you are in receipt of benefits, you should contact your local Benefits Office or Citizens Advice for advice on whether you can continue to claim while studying on your course as full-time students are not normally entitled to receive benefits, however, there are some exceptions.

If you are eligible to receive Universal Credit (UC) while studying, or will have a change of circumstances prior to the start date of your course (such as giving up work) and will need to make a claim for UC, you will be assessed for a maximum bursary maintenance allowance of £28.00 a week. If you receive this allowance, there will be no work-related requirements for UC.

You may also receive funding for travel, study and additional support needs allowances without this having an impact on your UC award. Any maintenance funding awarded over £28.00 a week would reduce your UC award on a pound for pound basis.

You are eligible for Universal Credit if you’re studying full-time and any of the following apply:

• you are under 21 when you start your course and you are without parental support
• you are responsible for a child
• you live with your partner and they’re eligible for Universal Credit
• you are over pension age and live with a partner who is under that age
• you are disabled and have limited capability for work (assessed by the DWP) and get disability living allowance (DLA) or personal independence payment (PIP)

Please see the Government Guidance for Universal Credit and students - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Childcare funding

Childcare funding is available to assist with the cost of childcare with registered childcare providers while you attend college classes or placements or course work remotely. As funds are limited, there is a cap on the amount of childcare that can be paid to you. Therefore, please be aware that your childcare costs may not be covered in full.

Childcare funding is paid in arrears direct to your childcare provider on receipt of completed childcare expense claim forms. Childcare expense claim forms can be found on your student hub. Please note that it is your responsibility for paying your childcare costs until the childcare award has been made.

Discretionary hardship funding

The Discretionary Hardship fund can assist students who experience financial difficulty while at college. Any award from this fund is non-repayable.

The fund is primarily used to help with rent / accommodation costs for students in financial hardship with no access to Housing Benefit or the housing element of Universal Credit.

To be considered for accommodation assistance, you will need to have a tenancy in your name and be registered at that address for council tax purposes. Full time students qualify for Council Tax Exemption but still need to be registered at the property.

Emergency payments may also be made from this fund, and these are considered on an individual basis. This fund is means tested.

Evidence you will need to provide:

• Proof of accommodation costs – Mortgage / Tenancy Agreement / Lodgers Agreement
• Council Tax Letter
• Two month’s recent and consecutive bank statements
• Three months’ recent and consecutive payslips

Please note: You must tick the discretionary hardship box on the first page of the application process. If you wish to apply after you have submitted your application, you should request a ‘Re-assessment/Appeal’ through your Student Hub.

Additional support fund

Additional Support funding can be used to cover additional study-related expenses that arise as a result of your disability.

This allowance offers help towards specialist equipment, classroom support and travel costs because you need taxi transport to get to College.

These funds are not means tested on family income but do require an assessment by the College’s Additional Support Need team.

If you have a disability or additional support need, please contact the Additional Support team who will be pleased to discuss your requirements.