Higher Rate Bursary

If you are aged under 19 years old on 31st August 2024, you may be eligible for a Higher Rate Bursary worth up to £1,200 per academic year.

You may receive a monthly amount paid into your bank account, towards your meals and general college expenses.

College will also look at helping you with other costs such as kit/uniform/books.

You may request that college provide you with travel support providing you live more than 2 miles away, but this cost will be deducted from your Bursary.

Students are not automatically entitled to £1,200 per year.

We will assess your application to identify an actual financial need.

It may be the case that you receive a reduced amount or no award at all.

How to apply?

Do you the student fall into one of the categories below:

• Classed as a ‘Looked After’ child by the Local Authority
• Have been ‘In Care’ and now classed as a ‘Care Leaver’
• Receiving Income Support or Universal Credit in your own right
• Receiving both Employment Support Allowance and Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payments in your own right

Evidence needed:

• In Care or Care Leaver – written confirmation of current or previous looked-after status from the relevant Local Authority
• Income Support or Universal Credit (because they are financially supporting themselves or financially supporting themselves and someone who is dependent on them and living with them such as a child or partner) – evidence of Income Support or Universal Credit award summary
• In receipt of BOTH ESA and DLA or PIP – evidence of Employment Support Allowance AND Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payments

Discretionary Bursary

If you do not qualify for a Higher Rate Bursary, you may still be entitled to discretionary funds to help with the cost of coming to college.

We will need to see your parents/carers’ income if you are aged between 16-18 at 31st August 2024 or 19-24 with EHCP.

We may be able to give you help towards the following:

• Help towards travel costs – if you live over 2 miles from your college campus (currently Go North East bus pass or a cash contribution towards costs).
• Help towards equipment/kit/uniform/books – may not cover full costs but will be a contribution towards.
• Help towards course costs – you may have additional expenses whilst at College so you may qualify for up to £450 for the year if you are NOT eligible for travel costs.

Those eligible for travel costs will receive partial award for course costs.

How to apply?

We will need to see your parents/carers’ income if you are aged between 16-18 at 31st August 2024 or 19-24 with EHCP.

To be eligible you must:

• Must meet residency criteria
• Have a gross annual household income below £35,000 couple or £30,000 single including any Working Tax Credit/Universal Credit or
• Be in receipt of the following benefits Income Based Jobseeker’s Allowance/Income Related Employment and Support
• Allowance/Universal Credit/Guaranteed Pension Credit.