16-18 Bursaries

You may be eligible for financial support to help while studying. This will depend on which course you study, how far away from your college centre you live, and your household circumstances. You must meet the eligibility criteria and have attendance at 90% and above

16-18 Vulnerable Bursary

The maximum award for the vulnerable bursary is £1200 per year. 

To receive this support you need to be classed as one or more of the following:

In care
A care leaver
Receiving Income Support or Universal Credit because you are financially supporting yourself, or financially supporting yourself and someone who is dependent on you and living with you, such as a child or partner
Receiving Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payments in your own right as well as Employment and Support Allowance or Universal Credit in your own right

16-18 Discretionary Bursary

There is the discretionary bursary to help with travel and materials. This support is means-tested and you need to be a dependent of someone with low income or on benefits or financially supporting yourself. 

You will need to upload proof of household income or benefits with your application. The fund is not guaranteed and it will only be paid to those who meet the attendance criteria of 90% or above.

If you are aged 19 or over you will only be eligible to receive a discretionary bursary if you are continuing on a study program you began aged 16 to 18 (‘19+ continuer’) or have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).

Applications
Please complete an online application – Bursary Application

Free College Meals

Eligible learners

Aged 16 or over but under 19 at 31 August 2021
Aged 19 or over continuing on a study programme began aged 16 to 18
Aged 19-23 and have an EHCP
Enrolled on an applicable accredited course(s).

You need will to provide proof of one of the following eligible 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 that you are not entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190, as assessed by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC))
Universal Credit with net earnings not exceeding the equivalent of £7,400 pa (after tax and not including any benefits you get)

For UC – you must provide Universal Credit award statements from their three most recent complete assessment periods, showing earnings in that period do not exceed £1,850.00 (this is a quarter of an equivalent annual income of £7,400).

Applications
Please complete an online application – Bursary Application

TfL Oyster Scheme

If you are aged 16-17  you can get free and discounted travel on all transport services with a Zip Oyster photocard. 

If you are aged 18 on 31 August, in full-time education and live in a London borough you can apply for a 16+ Zip Oyster photocard to get free travel on buses and trams.

Please apply online here