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5. Financial Support for Post-16 Learners

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Financial Support for post-16 learners

  1. There are several sources of financial support which can be used to pay for travel assistance costs, or can support you in a residential placement. For more information please visit the gov.uk website [External Link].

The 16-19 Bursary Fund

  1. The 16-19 Bursary Fund is available to support any young person who faces financial barriers to participation, including travel assistance costs. There are two types of 16-19 bursaries available:

(i) Vulnerable Student bursary

  1. You may be able to access a Vulnerable Student bursary of up to £1,200.  The defined vulnerable groups are young people who are:

  • in care

  • care leavers

  • receiving 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

  • receiving Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payments as well as Employment and Support Allowance or Universal Credit in their own right.

(ii) Discretionary bursary

  1. Each school or college will have its own criteria for discretionary bursaries. They will look at each young person’s individual circumstances - this usually includes the family income. 

  2. All education providers must make available a copy of their 16-19 Bursary Fund policy upon request, and applications are made directly to the school, college or training provider. You should ask student services at your school or college about the criteria and evidence you need. For further details on the 16 to 19 Bursary Fund visit the Government website [External Link].

Residential Support Scheme

  1. The Residential Support Scheme provides financial support with accommodation costs for young people aged between 16 and 18, who need to live away from home to study because their course is not available locally.

  2. You must meet the eligibility criteria (which includes an income assessment) in order to receive support from the Residential Support Scheme. If you are assessed as eligible, the amount of award you receive will be based on the actual accommodation costs up to a maximum award level.

  3. Applications are made directly to the school, college or training provider. For further details visit on funding for college accommodation visit the Government website [External Link].

Residential Bursary Fund

  1. The Residential Bursary Fund provides financial support towards the costs of accommodation for young people attending one of the specialist residential education institutions, where the course requires you to be resident in order to participate because it is not available locally and/or because it requires you to be available at unsociable hours on a regular basis.

  2. You should talk directly to the institution concerned if you may be eligible for support. 

Discretionary Learner Support

  1. If you are aged 19 or over, on a further education course and facing financial hardship, you could get Discretionary Learner Support. If you qualify, the support can pay for accommodation and travel, course materials and equipment or childcare.

  2. You should talk directly to the institution concerned if you may be eligible for support. For further details on Learner Support visit the Government website [External Link].

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