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Financial support
What support can I get whilst I study? Is there money available to help me meet my course costs?
There is lots of support available to help you with the costs you will face as a student.
Don’t let course costs put you off coming to College – they needn’t be a barrier to you realizing your potential.
Be smart and ensure you apply for all that you’re entitled to.
What financial support is available?
Information about funding if you are 16-18
Discounted Bus Travel
16-19 Bursary Scheme
Guaranteed Bursaries
Discretionary Bursaries
Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA)
Care to Learn
Residential Support Scheme
Information about funding if you are 19 or over
Help with course fees
Adult Learning Grant
Learner Support Fund
Residential Support Scheme
Free childcare
New Deal for Lone Parents
Professional and Career Development Loans (PCDL)
Information about funding for full-time university level courses
Information about funding for part-time university level courses
Alternative sources of funding (pdf, requires Acrobat Reader)
16-18 funding
City of Bristol College is offering over £1 million worth of support to young people starting courses from September 2011.
What help can I get?
Discounted Bus Travel
The College will be offering a 20% discount* on bus passes for all 16-18 year olds – so make sure you buy your bus passes from College to make HUGE savings on your travel.
*this may not continue for the entire year
16-19 Bursary Scheme
Students from low income households can apply to the 16-19 Bursary Scheme. Through this scheme it may be possible to get help with course-related costs and travel to and from College.
Please note that if you are eligible for transitional EMA payments, you can not apply to the Bursary Scheme. The only exception is if you are eligible for the guaranteed bursary, in which case you must apply to the bursary scheme and you will not continue receiving EMA.
Read our guidance notes to see if you qualify for support. If you do, send your application form to us as soon as possible. Post your completed form to:
City of Bristol College,
Customer Service and Operations Team,
PO Box 2887,
Bristol, BS2 2BB.
Guaranteed Bursaries
You are guaranteed a £1,200 bursary if you are:
- In care
- A care leaver
- On income support
- In receipt of both Employment Support Allowance and Disability Living Allowance
Discretionary Bursaries
If you are from a low income household you could get help with course costs such as:
Equipment - Books
- CRB
- Kits
- Travel*
* If you cycle and live more than three miles from your centre of study apply for our ‘On Your Bike Scheme’ – we’ll buy you a bike and safety equipment so you can cycle to College. You’ll stay fit and healthy and help the environment too.
* If you travel by bus and live more than three miles from your centre of study you could get a free bus pass.
Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA)
EMA closed to new applicants in January 2011. There are transitional arrangements in place for some EMA eligible students who received weekly payments in 2009/10 and 2010/11.
I am a returning student and I used to claim EMA – what help can I get?
Students who received EMA in 2009/10 will continue to receive EMA at the same rate if they return to study in 2011/12.
Students who received a £30 weekly EMA payment in 2010/11 and who return to study in 2011/12 will receive £20 per week.
Students who received £10 or £20 per week will not receive any payments under the transitional arrangements for 2011/12 and should apply for the 16-19 Bursary Scheme.
Notice of Entitlements (NoE) will be issued to students in July 2011 who qualify for support under the transitional arrangements.
Contact the Learner Support Helpline on 0800 121 8989 for further information and advice.
Can I apply for a bursary from the 16-19 Bursary Scheme if I receive EMA in 2011/12?
Students who are in one of the following groups will be entitled to the £1,200 Guaranteed Bursary. Students not in one of these priority groups cannot claim any additional support:
- In care
- A care leaver
- On income support
- In receipt of both Employment Support Allowance and Disability Living Allowance
Care to Learn
If you are a young parent (under 20), Care to Learn can help pay for your childcare and travel costs while you are at College.
Am I eligible?
You must be:
under 20 years old - caring for your own child/children and the other parent is unable to provide childcare (because, for example, they are working) and the other parent is not claiming the childcare element of Working Tax Credit
- living in England and are a British Citizen or a national of any country within the EEA
- using a childcare provider which is registered with Ofsted
- studying on an eligible course
Is my course eligible?
Your course must be:
- a further education course
- a Diploma
- a course that leads to an apprenticeship, or
- an LSC funded e2e programme
- a course in your community, for example at Children’s Centre’s.
What help can I get?
Up to £160 per week, per child for childcare. You may also get help with travel.
How do I apply?
Contact Care to Learn on 0800 121 8989 or visit the Directgov website OR contact the Welfare Team. You must then book an appointment with a Welfare Adviser before sending off your application form.
Residential Support Scheme
Please note this scheme will close to new applicants in 2012/13. Contact Learner Services for further information.
The Residential Support scheme can help with the cost of your term time accommodation if your chosen course is not available in the area that you live.
Am I eligible?
You are eligible if:
- your course is not available locally
- your course is funded by the Skills Funding Agency (SFA)
- you are ordinarily resident in Bristol
- you will be studying for at least 15 hours per week for 10 weeks or more
- you will be living in accommodation that is no further than 15 miles from the college campus
- your household income is less than £30,993
Is my course eligible?
Most students applying for the scheme will need to be completing their first full Level 2 or 3 qualification
Not sure whether your course is Level 2 or Level 3?
- Level 2 qualifications are equivalent to five or more GCSEs at grades A* to C or NVQ level 2
- Level 3 qualifications are equivalent to two A levels or NVQ level 3
- If you are not sure of the level of your course contact Learner Services.
How do I apply?
You can contact the Welfare Team to check your eligibility and get an application form. You can also request an application form by phoning 0845 602 2260.
You must then complete and return the form to the Welfare Team with a copy of your tenancy agreement (if you have chosen your accommodation). Once completed, your form will be sent to the Residential Support Scheme.
How much can I claim?
You could receive up to £3458 towards your accommodation costs each year. Payments will cover the accommodation only and won’t necessarily cover the full costs of living away from home.
For further information you can call the Learner Support Helpline on 0800 121 8989 or visit their website.
19 or over funding
Adult Learning Grant
The ALG scheme will close to new applicants after 1 July 2011.
Learners continuing on the same learning programme at the same level will be eligible to receive weekly ALG payments in the 2011/12 academic year. For example, an individual who started on a Level 3 learning programme in 2010/11 and who is continuing on the same Level 3 learning programme in 2011/12.
Notices of Entitlement (NoE) will be issued to all learners currently in receipt of ALG in this academic year (2010/11). Returning students are advised to bring this to Learner Services at the start of term to register if eligible.
Learners who received ALG in 2010/11 but who are starting a new learning programme in 2011/12 will not be eligible for ALG.
Learner Support Fund
The Learner Support Fund is available to assist you with the costs associated with learning, such as books, equipment, essential field trips, travel, and CRB checks. Some students may also get help with childcare costs through this scheme.
Funds are limited and we recommend students apply early during the summer holiday. We cannot guarantee to help every student, but we will advise you of alternative funding sources if any are available.
Please note
For courses starting from September 2011 the fund is now open and we are accepting applications. However applicants will not be allocated funds until August 2011 at the earliest.
Am I eligible?
If you are a enrolling on a part time or full-time Skills Funding Agency (SFA) funded course and have a low household income you could qualify for support.
How do I apply?
Read through the guidance notes to see if you qualify then print our application form and send (with evidence of your household income) to:
City of Bristol College,
Customer Service and Operations Team,
PO Box 2887,
Bristol, BS2 2BB.
Assistance with childcare
(require Adobe Acrobat Reader)
What courses qualify for support?
- Further Education
- E2E
- Programme Led-Apprenticeships
Who won't qualify for support?
Important! Please note: Higher Education students, New Deal Participants, Waged Apprentices, Work Based Learners and Overseas Students are NOT eligible for support. Non UK, European Economic Area and European Union Nationals may not have the same entitlements and should contact the Welfare Team for further information.
Is my previous study taken into account?
Yes. We look at previous qualifications held by students applying for support. We may not offer support if you are enrolling on a course at the same level or lower than one already achieved by you.
I have received LSF before. Can I receive any help for another year of study?
You can receive funding for up to three years (five years for students with learning difficulties/disabilities and those who’s first learning aim was ESOL.
Can LSF assist with fees?
We are accepting applications, however applicants will not be allocated funds until August 2011 at the earliest. This is due to delays in Government guidance.
Residential Support Scheme
Please note this scheme will close to new applicants in 2012/13. Contact Learner Services for further information.
The Residential Support scheme can help with the cost of your term time accommodation if your chosen course is not available in the area that you live.
Am I eligible?
You are eligible if:
- your course is not available locally
- your course is funded by the Skills Funding Agency (SFA)
- you are ordinarily resident in Bristol
- you will be studying for at least 15 hours per week for 10 weeks or more
- you will be living in accommodation that is no further than 15 miles from the college campus
- your household income is less than £30,993
Is my course eligible?
Most students applying for the scheme will need to be completing their first full level 2 or 3 qualification
Not sure whether your course is level 2 or level 3?
- Level 2 qualifications are equivalent to five or more GCSEs at grades A* to C or NVQ level 2.
- Level 3 qualifications are equivalent to two A levels or NVQ level 3.
- If you are not sure of the level of your course contact Learner Services.
How do I apply?
You can contact the Welfare Team to check your eligibility and get an application form. You can also request an application form by phoning 0845 602 2260. You must then complete and return the form to the Welfare Team with a copy of your tenancy agreement (if you have chosen your accommodation). Once completed, your form will be sent to the Residential Support Scheme.
How much can I claim?
You could receive up to £3458 towards your accommodation costs each year. Payments will cover the accommodation only and won’t necessarily cover the full costs of living away from home.
For further information you can call the Learner Support Helpline on 0800 121 8989 or visit their website.
Other sources of funding
New Deal for Lone Parents is a voluntary Jobcentre Plus programme specifically designed to help lone parents into work. You can join New Deal for Lone Parents if you are bringing up children as a lone parent, if your youngest child is under 16 years old and you are not working, or you are working less than 16 hours per week.
To find out more about New Deal for Lone Parents contact your local Jobcentre Plus office.
Professional and Career Development Loans (PCDL)
Professional and Career Development Loans are bank loans that can help pay for learning that enhances your job skills or career prospects.
You can borrow between £300 and £10,000 to help support the cost of up to two years of learning (or three years if it includes one year’s relevant unpaid practical work). The Young People’s Learning Agency will pay the interest on the loan while you are learning and for one month afterwards.
The loan can be used to pay up to 80% of course fees and/or other costs such as travel and living expenses. You can also use the loan to supplement other forms of support such as grants or bursaries.
As the Professional and Career Development Loan is a commercial loan product, they should only be considered as an option once all other student funding options have been investigated.
For further information on Professional and Career Development Loans please visit the Directgov website or contact the helpline on 0800 585 505.
Our learning provider registration number is 8186. If your loan application is successful you must contact the Welfare Team so we can complete the process with you.
For further information
0117 312 5000
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