If you are aged 16-18 on 31st August 2025 this fund is available to help with essential course related costs as confirmed by your study area.  These costs include:

• Uniform and equipment
• Travel to College or College arranged Work Experience/Industry Placements, up to a maximum of £70 per week (other rules apply)
• Cost of appropriate rail cards
• Travel to a maximum of 2 Higher Education interviews (proof of interview and travel cost required)
• College Meals - worth a maximum of £4.50 per day
• Cost of UCAS application fee
• Stationery, up to a maximum of £30.00
• Books
• Trips within England that are confirmed in writing by your academic study area as essential for you to complete specific learning aims of your study programme goals/qualifications or supports course objectives.
• Examination Resit Fees
• Top-up of Care to Learn Childcare Funding (where essential and costs exceed scheme's weekly maximum rate).

To receive support eligible students must meet the ESFA eligibility criteria and live in a household where their parents/guardians gross household income is below £45,000 or they are in receipt of one of the benefits:

• Jobseekers AllowanceView Example Evidence
• Income SupportView Example Evidence
• Universal CreditView Example Evidence
  - with income not exceeding £45,000 pa (other calculations and rules apply)
• Employment Support AllowanceView Example Evidence
• Pension Credit – Guarantee CreditView Example Evidence
• Working Tax Credit/Child Tax CreditView Example Evidence
   - but only where Total Income added to your Tax Credit award for the period shown on your Final HMRC Award Notice for 2025/2026 is less than £45,000.