If you are aged 19+ on 31/08/2024 you can get help with course related costs through our means tested Learner Support Fund.

• Uniform and equipment considered by your curriculum area essential for your course, up to a maximum of £150.00
• Travel to College, up to a maximum of £60 per week (other rules apply)
• Cost of appropriate Rail Cards
• Travel to College arranged Work Experience and/or Industry Placements (other rules may apply)
• Travel to a maximum of 2 Higher Education interviews (proof of interview and travel cost required)
• Free College Meals (for students aged 19 to 24 only), where they or their parents are in receipt of an eligible benefit or support, and they are a 19+ continuer (on the same course at the same level as they started in the academic year they turned 19), or they are subject to an Education Health Care Plan
• Cost of UCAS application fee
• Stationery, up to a maximum of £30
• Books
• Trips that are an essential part of the learner's Study Programme
• Examination Resit Fees

To receive support eligible students must meet the ESFA eligibility criteria and be in receipt of one of the benefits below:

• Jobseekers AllowanceView Example Evidence
• Income SupportView Example Evidence
• Universal CreditView Example Evidence
  - with income not exceeding £40,000 pa (other calculations and rules apply)
• Council Tax SupportView Example Evidence
• Employment Support AllowanceView Example Evidence
• Pension Credit – Guarantee CreditView Example Evidence
• Housing BenefitView 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 2024/2025 is less than £40,000.

If you do not receive any of the benefits shown above you may qualify for help with course related costs and travel costs if you:

• live with your parents and your gross income is less than £10,000 per year.
• live independently and your gross income is less than £20.000 per year.
• live with a partner but without any dependent children and your gross household income is less than £30,000 per year.
• live independently or with a partner and have dependent children for whom you claim child benefit and your gross household income is less than £40,000 per year.