If you are aged 19+ 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)
• 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 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

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 £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.

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, do not receive benefits, and your gross income is less than £15,000 per year, or

• live independently as a single person, do not receive benefits and your gross income is less than £30,000 per year, or

• live with a partner, do not receive benefits and your gross household income is less than £45,000 per year.

You (and where applicable your partner) may be required to sign an income/savings and investments declaration and may also be requested to provide further evidence e.g. a bank statement.

Please note, support will not be given if any of the evidence submitted shows that there is not a financial need or savings and/or any Investments exceed £16,000.

Other rules may apply. Rules and criteria may be subject to amendment or deletion without prior notice.