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How to apply & Bursary types

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The Bedford College Group offers a range of means-tested financial support packages to help overcome any barriers that could prevent you from coming to our College.

We have three funding streams…

Funding is mainly provided by the government to help meet specific financial hardship needs that prevents students from taking part in learning. This funding is awarded as a bursary to eligible students.

A bursary is money you could get which may help to pay for…

  • clothing, books and other equipment for your course
  • travel and lunch on days you are in College
  • professional membership and, in some cases, course fees (excludes those on Advanced Learner Loans).

The bursary you can apply for will normally depend on your household income, age and the type of course you study.

If you are aged 16-19 and need help with the cost of childcare, the Government’s Care to Learn scheme may be able to help. Find out more here.

If you are aged 20 or over (and studying on an eligible funded course) you can apply for the Childcare Bursary.

The bursary you can apply for will normally depend on your household income, age and the type of course you study.

16-19 Bursary

Our 16-19 Bursary Fund is strictly for students aged 16-18 and less than 19 on 31 August 2024, who have lived in the UK/EEA for the past three years and whose total household income is less than £40,000. If you are aged 19+ please visit our Adult Support Fund page.

Important eligibility criteria is available at the bottom of the page.

Travel Bursary

This is a means-tested bursary of up to £720 depending on where you live to help with the costs of travelling to college. The payment will be made on a monthly basis across 10 months subject to attendance. It is only available if you do not receive subsidised travel through your local authority; you live more than three miles from the campus and have a household income of less than £40,000.

Shuttleworth College Bus Pass

If you are travelling to Shuttleworth, the award will be used to pay towards the cost of the Shuttleworth bus pass.

Vulnerable Learner Bursary

You could get up to £1,200 towards your course costs, meals and travel if at least one of the following applies:

  • You’re in or have recently left local authority care
  • You get Income Support or Universal Credit in your name
  • You’re disabled and get both Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), and either Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or Personal Independence Payment (PIP) in your name.
Essential Course Costs Bursary

You could get up to 75% off essential course costs such as hairdressing kits, uniforms, books or trips. Where the essential course item is provided by Bedford College, for instance, a uniform or a trip, your bursary will be transferred to your department and you will be required to pay the difference.  This is not available to students on the second year of a two-year course unless essential course costs are specified for the second year.

Meals Bursary

The meals bursary affords eligible students with a free healthy meal up to £5.00 whilst at College on the days they are timetabled to attend.

Funds are loaded on student ID cards/way2pay app, daily and this can be used towards the cost of purchases at tills in the college refectories.

This bursary is only available to students who qualify for the vulnerable learner bursary and those whose parents receive certain means-tested benefits. Students must attach the relevant evidence with their application

There is also the option to top-up your ID card with additional money to buy additional items on the way2pay app.

Funds not taken up on the day will not be carried over, students must use it on the day or lose it.

If you had free meals at school or college last academic year, they you can continue to receive these, although you may need to provide us with evidence from your previous provider.

Please note you are required to apply for free college meals via the bursary.

Residential Bursary (Shuttleworth & Silverstone)

We offer a bursary of up to 75% towards the residential fees for students from lower income households. Priority is given to students who live the furthest away from Shuttleworth College & Silverstone . Eligible students will be given the option to pay the balance in instalments.

Childcare Support

If you’re a parent aged 16-19 the Government’s Care to Learn scheme could help you. You can find out more on the Care to Learn website.

Adult Financial Support

Our Adult Support Fund and Advanced Loans Bursary is strictly for students aged 19 and over on 31 August 2024, who have lived in the UK/EEA for the past three years and whose total household income is less than £45,000. If you are in receipt of an Advanced Learner Loan, please visit the Advanced Learner Loans Bursary page. If you are aged 19+ but on the second year of a course you started last year or you have an EHCP, please visit our 16-18 Bursary page.

Important eligibility criteria is available at the bottom of the page.

Travel Bursary

This is a means tested bursary of up to £720 per annum, depending on where you live to help with the costs on travelling to college. Awards for part time students will be made on a pro rata basis dependant on number of days and weeks in college. All payments are maid on a monthly basis across the duration of your course.

The travel bursary is only available if you do not receive subsidised travel through your local authority: you live more than three miles from the campus and have a household income of less than £45,000.

 

Tuition Examination and Professional Fees Bursary

The support will be either 75% or 50% of tuition fees. It’s advisable that you receive a decision from the Student Finance Team before you complete your course enrolment.

Note: if the course you are applying for is eligible for the Advanced Learner Loan then you will be unable to apply for help towards this bursary.

Meals Bursary

The meals bursary affords eligible students with a free healthy meal up to £5.00 whilst at College on the days they are timetabled to attend.

Funds are loaded on student ID cards/way2pay app, daily and this can be used towards the cost of purchases at tills in the college refectories.

There is also the option to top-up your ID card with additional money to buy additional items.

Funds not taken up on the day will not be carried over, students must use it on the day or lose it.

Essential Course Costs Bursary

The support will either be 75% or 50% of your essential course costs such as safety equipment, books or trips. Where the essential course item is provided by Bedford College, for instance, a uniform or a trip, your bursary will be transferred to your department and you will be required to pay the difference. This is not available to students on the second year of a two-year course unless essential course costs are specified for the second year.

Residential Bursary

Fees for halls of residence can be supported, although they are very limited.  Applications are prioritised by distance from the student’s home and/or availability of transport to Shuttleworth College. We operate a banding system for this bursary for students from very low income households.

Childcare Bursary

Students can also access childcare support through the bursary. The support available per day student attends college, or activity that is part of their course (e.g. industry placement). Any award will be capped at a maximum of 80% of the value of the student’s course fee .

Childcare funding may only be used towards the cost of a registered childminder, nursery or pre/after-school club. Only childcare with a provider who is registered with Ofsted may be funded. The availability of free childcare and education for all 3 and 4 year olds (and some 2 year olds) is verified with each student, and also with their nursery. If they are eligible for 2, 3 and 4 year old funding, childcare is only supported where the student’s timetable exceeds the number of government funded sessions.

Nursery deposits and childcare retainers payable during college holidays are not funded. In circumstances where a student faces exceptional hardship during the course of the academic year we may provide additional financial support for childcare as long as the total funds awarded for childcare as long as the total funds for Childcare does not exceed 80% of the value of the students course fee

Advanced Learner Loan Bursary

Our Advanced Loans Bursary is strictly for students aged 19 and over on 31 August 2024, who have lived in the UK/EEA for the past three years and whose total household income is less than £45,000. If you are not in receipt of an Advanced Learner Loan, please visit the Adult Financial Support page. If you are aged 16-18 please visit our 16-18 Bursary page.

PLEASE NOTE: If you are starting a course with us from September 2024 onwards, you will not be able to apply for any bursary until after the 1st July 2024. 

Important eligibility criteria is available at the bottom of the page.

Travel Bursary

This is a means-tested bursary of £550 or £600 per annum. This bursary is not available to students who less than three miles from the College campus.

Essential Course Costs Bursary

The support will either be 75% or 50% of your essential course costs such as safety equipment, books or trips. Where the essential course item is provided by Bedford College, for instance, a uniform or a trip, your bursary will be transferred to your department and you will be required to pay the difference. This is not available to students on the second year of a two-year course unless essential course costs are specified for the second year.

Residential Bursary (Shuttleworth & Silverstone)

Fees for halls of residence can be supported, although they are very limited.  Applications are prioritised by distance from the student’s home and/or availability of transport to Shuttleworth College. We operate a banding system for this bursary for students from very low income households.

Meals Bursary

The meal’s bursary affords eligible students with a free healthy meal up to £5.00 whilst at College on the days they are timetabled to attend.

Funds are loaded on student ID cards, daily and this can be used towards the cost of purchases at tills in the college refectories.

There is also the option to top-up your ID card with additional money to buy additional items – available at Cauldwell and Shuttleworth campuses.

Funds not taken up on the day will not be carried over, students must use it on the day or lose it.

Additional Learning

We offer up to £250 towards any learning support requirements for students who have indicated a form of learning difficulty or disability. Access to this support will be through the Additional Support Team who can be reached on 01234 291905.

Childcare

We offer a maximum of 80% of ESFA funding received.