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 2022, who have lived in the UK/EEA for the past three years and whose total household income is less than £35,000. If you are aged 19+ please visit our Adult Support Fund page.
Important eligibility criteria is available at the bottom of the page.
This is a means-tested bursary of £320 or £500 depending on where you live to help with the costs of travelling to college. 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 £35,000.
The Shuttleworth College Bus Pass can be purchased at a fee of either £300 or £650 depending on your eligibility.
The travel bursary (£450) will go towards the cost of the Shuttleworth annual bus pass:
- You will be required to pay a discounted fee of £300 if you pay in one instalment
- Or you will be required to pay a discounted fee of £330 if you pay in three termly instalments of £110.
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.
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.
The meals bursary affords eligible students with a free healthy meal up to £4.25 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.
Funds not taken up on the day will not be carried over, students must use it on the day or lose it.
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. Eligible students will be given the option to pay the balance in instalments.
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.
Download our 16-19 Bursary Policy
Adult Financial Support
Our Adult Support Fund and Advanced Loans Bursary is strictly for students aged 19 and over on 31 August 2022, 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 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.
This is a bursary of £450 for students who live within the Bedford Bus Zone and £750 for those who live beyond. This bursary is not available to students who less than three miles from the College campus.
The support will be either 75% or 50% of tuition examination and professional body 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.
The meals bursary affords eligible students with a free healthy meal up to £4.25 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.
Funds not taken up on the day will not be carried over, students must use it on the day or lose it.
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.
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.
We offer a maximum of 80% of ESFA funding received.
Download our Adult Bursary Policy
Advanced Learner Loan Bursary
Our Advanced Loans Bursary is strictly for students aged 19 and over on 31 August 2022, 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 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 2022 onwards, you will not be able to apply for any bursary until after the 1st July 2022.
Important eligibility criteria is available at the bottom of the page.
This is a bursary of £450 for students who live within the Bedford Bus Zone and £750 for those who live beyond. This bursary is not available to students who less than three miles from the College campus.
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.
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.
The meal’s bursary affords eligible students with a free healthy meal up to £4.25 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.
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.
We offer a maximum of 80% of ESFA funding received.