16-19 BURSARY FORM 2024-2025

WHAT IS THE 16-19 BURSARY FUND?

16-19 Bursary Fund

The Government has set aside some money for schools, colleges, training providers and local authorities to allocate to young people who need financial support to stay on in further education or training.

This is called the 16-19 Bursary Fund.

The 16-19 Bursary Fund is designed to help support those young people who face the greatest barriers to continuing in education or training post-16 and can be used to pay for things such as:

• clothing

• educational visits

• books and other equipment/materials for your course

• transport and lunch on days you study

• exam fees

There are two types of 16 to 19 bursary:

Vulnerable student bursary and Discretionary student bursary

Vulnerable student bursary

You could get up to £1,200 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 get Disability Living Allowance (DLA) in your name and either Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) or Universal Credit

• you get Personal Independence Payment (PIP) in your name and either ESA or Universal Credit

Discretionary bursary

You can apply for a discretionary bursary if you are not eligible for a vulnerable bursary and you need financial help to stay on in further education or training.

The discretionary bursary is allocated to students who need support to overcome financial barriers that might prevent them continuing in full time education.

The following criteria will qualify a family as a low-income family:

• The household is in receipt of Child Tax Credit/Working Tax Credit with an annual income of less than £20,817

• Income Support

• Jobseekers Allowance (Income Based)

• Pension Guarantee Credit equivalent to/less than Jobseekers Allowance (Income Based).

• Income Related Employment and Support Allowance

• Universal Credit with an annual income of less than £7400

Hardship fund

In addition to the vulnerable and discretionary bursary, there is also a hardship fund available in specific circumstances.

If you are not eligible for either bursary, you can apply for a one-off hardship payment.

Any student may apply for a one-off hardship payment from the discretionary bursary fund.  You will need to provide evidence as to why you need financial support.

Free school meals will be provided for all students receiving a bursary.

Payments for all bursaries will be dependent on meeting agreed standards of academic progress, learning, behaviour and good attendance. This will be assessed termly.

From September 2022, the Sixth Forms can offer one off emergency meal support for severe hardship. For a student considered to be in real need, without undertaking the checks on household income or gathering other evidence that would normally be required. This has been retained for academic year 2024 to 2025

Who Can Apply?

To apply for a bursary, students must be at least 16 years old and under 19 years old at the start of the academic year. They must also be taking part in full-time or part-time further education or training.

Sixth Forms and colleges are encouraged to issue requests ‘in kind’ rather than one off cash payments. 

Please see the form below to apply for the bursary.