Bursary Fund - Pendleton Sixth Form College

COLLEGE BURSARY FUND

We offer a number of financial support services for students, to help cover the cost of attending college.

Support is available through the 16–19 Bursary Fund, including support for students in defined vulnerable groups and discretionary support for students from lower-income households. Awards are based on assessed individual need, appropriate evidence, attendance and engagement expectations, and available funding.

Eligibility does not automatically guarantee a specific award. Support will normally be provided in kind, such as travel support, kit, equipment, meals or other essential college-related costs.

Students may be able to apply for financial support if they are aged 16 or over and under 19 on 31 August 2026 and are enrolled on an eligible publicly funded study programme.

Students aged 19 or over may be considered for discretionary 16–19 bursary support if they are either:

continuing the same study programme they started when aged 16 to 18; or
have an Education, Health and Care Plan.

Apprentices and students on waged training are not eligible for support through the 16–19 Bursary Fund.

VULNERABLE GROUPS BURSARY

The Vulnerable Groups Bursary is for students who are in one of the defined vulnerable groups and have an assessed financial need linked to participation in education.

Students may be eligible if they are:

in care;
a care leaver;
receiving Income Support or Universal Credit in their own right because they are financially supporting themselves, or themselves and a dependent;
receiving Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payment, as well as Employment and Support Allowance or Universal Credit, in their own right.

The maximum standard award is up to £1,200 per academic year for a student on a study programme lasting 30 weeks or more. The full amount is not awarded automatically. The College will assess the student’s actual participation costs before confirming the level and type of support.

Students who qualify for the Vulnerable Groups Bursary may be eligible for our college bursary benefits.*

Support with Uniform/ Kit & Trips	Free College Printer Credit	Free College Meals	College Bus Pass/ Travel Support*
Up to £400.00 / Year	Up to £20.00 / Year	Up to £5.50 / Day	* Subject to an assessment of individual need

Apply now for 25/26

16 to 19 discretionary bursary

The Discretionary Bursary is for students who are not eligible for the Vulnerable Groups Bursary but who face financial barriers to attending and participating in college.

Support is assessed individually and may include help with travel, essential kit or uniform, equipment, digital access, meals, or curriculum-related trips and visits.

Apply now for 25/26

Support Area	Standard Financial Criteria	Additional Criteria
Our Pass	Net household income below £55,000	Student lives at least 0.5 miles from college and has an assessed travel need
College Bus Service	Net household income below £55,000	Student lives at least 0.5 miles from college and the service is appropriate
Tram travel	Net household income below £45,000	Student lives at least 3 miles from college and tram is the appropriate route
Train travel	Net household income below £35,000	Student lives at least 10 miles from college and train is the appropriate route
Taxi support	Net household income below £55,000	Exceptional circumstances only, where no suitable public transport or College Bus option is available
IT, kit, equipment and uniform	Net household income below £35,000	Item must be essential for successful participation in the study programme
Trips and visits	Net household income below £35,000	Activity must be essential or strongly linked to programme completion or assessment
Meal support outside Free Meals entitlement	Assessed hardship	Student has an identified need for food support to attend and participate. (Only awarded in exceptional circumstances)

BURSARY AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT

Apply for a 19+ year old college bursary.

19+ COLLEGE BURSARY

This bursary is for students aged 19 and over who struggle financially with the cost of attending college. If the student’s household income (all adults that live in their home who have financial responsibility for them) is less than £30,000 before tax, and they are studying over 12 hours per week, then the student may be eligible to receive up to £15.00 per week. This is based on 100% attendance on College premises and full engagement with academic studies.

For further information about the 19+ College Bursary Funds, please take a look at our Financial Support Procedure (Students Aged 19+).

Apply now for 25/26

ADVANCED LEARNER LOAN BURSARY

This bursary is for students who have taken out an Advanced Learner Loan to pay for their course. This is based on 100% attendance on College premises and full engagement with academic studies. Depending on their household income, the student will be eligible for up to £60 per week. Please see below:

For further information about the Advanced Learner Loan Bursary Funds, please take a look at our Financial Support Procedure (Students Aged 19+).

Apply now for 25/26

Household Income	Bursary Payment
Below £50,000	Up to £10 per week
Below £40,000	Up to £20 per week
Below £30,000	Up to £30 per week
Below £20,000	Up to £40 per week
Below £16,000	Up to £50 per week
Below £10,000	Up to £60 per week

19+ CHILDCARE FUNDING

The 19+ Childcare Fund is for parents who struggle financially with the cost of childcare when attending College.

To be eligible to receive the 19+ Childcare, students need to meet the following criteria:

Students must be aged 19+
Students’ household income (that of all adults that live in the student’s home who have financial responsibility for them) is less than £30,000 before tax.
Students must be enrolled onto a full-time College study programme.

Students studying on a Foundation Degree, Degree Top-up, Higher National Certificate (HNC) or Higher National Diploma (HND) are not eligible for childcare funding.

We will support eligible students with childcare costs and pay them directly.

Childcare Maximum Daily Contribution:
Half Day £25.00 / Day
Full Day £50.00 / Day

before and after school clubs to a maximum of £10 / Day

For further information about the 19+ Childcare Funds, please take a look at our Financial Support Procedure (Students Aged 19+).

Apply now for 25/26

COLLEGE BURSARY BENEFITS

Free College Meals

Free breakfast and lunch on the days students are timetabled into college to the value of £5.50 per day
Support with Uniform/Kit & Trips

Up to the value of £400.00 per year
Free College Printer Credit

Students may be eligible for £20.00 in printer credit
College Bus Pass or Travel Support

Students eligible for the college bursary may qualify for a free college bus pass.