Student Finance & Support
The bursary scheme is to help students who have a take home household income of less than £28,000 per year. If you receive benefits such as Universal Credits or Tax Credits to enhance your income these are included in the £28,000 threshold. If rent is deducted from your universal credit, this will be included in our £28,000 figure. Your age and course will also determine the amount and type of support that you are eligible for.
To apply for bursary, you’ll need to submit an online application and upload your supporting documents
The Advance Learner Loan Online Application service for courses starting from 1st August will be available from 9th June
If you are eligible, you will be able to apply here. You will need a Learning and Funding Information Letter (LAFIL) to make an application
What is the Advanced Learner Loan?
Advanced Learner Loans are there to help learners aged 19 and over to cover the cost of course fees of a level 3, 4, 5 and 6 college or training course. The course must have started on or after 1st August 2016. Your loan application will last for the duration of the course so there is no need to reapply if your course is longer than a year.
Who is eligible?
Learners aged 19 or above (at the start of their course) and who are resident in the UK and studying an eligible Level 3, 4, 5 or 6 course.
Do I have to take out an Advanced Learner Loan?
No, it’s up to you to decide on your best option, depending on your circumstances.
Need more information?
Please click on the link below or email Bursary for more information.
Student Finance – Student Loans Company Overview
If you’re studying full-time
You may be eligible for student finance if your course is in the UK and one of the following:
- a first degree, for example BA, BSc or BEd
- a Foundation Degree
- a Certificate of Higher Education
- a Diploma of Higher Education (DipHE)
- a Higher National Certificate (HNC)
- a Higher National Diploma (HND)
- an Initial Teacher Training course
- an integrated master’s degree
- a pre-registration postgraduate healthcare course
You may be able to borrow money to help pay for university or college tuition fees and to help with living costs.
You might get extra money on top of this, for example if you’re on a low income, are disabled or have children.
If you’re a continuing student or you’ve already created an account, log in to your account.
Before you apply
You start repaying once you earn over a certain amount. The size of your monthly repayments will depend on how much you earn, not what you owe.
You’ll be charged interest on the loan from the day you take it out. The terms and conditions can change.
Please visit the student loans company website for further information.
Read the student finance privacy notice to find out how the information you provide will be used.
How to apply
Find out how to apply for student finance.
Applying for Student Finance Gov UK – Information
There’s a different process if you’re a student from Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland. Contact the education authority if you live in the Channel Islands (Jersey and Guernsey) or Isle of Man.
Bursary allowance can support with:
- Travel costs (train and/or bus fare)
This is calculated based on address and campus
For ages 16-17 this also includes a one-off payment to purchase a 16-17 saver card and the amount is calculated using this discounted fare. - Required course equipment and kit
This is calculated based on the equipment and kit check list provided by the college at enrolment (not all courses require equipment and kit to be purchased) - Required course books
A digital receipt will need to be provided as evidence - Trips
The letter sent from the department detailing the cost of the trip will need to be provided as evidence
If your take-home household income (including benefits received) is less than £28,000 per year, you may be eligible to receive financial support to attend college.
- Benefits received such as Universal Credits or Tax Credits to enhance your income are included in this threshold.
- If rent is deducted from your Universal Credit, this will be included in the overall household income calculations.
For example (per month):
£1,000 earned income
+ £1,000 universal credits
+ £1,000 UC paying rent
= £3,000 per month x 12
£36,000 per year (over threshold)
- Your age and course will also determine the amount and type of support that you are eligible for.
You (the student) may also be eligible for bursary support if you are:
- In care
- A care leaver
- Receiving Income Support (IS) or Universal Credit (UC) in your own name because you are financially supporting yourself or a dependent
- Receiving Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or Personal Independence Payments (PIP) in your own name and Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) or UC in your own name
Vulnerable Young Person (VYP) bursary
You (the student) may be eligible for this type of bursary if at least one of the following applies to you:
When referring to ‘you’ this means the student – the below would need to be in the young person who is attending the college’s name.
- You’re in or you recently left local authority care
- You get Income Support or Universal Credit in your own name because you’re financially supporting yourself
- You get Disability Living Allowance (DLA) in your own name and either Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) or Universal Credit in your own name
- You get Personal Independence Payment (PIP) in your own name and either ESA or Universal Credit in your own name
The college can claim up to £1,200 from the VYP bursary. The amount you may receive depends on the costs you have and what you need for your course. This might include money for books, equipment or travel costs to school or college.
If the amount required exceeds this amount, the college can use the discretionary bursary to ‘top-up’ based on individual circumstance.
Discretionary bursary
You could be eligible for a discretionary bursary if you need financial help but do not qualify for a bursary for students in vulnerable groups.
Each college will have their own criteria for discretionary bursaries.
They’ll look at your individual circumstances – this usually includes your family income.
If you’re over 19 and either:
- Continuing on a course you started aged 16 to 18 (known as being a ‘19+ continuer’)
- Have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) you are also eligible to apply for the discretionary bursary
For Pre-16 students on school roll, you must speak to a representative at your current school about accessing support through the Pupil Premium fund. This includes free meals and potential for further financial support (based on eligibility, individual needs and available funding).
For home-educated students, you are eligible to apply for bursary support and free meals via our online bursary application
If you are eligible for free college meals, you will receive £4 per day you attend college. This does not roll over to the next day if unused. You need to apply for free college meals via our online application form.
- All students already receiving free meals on or after 1 April 2018 continue to be eligible to receive free meals until the end of the academic year 2025-26.
- If you did not receive free meals last year but would like to apply, your earned income must be below £7,400 to be eligible.
- From September 2026, the DfE have announced that all households receiving Universal Credit will qualify for free meals.
- Students aged 19+ who are continuing on the same study programme they started before turning 19 or who have an EHCP are eligible for free college meals (where they meet the eligibility criteria).
- Apprentices, including those with an EHCP are not eligible.
- Bursary for travel costs are paid on a fortnightly* basis not including holidays and half terms *(subject to change)
- This usually starts from the second* week of Term 1*(subject to change)
- Bursary is a reimbursement for the previous fortnight
- If attendance drops below 50% the upcoming bursary payment will be cancelled as it will be considered unused
- It will be reinstated for the next payment date if attendance increases to 50% or above
- If you withdraw from the college, your bursary will be cancelled entirely
Prepare household evidence ahead of time: If you will need to provide the last 3 month’s evidence of household income. This could be payslips, Universal Credit statements, a self-assessment form or other benefits documentation. Please have these ready in PDF format before you apply.
How to download Universal Credit statements in PDF format
- Log in to your Universal Credit account
- Go to the Statement Summary page
- Click on the most recent statement
- Select the option to Print to PDF or Save as PDF
- Save the document to your device
- Have supporting documents ready: This may include a Proof of care status (letter from social worker or local authority), PIP/DLA letter (in the student’s name) or Free School Meal certificate of eligibility (or letter from previous provider) if relevant.
- Set up student’s bank account: Bursary payments must be paid into the student’s own bank account. We will not be able to process your application without bank details that match the student’s name. It’s advisable to have this set up prior to applying.
Brooklands Technical College
Weybridge Campus
Heath Road, Weybridge, Surrey KT13 8TT
Brooklands Technical College
Ashford Campus
Stanwell Road, Ashford TW15 3DU
