Financial Support

We understand that the costs of college may be daunting but we are here to support you.

Scroll to next article

We understand that you may have some concerns about the financial aspects of your young person going to college.

Bursaries

Our bursaries are able to support with financial assistance with the following:

  • Transport – public transport or the college bus
  • Free College meals (Adult learners excluded)
  • Equipment essential for your course – books and materials
  • Trips essential for your course/s
  • DBS check – where required for your course.
  • Travel and Lunch funds for Industry Placements
  • Childcare (Learners aged 20+ with Ofsted registered providers)

Please note, any funds paid by the bursary must be deposited to a bank account in the student's name. The only exception to this is if a parent/carer is an appointee. In which case an appointee letter must be submitted when you apply for the bursary. Failure to provide the correct information will unfortunately put the application on hold. 

Students aged 16-19

If you are concerned about the financial aspects of studying and travelling to college, you may be eligible for Bursary Support if any of the below apply to you:

  • If your total household income is under £28,000 and you are in receipt of certain benefits
    • Total household income includes income received through benefits
    • As part of the income assessment, the College will exclude any income related to disability within the household, as well as any carers' allowance that is received.
  • Living in Care or a Young Care leaver
  • Receiving both Employment Support Allowance (ESA) or Universal Credits and either Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence payments in your own name
  • Income Support or Universal Credit in your own name.

For eligible students the Bursary can help you with essential course costs, such as:

  • Transport – public transport or the college bus
  • Equipment for your course – books and materials
  • Trips – if these are an essential part of your course
  • DBS check – if required for your course.

Childcare

If you’re under 20 years old and have to pay for childcare while you attend college, you could get help towards your childcare costs. For more information visit Gov.uk.

Further Education Free Meals

Free meals will be available for all eligible students. Students must be over 16 and under 19 before the academic year in question. If the student holds an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), they will qualify for free college meals until the age of 24. As with the bursary fund, the calculated household income must be below £28,000. 

Evidence

To apply for our bursaries you may be prompted to upload evidence to support your claim. To attach the documents, please scan or take photos of each side of the evidence you will be submitting, and then upload (you can take the photos or screenshots with your phone if this is easier). 

Please see below for accepted evidence:

Income-Related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

Please provide a recent benefit letter dated within one month of application, including your name, address and type of benefit and reference.

Income-Based Job Seekers Allowance (JSA)

Please supply a recent benefit letter dated within one month of application, including your name, address and type of benefit and reference. 

Income Support

Please supply a recent benefit letter dated within one month of application, including your name, address and type of benefit and reference.

Guaranteed Pension Credit

Please supply a recent benefit letter dated within one month of application, including your name, address and type of benefit and reference. Please provide copies of all pages of the notice.

Tax Credits

With a maximum annual income of £28,000 - estimated income not accepted. You will need to provide a 2022/2023 Tax Credit notice letter confirming income from 2023/2024. Please provide copies of all pages of the notice. 

Universal Credit

You will need to supply award statements from the three most recent months. If you are uploading screenshots with your application, this will consist of two to three screenshots for each month. One screenshot will show your monthly award amount and the other will show the breakdown of the claim and any earnings of the claimant. It is important that you submit both screenshots, failure to do this will results in your application not being accepted. 

Child Tax Credits

You must have an annual gross income of no more than £25,000 as assessed by the HMRC. Please provide copies of all pages of the notice. 

How to Apply

If you would like to apply for the College bursary please click on the following link https://usp.paymystudent.com/portal/  and register with PayMyStudent so that you can submit an application.

Should you experience any difficulties, please email bursary@uspcollege.ac.uk

Adult

Adults who are aged 19 or over before 31 August in the year they want to study are expected to fund the cost of their learning at college. Fees vary depending on the type of course and not all Adult learners have to pay. However, if you do, there are a number of ways to help with the cost of studying.

We may be able to offer financial assistance with course-related costs through our Discretionary Learner Fund or Childcare Support Funds.

The Discretionary Learner Support Fund

If your household income is under £28,000 and you are in receipt of certain benefits you may be eligible for monthly discretionary learner support to help with essential course costs, such as:

  • Transport – public transport, or the college bus
  • Equipment for your course – books and materials
  • Trips – if these are an essential part of your course
  • DBS check – if required for your course
  • Childcare costs - only for the times you are studying at college, it must also be an Ofsted childcare establishment
  • Help with the cost of eating at college.

Advanced Learner Loan

If you are studying a Level 3 or 4 qualification you could be eligible for an Advanced Learner Loan.

Learn more about an Advanced Learner Loan

Higher Education

There are a number of financial support options which can help to pay for a Higher Education qualification.

They are:

  • Tuition Fee Loan to cover the cost of your course (full and part-time students)
  • Maintenance Loan to help with living costs (full-time students only)
  • Special Support Grant instead of a Maintenance Grant if you qualify for Income Support or Housing Benefit (full-time students only)
  • Extra help may also be available if you are on a low income, have children or dependent adults, or are disabled.

You need to pay back Tuition Fee Loans and Maintenance Loans once your income is £27,295 or over, but not other student finance, for example, grants and bursaries. You still have to repay your student loan if you leave your course early.

Visit Student Finance England