Student Services

The bursary is a discretionary fund and due to the limited nature of the fund, meeting the criteria does not guarantee funding. The bursary is income assessed and operated on a first come first served basis.

Guidance Information
Students aged 16 and over but under 19 as of 31 August 2021, or be aged 19 or over with an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP), or be aged 19 or over and continuing on a study programme which began when aged 16-18 could be eligible to receive financial support from the Central Bedfordshire College 16-18 Discretionary Learner Support Fund.
Discretionary Bursaries are awards made to students by the College to help young people overcome the individual financial barriers to participating in education.

Bursary Categories of Assistance
Category 1 – Discretionary Bursary

• Support with food if applicable
• Stationery
• Kit/Uniform (to be returned if you withdraw or transfer prior to the end of a course) – please note we cannot reimburse items already purchased
• Travel Support
• Trip fees (course essential only)

Category 2 – Bursary for Vulnerable Learners
*Please note that the full amount of £1200 will not be awarded automatically as the award will be assessed based on actual financial need, and learners will only receive the amount they require to participate on the study programme

• A bursary of up to £1,200* a year will be available to assist with the costs of travel, books, kit and uniform and other associated course costs.
• Support with food

Students will be eligible if enrolled and assessed as being in one of the five defined vulnerable groups:

• In care (not private fostering)
• Care leavers
• Special guardianship
• In receipt of Income Support, or Universal Credit because they are financially supporting themselves, or financially supporting themselves and someone who is dependent on them and living with them such as a child
• In receipt of Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payments in their own right, as well as Employment and Support Allowance or Universal Credit in their own right.
  Notes for Travel Support:
  Students must live more than three miles away from their main campus of study.

Notes for Childcare Support:
If you wish to apply for assistance with childcare, you should apply directly for ‘Care to Learn’ funding via www.gov.uk/care-to-learn.

Eligibility Criteria

• You must be enrolled on a qualifying, funded full or part time course.
• Your annual household income must not exceed £30,000 - you will be asked to provide evidence of all household income. (Please note total household income includes Universal Credit)
• You must be a UK/EU/EEA national and have resided in the UK/EU/EEA for at least the past 3 years.
  The bursary is a discretionary fund and due to the limited nature of the fund, meeting the criteria does not guarantee funding. The bursary is income assessed and operated on a first come first served basis.

Evidence Required

• Evidence of all household income
  Household income is the total amount of money earned by every member within a single household. Household income includes wages, salaries, pension, and welfare payments.
• Evidence of all benefits received

Notes for Evidence of Household Income – Waged (not in receipt of ANY benefits):
Waged evidence of household income must include the three most recent payslips at time of application (to include yourself, spouse, co-habiting partner and/or parents).

Notes for Evidence of Benefits:
To help assess household income, we can use the following evidence:

• Working/Child Tax Credits (TC602 for the current tax year or TC603R for the previous tax year)
• Universal Credits (3 recent statements)
• Income Support*
• Employment & Support Allowance*
• Income-based Jobseekers Allowance*
• Pension Credit*
  *Contact Jobcentre Plus to obtain a qualifying letter
  

  Evidence of benefits should be dated no more than three months old at time of application with the exception of Child/Working Tax Credit Award Notice which needs to show the household income for the current financial year.

  All pages must be submitted.

The bursary is a discretionary fund and due to the limited nature of the fund, meeting the criteria does not guarantee funding. The bursary is income assessed and operated on a first come first served basis.

Additional Help
Under exceptional circumstances students who are not automatically eligible for an award can also apply for help with one off course associated costs (proof of income and hardship will be requested). Applications for additional help will be considered on an individual basis and is dependent on available funds.

Administration of the Discretionary Learner Support Fund

• Wherever possible payments will be made directly to a supplier
• The College reserves the right to suspend, reduce or stop payments where a student’s attendance falls below 85% or where conduct and/or progress does not meet expected standards.
• You should normally receive a final decision about your bursary application within 4 weeks of the College receiving your fully completed application form and after enrolling onto your course. This will be communicated via email along with any other form of communication with the Funding and Welfare team
• Incomplete application forms will be held until all requested information is received.
• The amount of funds provided will depend upon individual circumstances and may be subject to change due to the availability of funds.
• Central Bedfordshire College retains the right to request further information if it is required to complete the funding assessment
• The College will only process bank details of learners and not those of parents/guardians
• Any awards provided commence from the completion date of your funding assessment.

Data Protection and Confidentiality
The information that you provide, along with any supporting evidence, will be used for the purpose of processing your application and administering the Discretionary Learner Support fund. As a part of the administration, information may be shared with the Education and Skills Funding Agency and other statutory bodies responsible for providing educations funding and support. For further information, please see our Data Privacy Policy.

Declaration
You will be required to sign a declaration as a part of your application to state that the information that you have provided us with is true and accurate. The declaration is part of an auditable document and if information is found to be fraudulent, action will be taken to recover any funds previously paid and all future payments will be stopped.

Appeals
Appeals regarding bursary awards must be completed within 14 days of receiving notification of the award. Information held regarding the assessment, along with any additional evidence supplied will be reviewed and an independent assessment will be made within 4 weeks of the appeal being received. A Bursary appeal form can be found on the College website.

For further information regarding funding support or completing this application, please contact us on 01582 477 776 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The bursary is a discretionary fund and due to the limited nature of the fund, meeting the criteria does not guarantee funding. The bursary is income assessed and operated on a first come first served basis.

Guidance Information

Students aged 19 could be eligible to receive financial support from the Central Bedfordshire College 19+ Fund. Funding is available to students who are studying on a qualifying, funded full or part-time course.

Bursary Categories of Assistance

Funds will cover the total costs of the following categories of assistance:

• Stationery
• Kit, uniform and professional fees that are essential to the course (to be returned to College if student leaves or transfers to another course) – please note we cannot reimburse items already purchased
• Book or trip costs that are essential to the course
• Childcare costs
• Funding Support

Notes for Travel Support:

Students must live more than three miles away from their main campus of study.

Notes for Childcare Support:

If you are aged under 20 and wish to apply for assistance with childcare, you should apply directly for ‘Care to Learn’ funding via www.gov.uk/care-to-learn.

All students over the age of 20 who meet the eligibility criteria for the funding support can apply for the Childcare support via the College.

Eligibility Criteria

• You must be enrolled on a qualifying, funded full or part time course.
• Your annual household income must not exceed £30,000 - you will be asked to provide evidence of all household income. (Please note total household income includes Universal Credit)
• You must be a UK/EU/EEA national and have resided in the UK/EU/EEA for at least the past 3 years.

The bursary is a discretionary fund and due to the limited nature of the fund, meeting the criteria does not guarantee funding. The bursary is income assessed and operated on a first come first served basis.

Evidence Required

• Evidence of all household income

Household income is the total amount of money earned by every member within a single household. Household income includes wages, salaries, pension, and welfare payments.

• Evidence of all benefits received

Notes for Evidence of Household Income – Waged (not in receipt of ANY benefits):

Waged evidence of household income must include the three most recent payslips at time of application (to include yourself, spouse, co-habiting partner and/or parents).

Notes for Evidence of Benefits:

To help assess household income, we can use the following evidence:

• Working/Child Tax Credits (TC602 for the current tax year or TC603R for the previous tax year)
• Universal Credits (3 recent statements)
• Income Support*
• Employment & Support Allowance*
• Income-based Jobseekers Allowance*
• Pension Credit*

*Contact Jobcentre Plus to obtain a qualifying letter

Evidence of benefits should be dated no more than three months old at time of application with the exception of Child/Working Tax Credit Award Notice which needs to show the household income for the current financial year. All pages must be submitted.

Please note: If you or your parents/carers are in receipt of any state benefit, it is your responsibility to inform the Department for Work and Pensions about any financial support that you receive as learner support payments may affect your eligibility for some state benefits.

If you provide Income Support, ESA, JSA, Pension credit or Wage slips a declaration confirming this is the only household income received must be attached.

Additional Help

Under exceptional circumstances students who are not automatically eligible for an award can also apply for help with one off course associated costs (proof of income and hardship will be requested). Applications for additional help will be considered on an individual basis and is dependent on available funds.

Administration of the Discretionary Learner Support Fund

• Wherever possible payments will be made directly to a supplier
• The College reserves the right to suspend, reduce or stop payments where a student’s attendance falls below 85% or where conduct and/or progress does not meet expected standards.
• You should normally receive a final decision about your bursary application within 4 weeks of the College receiving your fully completed application form and after enrolling onto your course. This will be communicated via email along with any other form of communication with the Funding and Welfare team
• Incomplete application forms will be held until all requested information is received.
• The amount of funds provided will depend upon individual circumstances and may be subject to change due to the availability of funds.
• Central Bedfordshire College retains the right to request further information if it is required to complete the funding assessment
• The College will only process bank details of learners and not those of parents/guardians
• Any awards provided commence from the completion date of your funding assessment.

Data Protection and Confidentiality

The information that you provide, along with any supporting evidence, will be used for the purpose of processing your application and administering the Discretionary Learner Support fund. As a part of the administration, information may be shared with the Education and Skills Funding Agency and other statutory bodies responsible for providing educations funding and support. For further information, please see our Data Privacy Policy.

Declaration

You will be required to sign a declaration as a part of your application to state that the information that you have provided us with is true and accurate. The declaration is part of an auditable document and if information is found to be fraudulent, action will be taken to recover any funds previously paid and all future payments will be stopped.

Appeals

Appeals regarding bursary awards must be completed within 14 days of receiving notification of the award. Information held regarding the assessment, along with any additional evidence supplied will be reviewed and an independent assessment will be made within 4 weeks of the appeal being received. A Bursary appeal form can be found on the College website.

For further information regarding funding support or completing this application, please contact us on 01582 477 776 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The bursary is a discretionary fund and due to the limited nature of the fund, meeting the criteria does not guarantee funding. The bursary is income assessed and operated on a first come first served basis.

Guidance Information

Students aged 19 and over on the first day of their course, who have been approved for an Advanced Learner Loan, could be eligible to receive financial support from the Central Bedfordshire College Advanced Learner Fund.

Financial Assistance Available

• Full-time learners could receive up to £350 per term
• Part-time learners could receive up to £200 per term
• Stationery
• Kit, uniform and professional fees that are essential to the course (to be returned to College if student leaves or transfers to another course) – please note we cannot reimburse items already purchased

If you require support with childcare payments, please complete a Childcare Application Form.

Please note: - The amount of bursary assistance provided will depend upon individual circumstances and may be subject to change due to the availability of funds. Payments will be adjusted for programmes that do not run over a full academic year.

Notes for Travel Support:

Students must live more than three miles away from their main campus of study.

Notes for Childcare Support:

If you are aged under 20 and wish to apply for assistance with childcare, you should apply directly for ‘Care to Learn’ funding via www.gov.uk/care-to-learn.

All students over the age of 20 who meet the eligibility criteria for the funding support can apply for the Childcare support via the College.

Eligibility Criteria

• You must be enrolled on a qualifying, funded full or part time course.
• Your annual household income must not exceed £30,000 - you will be asked to provide evidence of all household income. (Please note total household income includes Universal Credit)
• You must be a UK/EU/EEA national and have resided in the UK/EU/EEA for at least the past 3 years.

The bursary is a discretionary fund and due to the limited nature of the fund, meeting the criteria does not guarantee funding. The bursary is income assessed and operated on a first come first served basis.

Evidence Required

• Evidence of all household income

Household income is the total amount of money earned by every member within a single household. Household income includes wages, salaries, pension, and welfare payments.

• Evidence of all benefits received

Notes for Evidence of Household Income – Waged (not in receipt of ANY benefits):

Waged evidence of household income must include the three most recent payslips at time of application (to include yourself, spouse, co-habiting partner and/or parents).

 

Notes for Evidence of Benefits:

To help assess household income, we can use the following evidence:

• Working/Child Tax Credits (TC602 for the current tax year or TC603R for the previous tax year)
• Universal Credits (3 recent statements)
• Income Support*
• Employment & Support Allowance*
• Income-based Jobseekers Allowance*
• Pension Credit*

*Contact Jobcentre Plus to obtain a qualifying letter

Evidence of benefits should be dated no more than three months old at time of application with the exception of Child/Working Tax Credit Award Notice which needs to show the household income for the current financial year. All pages must be submitted.

Please note: If you or your parents/carers are in receipt of any state benefit, it is your responsibility to inform the Department for Work and Pensions about any financial support that you receive as learner support payments may affect your eligibility for some state benefits.

If you provide Income Support, ESA, JSA, Pension credit or Wage slips a declaration confirming this is the only household income received must be attached.

Additional Help

Under exceptional circumstances students who are not automatically eligible for an award can also apply for help with one off course associated costs (proof of income and hardship will be requested). Applications for additional help will be considered on an individual basis and is dependent on available funds.

Administration of the Discretionary Learner Support Fund

• Wherever possible payments will be made directly to a supplier
• The College reserves the right to suspend, reduce or stop payments where a student’s attendance falls below 85% or where conduct and/or progress does not meet expected standards.
• You should normally receive a final decision about your bursary application within 4 weeks of the College receiving your fully completed application form and after enrolling onto your course. This will be communicated via email along with any other form of communication with the Funding and Welfare team
• Incomplete application forms will be held until all requested information is received.
• The amount of funds provided will depend upon individual circumstances and may be subject to change due to the availability of funds.
• Central Bedfordshire College retains the right to request further information if it is required to complete the funding assessment
• The College will only process bank details of learners and not those of parents/guardians
• Any awards provided commence from the completion date of your funding assessment.

Data Protection and Confidentiality

The information that you provide, along with any supporting evidence, will be used for the purpose of processing your application and administering the Discretionary Learner Support fund. As a part of the administration, information may be shared with the Education and Skills Funding Agency and other statutory bodies responsible for providing educations funding and support. For further information, please see our Data Privacy Policy.

Declaration

You will be required to sign a declaration as a part of your application to state that the information that you have provided us with is true and accurate. The declaration is part of an auditable document and if information is found to be fraudulent, action will be taken to recover any funds previously paid and all future payments will be stopped.

Appeals

Appeals regarding bursary awards must be completed within 14 days of receiving notification of the award. Information held regarding the assessment, along with any additional evidence supplied will be reviewed and an independent assessment will be made within 4 weeks of the appeal being received. A Bursary appeal form can be found on the College website.

For further information regarding funding support or completing this application, please contact us on 01582 477 776 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The bursary is a discretionary fund and due to the limited nature of the fund, meeting the criteria does not guarantee funding. The bursary is income assessed and operated on a first come first served basis.

Guidance Information

All students over the age of 20 who meet the eligibility criteria for the funding support can apply for the Childcare support. We will require evidence of your dependent children who attend childcare e.g. Child Tax Credit Award Notice, Child Benefit Statement or birth certificate(s).

All funds will normally be paid directly to the childcare provider. Childcare support will be based

upon your timetabled hours during term time only; College holidays and Bank Holidays, deposits,

retainers and late fees will not be funded.

Please note that the amount of funding provided is discretionary. Childcare costs available

through Bursary are capped at a maximum of £165 per week per child – the College reserve the

right to amend this amount at any time. In addition, all childcare fees prior to a successful application and a completed assessment remains the responsibility of the learner until agreed by the College, upon approval payments will start at the beginning of the month the assessment is completed and backdated pay will only be on an individual basis that will require the approval of the Student Services Manager.

Childcare Funding for Children under School Age

• Written confirmation of costs from the childcare provider are required, please include this information with your application.
• Funding will be calculated on an individual basis to a maximum of £165 per week per child – this also includes travelling time.
• If your children are eligible for Free Early Education & Childcare (age 2 and above), you are required to apply to receive this funding before applying for support. Your funding will then be adjusted accordingly.

Childcare Funding for Children of School Age

• Funding will only be paid to providers who are OFSTED registered.
• Funding will be calculated on an individual basis per hour of ‘required’ care based on

payment rates given from your childcare provider (written confirmation will be required

from your provider and should accompany this application). By the term required, we

mean for the hours attended at an afterschool or breakfast club.

The funding is a discretionary fund and due to the limited nature of the fund, meeting the criteria

does not guarantee funding. The support is income assessed and operated on a first come first

served basis.

Free Early Education and Childcare

All 3 to 4-year olds in England can receive free early years education or childcare from the term beginning after their 3rd birthday. Some may be able to get up to 30 hours free care per week. Some 2-year olds are also eligible for up to 15 hours free childcare per week dependent upon your household circumstances. For more information, please visit: www.gov.uk/help-with-childcare-costs/free-childcare-and-education-for-2-to-4-year-olds

You will be expected to use your ‘free’ hours of childcare during your timetabled hours and may

only be funded additionally if your timetabled lessons exceed your ‘free’ hours.

Payments

• Childcare payments will usually be made on a monthly basis directly to your childcare

provider.

• Funding is subject to satisfactory attendance, conduct and progress at the College. Your attendance will be closely monitored and payments will be stopped if attendance falls below 85% across all areas of study without reasonable explanation.
• If you withdraw from your course or finish early, you may be expected to pay back any overpayments made by the College.
• It is your responsibility to inform both the Welfare Team and your childcare provider of any changes to your circumstances.

Administration of Childcare Support

• Wherever possible payments will be made directly to a supplier
• You should normally receive a final decision about your application within 4 weeks of the College receiving your fully completed application form and after enrolling onto your course. This will be communicated via email along with any other form of communication with the Funding and Welfare team
• Incomplete application forms will be held until all requested information is received.
• The amount of funds provided will depend upon individual circumstances and may be subject to change due to the availability of funds.
• Central Bedfordshire College retains the right to request further information if it is required to complete the funding assessment

Data Protection and Confidentiality

The information that you provide, along with any supporting evidence, will be used for the purpose of processing your application and administering the Discretionary Learner Support fund. As a part of the administration, information may be shared with the Education and Skills Funding Agency and other statutory bodies responsible for providing educations funding and support. For further information, please see our Data Privacy Policy.

Declaration

You will be required to sign a declaration as a part of your application to state that the information that you have provided us with is true and accurate. The declaration is part of an auditable document and if information is found to be fraudulent, action will be taken to recover any funds previously paid and all future payments will be stopped.

Appeals

Appeals regarding bursary awards must be completed within 14 days of receiving notification of the award. Information held regarding the assessment, along with any additional evidence supplied will be reviewed and an independent assessment will be made within 4 weeks of the appeal being received. A Bursary appeal form can be found on the College website.

For further information regarding funding support or completing this application, please contact us on 01582 477 776 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.