Money need not be a barrier to you undertaking your next step. This page is intended as a guide to the range of financial support options available to students to help you meet the costs associated with study.
Financial Support for College Students
Schools, Colleges and Training Providers receive funding from the Government to assist students with course-related costs, such as equipment, clothing and transport. There are some conditions that you, or your parents/guardians must meet, in order to be eligible.
Our bursary application portal is now open for applications.
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16 – 18 Bursary Fund
For students aged under 19 on 31st August 2024
You could get a bursary to help with education-related costs if you’re aged 16 to 19 and:
- Enrolled on a full time or part-time course funded by the Government
- Enrolled on a course that is subject to inspection by a public body (for example Ofsted)
- Your household income including benefit(s) is less than £35,000 gross per year
- 16 – 18 years of age (or up to 23 years of age if you have an Education, Health & Care Plan (EHCP)).
Read our Bursary Policy here
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19+ Learner Support Fund
This is for students aged 19+ on 31st August 2024 and includes students that have accessed the Advanced Learner Loan.
Students over 19 who will be studying a qualification up to and including Level 2 may apply to the 19+ bursary fund.
Students studying Level 3 or above and who have applied and accessed the Advanced Learner Loan (see below) for their FULL course fee may also apply to the 19+ bursary fund.
Eligibility is as follows:
- Enrolled on a full time or part-time course funded by the Government
- Enrolled on a course that is subject to inspection by a public body (for example Ofsted)
- Your household income/benefit(s) is less than £35,000 per year
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Advanced Learner Loan (tuition fee only)
Loans are available for students, similar to Higher Education loans, but for the Further Education sector. Loans are available for students aged 19 and over (as of 31st August 2024) who are undertaking general and technical qualifications at Levels 3, 4, 5 and 6. These loans provide a source of fees support for learners. These loans will be paid directly to the college on your behalf.
These loans help you to cover the cost of your course fees – whether it is a full or part-time course at Levels 3 to 6. You won’t have to pay anything back until your income is over £25,000 per year.
To qualify for the Advanced Learner Loan, you'll need to be:
- Aged 19 or above on the first day of your course
- Studying or training on an eligible course at Level 3 to 6
- A resident of the UK for the past three years.
To apply, and for more information regarding the Advanced Learner Loan, please visit: www.gov.uk/advancedlearnerloan
Before taking out any loan, you should consider all of your options. If you want advice on managing your finances, visit the Money Advice Service at https://www.moneyhelper.org.uk/ for impartial advice.
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Residential Bursary
For students aged 16-18 on 31st August 2024
The college offers a means-tested residential bursary to those studying a land-based course who wish to stay in our on-site accommodation during their studies.
Eligible course areas are as follows:
- Agriculture
- Animal Care/Animal Management
- Countryside & Environmental Management
- Equine
- Horticulture
- Land-based Service Engineering
Get in touch with This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information!
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Childcare
Students UNDER 20 - Care to Learn
Funding may be available for childcare if you are:
- Aged under 20 at the start of your course
- The main carer of the child/children.
For more information and to apply visit www.gov.uk/care-to-learn
Students OVER the age of 20
(as of 31st August 2024)
The 19+ Learner Support fund can assist towards the cost of childcare whilst you are studying with us. Funding may be available for up to two children per student.
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Additional Information
Please note: Due to limited funding the college cannot guarantee to support every application we receive. Students are encouraged to apply as early as possible, however funds are awarded on a first come, first served basis. Please provide ALL required supporting evidence alongside your completed bursary application.
Financial Support for Higher Education Students
Prior to starting your course, you will need to consider how you will afford some of the following costs: tuition fees, examination/registration fees, travel costs, equipment/materials, uniform/specialist kit and childcare costs, if you have young children.
If you wish to enrol onto a Higher Education course, you can apply for a Higher Education loan to cover your tuition fees and help towards your living costs. The main types of finance available are tuition fee loans and maintenance loans (which have to be paid back) and bursaries (which don’t). The amount you will be eligible for depends on your income and that of your household.
You can find our HE Fees Policy here.
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Tuition Fee Loan
Tuition fee loans up to £9,250 per year are available to cover the cost of tuition fees. The Student Loans Company will pay this directly to the university or college. The amount of your tuition fee loan doesn’t depend on household income.
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Maintenance Loan
This loan helps towards living costs (e.g. accommodation, food and travel) whilst you study with us. It is paid each year in three instalments, one at the beginning of each term.
The maximum loan amount for students studying outside of London in 2024/25 is £9,488, though the actual amount received and your contribution to the loan will depend on your household income (though some of the loan can be received without having a household income assessment carried out).
If you live away from home, the first £4,422 of the loan is not affected by your household income. This means that if you are eligible, you will receive this regardless of your parents’ or partner’s income.
The remainder of the loan depends on your household income, and the full £9,488 is available if this is below £25,000. If your household income is above £25,000, the loan amount available to you decreases.
You can apply for just the non-income assessed element if you, or your parents, do not want to provide evidence of income.
You can apply for your tuition fee and maintenance loans through Student Finance England (SFE) from February/March 2024.
The deadline for applications is 9 months after the start of the academic year.
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Applying for your student loan
Apply before the end of May 2024 to get your loan/grant in place for the start of your course in September 2024.
- Register with www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance.
- Make a note of your CRN (customer reference number), keep it safe and remember your password.
- Start filling out the form online – save it each time you log off so you can keep going back to complete it.
- You will be asked for details of your first choice provider/university and given a calculation of your entitlement. If you change your mind about your provider/university choices, you’ll need to go back and change these details.
- SFE verifies your status using the HM Passport Office – so you need to input your passport number (or send them your birth certificate).
- Your parents need to input information from the previous tax year using their P60 and other documents.
- Once completed, check the form thoroughly before submitting.
- Use your CRN and password to check progress, change details, or ask questions.
- If you have problems, refer to the SFE homepage or call 0300 100 06 07 (SFE helpline).
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Repaying your student loan
You will start repaying your loans the April after you finish your course – but only if your income is over £480 a week or £2,083 a month (before tax and other deductions). You will not start repaying your loans until your income is over this amount.
If you have not cleared your debt to the Student Loans Company within 30 years of graduating, your remaining debt is written off by the government
You do not have to pay back grants, scholarships or bursaries.
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Interest On Your Student Loans
You are charged interest on your loan from the time you get your first payment in Higher Education until you pay your loan back in full. Your monthly payments are fixed but the overall amount you pay back will increase because interest is added to it. You will pay this interest back by making payments over a longer period of time. You can also repay your loan quicker if you want to by making extra repayments on top of your monthly repayments. The amount of interest you are charged varies.
Example of Loan Repayments
(Examples below are based on the academic year 2024/25 and may alter for future academic years)Annual income before tax
Monthly Salary
Monthly Repayment
£25,000
£2,038
£0
£28,000
£2,333
£22
£29,500
£2,458
£33
£31,000
£2,583
£45
£33,000 £2,750 £60 -
Childcare Grant
The Childcare Grant is non-repayable and reimburses up to 85% of your childcare costs, up to a specified limit, and will increase to £179.62 per week for one child and £307.95 per week for two or more children. Your children must be in a registered and approved childcare provider scheme.
You will need to provide an estimate of your childcare costs at the start of the academic year and these will be compared against your actual costs throughout the year. -
Parents’ Learning Allowance
If you have a child, you may be eligible for Parents’ Learning Allowance (PLA) of up to £1,821. The PLA helps cover the additional costs arising from the care of a child whilst studying.
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Adult Dependents' Grant
If you are a full-time student and have an adult who is financially dependent on you, you can apply for an Adult Dependents’ Grant. This could be your spouse or partner (if you are over 25) or another adult who is dependent on you.
The maximum award is £3,190. -
Disabled Students’ Allowance
Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) is paid on top of your other student finance. The money is not paid directly to you, but it can help fund any extra costs you may incur because of your disability. DSA does not have to be repaid.
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Funding for Healthcare and Social Work students
Nursing, midwifery and most allied health students will no longer receive NHS bursaries. Instead, they will have access to the same student loans system as other students (https://www.gov.uk/student- finance/overview).
However, the NHS Business Services Authority will provide additional funding for some nursing, midwifery and allied health professional students because of the compulsory clinical placement required by these courses.
Eligible students may be able to access the following:
- A non-repayable grant if they have child dependants
- Additional support in the case of severe hardship
- Support for excess travel and dual accommodation expenses incurred by attending practice placements
The NHS Business Services Authority website will provide further details about when funding applications can be made well in advance of the start of the 2022/23 academic year.
www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/student-services
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Further information
Student Finance England
Telephone: 0300 100 0607
Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pmSaturday and Sunday, 9am to 4pm
Money Saving Expert
www.moneysavingexpert.com/students
Teachers
www.education.gov.uk/get-into-teaching
Discover Uni
For further information on bursaries and other financial matters, please contact Student Services:
Melton & Brooksby Campus: 01664 850 850
Stephenson Campus: 01530 836 136
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.