Student Finance 2024/25
We can offer financial support to students, who have low household income and meet the criteria for the relevant bursary.
16-18 Students
There are two options available for 16-18 year old students.
1. Discretionary Bursary
If you, the student, still lives at home and your parent/guardian(s) receive ONE of the benefits listed below with an income of less than £25,000, then please select the Discretionary Bursary.
- Income Support
- Income-based Job Seekers Allowance
- Support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- The guaranteed element of State Pension Credit
- Child Tax Credit
- Working Tax Credit run-on ONLY – paid for 4 weeks after someone stops qualifying for Working Tax Credit
- Universal Credit (Please note the College will use the payment quoted at the top of the Universal Credit Statement, plus any take-home pay declared on the monthly statement when calculating income.
- Self-Employed Tax Return (for the latest year)
It is important that you upload THREE CONSECUTIVE MONTHLY UNIVERSAL CREDIT STATEMENTS, in case there is any variance in payments from month to month.
2. Vulnerable Bursary
To meet the criteria for the Vulnerable Bursary, you must meet one of the following:
- You, the student, are currently in the care/or have recently left the care of the local authority; OR
- You, the student, in your own right receive both PIP or DLA* as well as Employment Support Allowance or Universal Credit; OR
- You, the student, are receiving both Universal Credit in your own right, because you are financially supporting yourself and anyone who is dependent on you living with you, such as a child or partner.
Please provide documentation such as a Tenancy Agreement in your name, a Child Benefit letter, the child's Birth Certificate, or a utility bill in your name.
Students that have an EHCP will be classed as 16-18 year olds, until they reach the age of 25.
All EHCP students are eligible for a Free College Meal, if you require financial assistance with travel, then please complete the relevant application. Criteria and evidence requirements are the same as the Discretionary Bursary.
19+ Students
We offer two different types of Bursaries for students who are studying a fully funded Further Education Course. Please read the following carefully to see whether you are eligible to apply for one of them.
1. 19+ Discretionary Learning Support Fund
If you have applied for a Level 2 qualification course or below (Entry, Level 1), and your household income is below £25,000, and haven't already achieved a Level 3 qualification (e.g. A Level), then this is the Bursary for you.
Please note that if you have already achieved a Level 3 qualification then you are unable to apply for this Bursary and you will need to talk to the Enrolment Team (01202) 205611 or email enrolmentoffice@bpc.ac.uk, to discuss criteria for a waiver of fees, or to organise a payment plan.
If you find that you are required to pay the tuition fee for the course, then you can apply for the Aspire Grant (alongside the 19+ Discretionary Learning Support Fund). The Aspire Grant can help with a percentage of the cost.
The remainder of the fee will be your responsibility and a payment plan can be discussed with the Enrolment Team (01202 205611), through Pay the College, or at the point of Enrolment.
Please note that note that some of our courses are fully costed and therefore you are unable to apply for a bursary.
2. Advanced Learner Loan Bursary
If you will be studying a Level 3 Further Education course (Access to HE, BTEC, T Levels etc), and are liable for the tuition fee, and have applied and been awarded the Advanced Learner Loan, and family income is below £25,000, then you may be eligible for financial assistance.
Apprentices
We offer two different bursaries for our apprentices.
1. LAC Apprenticeship Bursary
The aim of this Bursary is to give extra support to those students making the transition to the world of work, by removing financial barriers to enable Care Leavers to live independently at a young age.
The apprentice will be eligible for a payment if they have been in care of the Local Authority. A child in care is defined as:
- An eligible child – a young person who is 16-17 and who has been looked after by the local authority/health and social care trust for at least a period of 13 weeks since the age of 14, and who is still looked after
- A relevant child – a young person who is 16-17 who has left care after their 16th birthday and before leaving care an eligible child; OR
- A former relevant child – a young person who is aged 18-21 (up to their 25th birthday if they are in education or training), who before turning 18, was an eligible or a relevant child
Value of Bursary: One-off payment of £1,000
Click here to apply for the LAC Apprenticeship Bursary
2. Apprenticeship Travel Bursary
This Bursary is intended to help apprentices with travel costs, the following criteria applies:
- Have a confirmed offer (course and employer), or a live enrolment on a Bournemouth & Poole College Apprenticeship programme
- Be eligible for funding as per the ESFA funding rules
- Apprenticeship wage/salary is below £13,000
- Family income must be less than £30,000
- Applicants work address must be at least 3 miles from their home address
Value of Bursary: Distance between home address and placement paid at 20p per mile to a maximum of £30 per week.
Click here to apply for the Apprenticeship Travel Bursary
Higher Education Bursary
We can offer financial support to Higher Education students, who have a low household income and meet the criteria as stated below.
Unfortunately, due to our limited bursary funds, meeting the eligibility criteria does not automatically qualify an applicant for a Bournemouth and Poole College HE Bursary.
Information and eligibility criteria
1. Criteria for application
Applicants must:
- Be a 2023 entrant
- Be enrolled on a Bournemouth & Poole College HNC, HND or Foundation Degree programme
- Be registered as a UK student
- Be responsible for their own fees (ie they are not sponsored by their employer or other)
- Have a family or household income of £25,000 or less (except for care leavers – see below)
Bursary applications cannot be accepted from the following:
- Students funded by the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish governments
- Students from outside England (EU or International)
Unfortunately, due to our limited bursary funds, meeting the eligibility criteria does not automatically qualify an applicant for a Bournemouth and Poole College HE Bursary.
2. Bursary Information
Bursary value and payments
General HE bursaries are £1,000 and are intended to support BPC HE students with the ongoing costs of study such as purchase of books or other resources, transport to college or general support.
Successful applicants will receive the bursary in three equal instalments across the academic year.
Good engagement with studies is required for continued receipt of the bursary instalments.
Attendance falling below 80% or failure to complete coursework on time can jeopardise payments and may result in a bursary being withdrawn.
Care Leavers
Care leavers are one of the most under-represented groups in UK higher education and often do not have family or other support networks to help with study costs, accommodation or resources.
BPC recognises the extra financial support that care leavers may need and will give care leavers on eligible courses a £1,000 bursary without needing to satisfy the income requirement.
Just check the box on the application form if you are a care leaver and you have been in full-time care for a period of three months or more in the last five years.
If any additional information is required to support your application, The College will get in touch with you.
Care leavers who also meet the income requirements will be eligible for an additional £1,000 subject to providing evidence of income as set out below.
Income information
Students will need to provide evidence that they meet the income criteria (£25,000 or less) such as providing a P60 or pay slips for the last three months.
Remember – it is household income that is assessed. If you need advice on what documents to provide, please just get in touch.
Click here to apply for the Higher Education Maintenance Bursary
Click here to apply for the Higher Education Care Leavers Bursary
Application Form
If you wish to apply for one of the following, please enter your details below and click "Start Application"
- 16-18 Discretionary Bursary
- 16-18 Vulnerable Bursary
- 19+ Discretionary Learning Support Fund
- Advanced Learner Loan Bursary
Important
- Please only apply for financial support after you have accepted an offer or enrolled on a course at Bournemouth & Poole College
- Enter your Student ID which can be found in communications you have received from the College regarding your application/enrolment
- Answer all questions in English even if you have used the Translate function on the page
Date of Birth
Do you have an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP)?
