Further Education Finance

If you would like to make an application for financial support please select and complete the relevant form below:

2024/25

Financial Support Form 2024/25

Childcare Support Form 2024/25

Once complete, please submit the form, along with all supporting evidence to:

From bursaries, free meals, travel support and childcare to support with essential equipment and trips, simply download the PDF below to see what financial support you could be eligible for.

2024/25:

Financial Support Guidance Flowchart 2024/25

What is the bursary?

The 16-19 bursary is a scheme to assist young people to continue in full-time education who may have difficulties in completing their course due to financial reasons.

The scheme is made up of two parts:

Vulnerable Bursary

Bursaries of up to £1,200 are available to Vulnerable Students (16-18) as defined by:

• Being in care or being a care leaver – Letter from local authority confirming status required.

• Student personally in receipt of universal credit – Evidence required.

• Being a disabled young person and in receipt of Employment Support Allowance and Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payments in their own right – Evidence of both required.

Discretionary Bursary

Students facing financial difficulties may also be able to request assistance with transport, mandatory equipment, meals, trips or other course related costs. Travel support is available to students who travel more than 1.5 miles to their main campus of study.

Due to the high volume of applications students are expected to cover their own transport costs up to half term, which will then be reimbursed if successfully awarded support.

If you need help, please contact Student Finance :

Financial Support Guidance Information Sheet (PDF)

If you have any questions, please read through our FAQ's!

When can I apply for financial support?

The financial support application form is available on our website from July 2025.

I am a progressing student do I need to apply for finance for the new academic year?

Yes, the bursary fund is renewed every academic year. You will need to provide updated income evidence to support your application.

I am eligible for free college meals how do I access them?

Apply for free college meals on the financial support form (link)

The meal allowance will be loaded onto your student ID badge daily which is then used at the till point at any of our onsite cafeterias. (Please note the meal allowance will not roll over)

Do I have to pay for essential uniform or equipment?

Yes, students are required to purchase essential uniform and equipment for their course. Most items can be purchased through the online shop located within our website.

Essential uniform and equipment requirements will be distributed to students upon successful enrolment on the course via department.

You can apply for financial support with uniform and equipment costs on our financial support form

I cannot afford essential uniform or equipment prior to the course start what do I do?

Notify a member of the student finance team email addresses Redditch/Bromsgrove studentfinance-redditch@howcollege.ac.uk and Worcester/Malvern studentfinance-worcester@howcollege.ac.uk and include a statement within your financial support application. We will then discuss the options available to you if you are eligible for financial support.

If I need help completing the form where do I go?

Contact the student finance team on on 01527 572741 – Redditch and Bromsgrove and 01905 725678 Worcester/Malvern for support completing your application online or visit the advice centre for additional support.

I don’t have my own bank account what can I do?

It is a government requirement that payments are to be made to the applicant’s bank account (student).

We advise that you attempt to open your own bank account before submitting your application.

If you cannot open your own bank account, follow this link for information and eligibility of an appointee (insert gov web link) should you receive confirmation of an appointee we require this information as evidence.

There are no bus routes or train stations to my campus am I still able to apply for travel assistance?

Providing you are eligible for free travel support a travel contribution is available.

How do I apply for a bus pass?

If you live in Worcestershire visit Severn Card Student Bus Pass scheme | Worcestershire County Council and follow the instruction online to register for a severn card. You will need to provide us with the reference number that is generated following the registration.

For non worcestershire students you can contact the student finance team on 01527 572741 for further information.

How do I apply for a train pass?

Apply online at www.wmr.uk/students when the application is complete, please provide the photocard ID number to the student finance team.

I cannot afford the first term travel, what can I do?

You can contact the student finance team  via the following email addresses Redditch/Bromsgrove studentfinance-redditch@howcollege.ac.uk and Worcester/Malvern studentfinance-worcester@howcollege.ac.uk so that we can discuss your options.

Can I get help with parking costs?

Unfortunately, all the car parks at our Worcester campus are privately owned so are therefore not covered by the bursary fund.

At the Redditch and Bromsgrove campuses parking is free for students, you MUST input the car registration on the system when logging in.

Will you fund a taxi?

Unfortunately, we do not fund a taxi service.

You could be eligible via your local council.

My course is funded by the Advance Learner Loan, can I get further financial support?

Contributions can be made for travel and childcare costs if you are eligible, you are required to complete the application form (link to form or via online form)

What is the HE Hardship fund?

This fund assists HE students with financial support in exceptional circumstances, Check your eligibility here (link to hardship leaflet)

How are childcare costs paid?

The college will liaise with your childcare provider and make payments to them directly.

A childcare form will need to be completed by your childcare provider to support your financial support application.

What is the bursary?

The 16-19 bursary is a scheme to assist young people to continue in full-time education who may have difficulties in completing their course due to financial reasons.

The scheme is made up of two parts:

Vulnerable Bursary

Bursaries of up to £1,200 are available to Vulnerable Students (16-18) as defined by:

• Being in care or being a care leaver – Letter from local authority confirming status required.

• Student personally in receipt of universal credit – Evidence required.

• Being a disabled young person and in receipt of Employment Support Allowance and Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payments in their own right – Evidence of both required.

Discretionary Bursary

Students facing financial difficulties may also be able to request assistance with transport, mandatory equipment, meals, trips or other course related costs. Travel support is available to students who travel more than 1.5 miles to their main campus of study.

All students requesting support with travel are asked to apply via the 16-19 Bursary Fund Application Form available from Advice Centre’s/Reception. Due to the high volume of applications students are expected to cover their own transport costs up to half term, which will then be reimbursed if successfully awarded support.

If you need help, please contact Student Finance :

Financial Support Guidance Information Sheet (PDF)

Students who meet the criteria can claim one meal per day from college onsite cafes. Criteria is based on parents who are in receipt of one or more of the following benefits:

• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• The guarantee element of State Pension Credit
• Child Tax Credit (provided they are not entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190, as assessed by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC))
• Working Tax Credit run-on – paid for 4 weeks after someone stops qualifying for Working Tax Credit
• UC with net earnings not exceeding the equivalent of £7,400 pa (after tax and not including any benefits you get)

All student requesting free meals must complete the Financial Support Application form and provide the relevant evidence.

Childcare is intended to assist young parents under the age of 20 to continue in, and return to, education after the birth of a child by providing funding for childcare whilst the young parent is engaged in a study programme.

Further information regarding how to apply is available at www.gov.uk/care-to-learn.

If further information is required, please contact the Advice Centre’s or call :

Students aged 19-23 at the start of their course studying up to a Level 3 Programme and student learners over 24 but studying a Programme up to a Level 2 can apply for support from the 19+ DLS fund. The DLS fund can help towards, travel, childcare, and trips.

If further information is required, please contact the Advice Centre’s or call :

Are you aged 19 or over and thinking about Further Education?

You may be eligible for an Advanced Learner Loan to help with your course fees. The loans are non means-tested so household income isn’t taken into account. You don’t pay anything back unless you are earning over £25,000.

For more information, click here.

This bursary is available to students who have approved Advanced Learner loans in place. The fund may provide a contribution towards travel and childcare costs. Any essential equipment should be provided by the department. In exceptional cases students can request assistance with hardship.

To read the FE-Learner Support Fund policy PDF document, please click here.

For the Word Document, please click here.