STUDENT SERVICES 

16-19 Students

Further Education Funding for Learners aged 16-18 on 31^st August 2017

Student Services are able to offer financial support to learners who are financially disadvantaged. Assistance will be given to access appropriate funding by a confidential appointment with a member of Student Services.

Discretionary Bursary Fund

Full-time learners whose parents receive means-tested benefits, and have a household income of under £16,500 per year, can apply for a discretionary bursary and a contribution towards course-related costs such as books and equipment. A contribution towards travel costs will be considered if travelling from outside of Havering Borough.

Eligible benefits are:

• Income Support
• Income Based Job Seekers Allowance
• Income Related ESA
• Guarantee element of Pension Credit
• Tax Credits with a household income of under £16,500 per year
• Universal Credit replacing Income Support

Benefits documents are required with the bursary application.

The discretionary bursary is paid to learners each term based on attendance. Learners should aim to achieve a 90% record of attendance to receive bursary payments. The amount paid depends on the funds available.

If no benefits are received but the household income is between £16,500 and £21,000 per year, learners can apply for discretionary assistance with course related costs only, such as books, equipment and also travel costs if travelling from outside of Havering Borough.

Higher Bursary Funds

Full-time learners who are in care, care leavers or receiving their own Income Support, ESA with DLA or ESA with PIP, may be eligible for a bursary of up to £1,200 for the academic year. Evidence of the learner's care status or their benefits is required with the bursary application. Learners studying on a course less than 30 weeks will be paid on a pro rata bursary.

This bursary is £134 per month and paid to learners based on attendance. Learners should aim for a 90% record of attendance to receive bursary payments.

Learners will need their own bank account for bursary payments to be made unless the learner is unable to manage their own account.

Free College Meals

Learners whose parents claim means-tested benefits can apply for Free College Meals. Eligible benefits are:

• Income Support
• Income Based Job Seekers Allowance
• Income Related ESA
• Guarantee element of Pension Credit
• Child Tax Credit
• Universal Credit

Household income must be under £16,190 per year.

Free Meals are available to the following learners:

• Learners aged 16-18 on 31^st August 2017
• Learners aged 19+ who have an Education & Health & Care Plan (EHC plan) are also eligible if they or their parents receive one of the eligible benefits above and the household income is under £16,190 per year
• Learners aged 19 who are continuing on the same study programme that they studied age 16-18. (Learners who enrolled on 2-year courses aged 18 and are continuing onto year 2 of the same course aged 19)
• Also eligible are learners supported under the part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999. Documents to show Home Office financial support are required.

Payment for meals is by placing the learner's ID card on a card reader like a cashless payment.

Application forms can be obtained from Student Services. If you would like more information on any financial support, please contact Student Services on 01708 462718. 

Care to Learn Childcare Funding

Learners aged under 20 at the start of their course, can apply for Care to Learn to pay childcare fees for the days they attend college. Learners can claim up to £160 per child per week if living outside of London or £175 per child per week if living in London. Assistance with paying deposits and settling in days is also available. 

For more information or to apply go to gov.uk/care-to-learn

19+ Adults

Discretionary Learner Support Fund – Further Education for learners aged 19 and over on 31^st August 2017 studying courses up to Level 2 or the first Level 3 course.

Learners aged 19 and over studying full or part-time courses, who have an individual income of £21,000 or below per year can apply. Learners will usually be eligible if they or their parents receive a benefit such as:

• Income Based Job Seekers Allowance
• Income Support
• Guarantee Element of Pension Credit
• Universal Credit
• Working Tax Credit
• Income Related Employment Support Allowance

A contribution towards course related costs including books, equipment, trips and travel can be awarded. All financial awards are subject to funding.

Free College Meals

These learners are eligible for meals if they or their parents receive eligible means-tested benefits:

• Learners aged 19 on 31^st August 2017, who are continuing on the same study programme that they studied aged 16-18 (Learners who enrolled on 2-year courses aged 18 and are continuing onto year 2 of the same course aged 19)
• Learners aged 19 and over on 31^st August 2017, who have an Education & Health Care Plan (EHC Plan).

Eligible means-tested benefits:

• Income Support
• Income based Job Seekers Allowance
• Income Related ESA
• Guarantee Element of Pension Credit
• Child Tax Credit with a household income of under £16,190
• Universal Credit

For further information on the above funding or an application form, please contact Student Services on 01708 462718. 

19+ Advanced Learner Loan

Are you aged 19 or over and thinking of improving your career options? Worried about the cost of tuition? If you’re aged 19 or over you can now study on a course and pay no upfront tuition costs by taking out a government loan called the Advanced Learner Loan.

The Advanced Learner Loan will be available to learners aged 19 and over starting Further Education courses from 1^st August 2017 onwards. You can apply for the loan from 1^st May 2017.

Advanced Learner Loan further information

The loan is easy to apply for, does not take your household income into account, and does not involve a credit check. You need to be living in the UK for three years before the start date of your course and have settled status.

The loan will pay your tuition fees for Further Education courses at Level 3-6, including HE Access courses, Diplomas and Certificates. Check with our Admissions Team if your course is eligible for the Advanced Learner Loan.

Repayments and Interest

You will only start to pay back the loan once you have finished your course and you are earning over £21,000. Until then you do not need to pay back anything, but you can make voluntary repayments at any time. You will pay interest from the time your first payment is made until you pay your loan back in full.

Applying for the Loan

When you decide to apply for the loan to pay your tuition fees, you will need to have an approved loan to be able to enrol on your chosen course. You will need a learning and funding information letter (offer letter) from our Admissions Team. This letter will have all the detail you require to complete your loan application.

You must have a National Insurance Number to apply and if you have a valid UK passport, you can enter your passport number to help validate your identity. Please make sure you check the residency criteria before applying for the Advanced Learner Loan. Once your loan is approved, the Student Loan Company will send you a loan approval letter. Please take this to our Admission Team to enrol on your course.

CLICK HERE TO BEGIN YOUR LOAN APPLICATION

When you need assistance with your online application, Student Services are happy to help. You will need to bring in your information/offer letter, your National Insurance number and a valid UK passport if you have one. To arrange an appointment please call 01708 462718. Do not apply for the Advanced Learner Loan if you are studying a degree course. Please see information on applying for higher education funding on gov.uk/student-finance.

Advanced Learner Loan - Financial Assistance from Loan Bursary Fund

Applications for financial assistance towards childcare fees and travel costs can be submitted once learners have an approved loan. The household income needs to be below £16,500 per year or a means-tested benefit needs to be claimed such as:

• Income Support
• Income based Job Seekers Allowance
• Income Related ESA
• Guarantee Element of Pension Credit
• Tax Credits showing household income under £16,500 per year

For more information or an application form, please contact Student Services on 01708 462718.

Higher Education Students

Full-Time students

Eligible full-time students can apply for loans and grants from Student Finance England. The application window for full-time course applications for 2017/18 is now open. New students in 2017 should apply by 26^th May to ensure that funding is in place at the start of their course.

Students with dependents may be eligible for extra support.

Full eligibility information can be found here.
*Please note that previous study in higher education could limit your eligibility for funding.

Students should be aware that studying full time in higher education could implicate any means-tested benefits they receive. We recommend that you speak to Jobcentre Plus or your local authority's benefits office before becoming a full-time student to identify how your benefits will be affected.

Lots more information on coming into higher education is found on the Student Room website including student finance and funding.

Part-Time Students

Students on part-time courses can now apply for Student Finance for 2017/18. Visit Student Finance England to apply or get more information. 

Other Funding

HE Hardship Fund
Learners can access the HE hardship fund when they have taken up all funding available to them, and their household income is under £21,000. This is a very small fund so financial support will be given to those in most need. An application form can be obtained from Student Services or the HE Advisor.

Disabled Students Allowance
Contact our Higher Education Learning Support team on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for information and support. Students on a low income may be able to access financial support for dyslexia assessments and should speak to Student Services for more information.

If you require any additional information or support regarding student funding or finance please contact one of our advisers on 01708 462718 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.