STUDENT SERVICES 

16-19 Students

Further Education Funding for Learners aged 16-18 on 31 August 2019

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

Students whose parents receive means-tested benefits, or have a household income of under £21,000 gross per year, can apply for discretionary bursary funding. 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 £21,000 gross per year
• Universal Credit household Income under £21,000 gross per year

Documentary evidence of benefits or household income are required with the bursary application.

The Bursary Funds are available to assist students with course-related costs while studying at college. Financial support is available for equipment, uniform, books, trips, travel costs to college, work experience costs, UCAS fees, resit exam fees and miscellaneous fees. Students in receipt of their own eligible benefit can also receive meals at college via the Tap N’ Eat free lunch scheme.

Students aged 19+ who have an Education & Health & Care Plan (EHC plan) can now access discretionary bursary funding for course-related costs.

Students who studied the first year of their course aged 18 and are continuing onto year 2 of the same course in 2019-2020 aged 19 are also eligible, if a means tested benefit is claimed. For discretionary bursary funding, the student or their parents must be in receipt of an eligible benefit, or their household income must be under £21,000.

Vulnerable Bursary Funds

Bursary funding is available for students who are in care, care leavers or receiving their own Income Support, Universal Credit, ESA with DLA or ESA with PIP. Evidence of the student’s eligibility is required, such as a letter stating their care status or their own benefit letter.

Tap ‘n’ Eat – Free lunch scheme

Students whose parents claim means-tested benefits can apply for Tap N’ Eat 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 with net earnings not exceeding £7,400 per year

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

Please note, Working Tax Credit is not an eligible benefit for the Tap ‘n’ Eat lunch scheme.

Free Meals are available to the following learners:

• Learners aged 16-18 on 31 August 2019
• 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 made 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 August 2019 studying courses up to Level 2 or the first Level 3 course.

Students aged 19 and over studying full or part-time courses, who have an individual income of £21,000 or below per year can apply. Students will also 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 with net earnings not exceeding £7,400 per year
• Child or Working Tax Credit
• Income Related Employment Support Allowance

The Discretionary Learner Support Fund is available to assist students with course-related costs while studying at college. Financial support is available for equipment, books, trips, travel costs for college, exam fees and miscellaneous fees. Support with childcare fees is also available for students aged 20 and over. All financial awards are subject to funding.

Tap ‘n’ Eat – Free lunch scheme

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

• Learners aged 19 on 31 August 2019, 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 August 2019, 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 with net earnings not exceeding £7,400 per year

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 August 2019 onwards. You can apply for the loan from 1 May 2019.

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 £25,000. 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

Please check your chosen course is eligible with our Admissions Department before applying. An information letter/offer letter is required from Admissions before applying for the loan, as it contains the information you will require for your application.

CLICK HERE TO BEGIN YOUR LOAN APPLICATION

Student Services can help you apply online if required.

Advanced Learner Loans Bursary Fund

Eligible students who have an approved Advanced Learner Loan may be able to access the Bursary Fund for financial assistance with childcare, travel costs and other course-related costs. Applications for financial assistance towards childcare fees and travel costs can be submitted once learners have an approved loan.

To be eligible to access these funds, students will need to be receipt of a means tested benefit or a household income of under £21,000. Eligible benefits are:

• Income Support
• Income based Job Seekers Allowance
• Income Related ESA
• Guarantee Element of Pension Credit
• Tax Credits showing household income under £21,000 gross per year
• Universal Credit with net earnings not exceeding £7,400 per year

Evidence of household income will be required. These funds are subject to availability and based on good attendance to your course.

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 2018/19 is now open. New students in 2018 should apply by 25th May (22nd June for continuing students) 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 2018/19. 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.