Financial Support through our Bursary Scheme
The bursary scheme offers financial support for young people to enable them to overcome financial barriers to their continuing education. It is for students who are economically disadvantaged and in need of financial assistance.
The bursary scheme is to assist students to participate in college and to cover the cost of transport to college, books and equipment, cost of essential trips associated with their course and exam re-sit fees. Applications are invited from students who are aged 16-19 and are attending college on a full-time course of study and students who have reached 19 years of age and who are continuing a course that they commenced before their 19th birthday
There are two types of bursary available:
Guaranteed Bursary
A guaranteed bursary of £1200 is available to students who meet the criteria below. To qualify for this bursary award a student must be either:
- in care or a care leaver
- in receipt of income support
- in receipt of Employment Support Allowance and Disability Living Allowance
Funding may be withdrawn for students who fail to attend regularly.
When approved, the bursary will be paid weekly. The bursary may be paid ‘in kind’ – e.g.the
college may purchase bus passes, equipment etc. Payments will be sent by BACS to your Bank Account.
Discretionary Bursary
We welcome applications for the Discretionary Bursary award from students whose household income is below £30000 per year. Please refer to section “Availability of Funding” below. The Discretionary Bursary Award is to help students with transport costs, equipment, trips.
Funding may be withdrawn for students who fail to attend regularly
When approved, the bursary will be paid weekly. The bursary may be paid ‘in kind’ – e.g. the
college may purchase bus passes, equipment etc. Payments will be sent by BACS to your Bank Account.
Availability of Funding
The college will help as many students as possible with the funding available but will prioritise those in most need. At present we are uncertain of the number of applicants and funding available to the college for 2013/14 and therefore cannot guarantee financial assistance in every case but welcome applications. Appeals against unsuccessful applications or non-payment of weekly award can be made to the college.
Applying for Bursary Award
To apply for a bursary please complete an application form which is available to download below.
Please ensure that you complete all relevant fields on the bursary application and include all the appropriate evidence with your application form.
Please remember to provide official evidence of household income and your current Council Tax Bill. Photocopies of original documents are required as we are unable to return documents.
Failure to provide evidence with your application will result in your application being delayed or rejected.
Please remember to sign the form on completion
Return the completed application form and all associated evidence to Aquinas College, Nangreave Road, Stockport SK2 6TH please mark your envelope “Bursary Application” Payments will not be backdated for applications received after the 30th September.
After your application has been processed, you will be contacted by e-mail or post informing you if your application has been accepted or not.
If accepted the student will be asked to sign a contract at the time of enrolment at college in September. Payments will commence after the contract has been signed.
Payments will be made weekly by BACS payment into the students bank account and are dependent on attendance, behaviour and standard of work. The previous week's attendance will be taken into account in determining whether payments will be authorised.