Bursary Policy and Guidelines 2026-2027
The 16 to 19 Government Bursary Fund is to help eligible students with travel to college, a meal during the day whilst in college and essential curriculum trips and resources required for the student’s programme of study.
Eligibility for support from the 16-19 bursary will be assessed on the actual need of the individual student.
Students will be awarded the amount of support needed based on an assessment of the actual costs they have.
It cannot provide financial support for extra-curricular activities or provide support with living
costs.
There are two types of 16-19 bursaries:
- a vulnerable bursary for students in the defined vulnerable groups where there is an actual financial need for support
- a discretionary bursary for students with an actual financial need for support
ELIGIBILITY
To be eligible for either type of bursary students must:
- be aged 16 or over and under 19 at 31 August 2026.
Students aged 19 or over are only eligible to receive a discretionary bursary if they are:
- continuing on a study programme they began aged 16-18 (19+ continuers: this must be the same programme they started before they turned 19 as long as their eligibility continues and it is considered the support is needed in order for the student to continue their participation) or have an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP)
- students aged 19 or over are not eligible for bursary support for vulnerable groups.
- In care
- Care leaver
- Receiving PIP/DLA and Income Support/Universal Credit in their own right. Students must be in receipt of DLA or PIP and ESA or UC to be eligible, receipt of DLA or PIP alone does not meet the eligibility criteria.
- Receiving Income Support or Universal Credit because they are supporting themselves or someone who is dependent on them such as a child
- The household income is at or less than £50,000 per year.
- Or there is a lone parent
- Or the student is being looked after by a family member for example grandparents
- Or families are receiving Universal Credit or benefits.
- To apply for a bursary you must be aged between 16 and 19 and in full-time or part-time further education.
- Bursary applications are accepted throughout the academic year.
- Applications are made by submitting an online application form with required supporting documentation.
- You will need to provide documentary evidence dependent on your individual circumstances.
- Information about the documents required can be found below.
- A letter from your local authority confirming your current or previous looked-after status.
- A copy of an email from your local authority confirming your current or previous looked-after status
- Upload a copy of your Income Support or Universal Credit notice clearly stating:
- The claim is in your name.
- You are entitled to benefits in your own right.
- There are no conditions preventing you from pursuing further education (applicable to Income Support only).
- A copy of your PIP/DLA award notice
- Child Benefit: Proof of child benefit (if applicable)
- Child’s Birth Certificate: Birth certificate of the child(ren) you’re supporting
- A copy of your tenancy agreement and utility bills in your name (where relevant):
- P60 2026 for all adults in employment in the household.
- Self employment accounts eg: SA302 and dividends if self-employed.
Your accountant will be able to request an SA302 for you, or you can call HMRC yourself. You will need your basic personal information, your ten-digit UTR (unique tax reference) and NI Number. - Council Tax Bill 2026-27
showing any council tax reductions e.g. single occupancy discount - Universal Credit
Complete document must be uploaded. Submit your three most recent monthly statements. The documentation submitted must show the recipient’s name, the Universal Credit amount and all income and deductions made.Universal Credit has replaced many of the benefits below, but where households are not in receipt of Universal Credit please upload any of the applicable benefits or income;
- Income related Employment Support Allowance
- Income Support
- Job Seekers Allowance
- Carers Allowance
- Housing Benefit
- DLA/PIP (when applying for the vulnerable bursary)
- State Pension
- Guarantee element of Pension Credit
- Other Pension income
- Bereaved Parents Allowance
- Income from savings, shares, investments, trusts, dividends
- Income from rental properties
- Any other household income you may be in receipt o
- The application form for academic year 2026-27 will be available online from 1st July 2026.
- We would encourage completed applications to be submitted before the start of the academic year in September.
- Applications received during September may not be acknowledged due to the pressures of enrolment.
- Support will commence from the date the complete application with all required documentation is received.
- Where possible we will request outstanding documentation once by e-mail or letter. No further action will be taken until all outstanding documents are received.
- We accept bursary applications throughout the academic year, we understand that households can experience a change in circumstances at any time.
- Yes, you can apply. College can consider applications from part-time students.
- transport costs to and from college>
- essential college curriculum trips and resources
- meals whilst in college
- learning support services
- counselling or mentoring
- extra-curricular activities not essential to the student’s study programme.
- Access to a free meal from the college canteen or coffee shop
- Meal subsidy.
- Re-imbursement of the cost of an Our Pass for students within the Greater Manchester area.
- Assistance with the cost of travel for students outside the Greater Manchester area. These students will be asked to provide proof of travel during the academic year.
- Assistance with the cost of essential resources. Any essential items required by the student will be ordered for them by the finance department following confirmation from the subject department.
- Provision of IT equipment where the student has no access to equipment. Where equipment is provided to an eligible student that equipment remains the property of the college and must be returned to the college when the student completes their programme of study
- Free stationery pack available from the college library.
- Students who may be eligible for a weekly cash payment into their bank accounts will be required to provide receipts for the items purchased with their bursary funding. The funding must be used for the cost of travel to college, meals at college, essential equipment to complete your chosen programme of study.
- You will be asked to upload receipts at certain times throughout the academic year for travel, meals or items purchased. Further information for provision of proof of purchase will be available at the start of the academic year.
- You, the student, must have a bank account in your own name. Payments can only be made to your bank account and will be paid by BACS. In exceptional circumstances a cash payment may be made in the short term with the expectation that the student will open a bank account as soon as possible.
- College may also make payments in kind which means instead of receiving money you could get a transport pass, meals or equipment for your course. Or you might receive part of your bursary in kind and part in money.
- Payments will not be made until college has seen and verified the appropriate evidence that the student is eligible to receive a bursary award.
- Payments are made a week in arrears where the student has met the conditions of the bursary contract.
- Payments are authorised every Monday and should be in the student’s bank account on Wednesday morning.
- In certain circumstances the cash support awarded can be recovered or withheld from the student if it has not been used for the reasons it was awarded.
- All students living in the Greater Manchester area must apply for an Our Pass and include an image of their Our Pass and their Our Pass number with their application.
- We hope to be able to refund the cost of the Our Pass to students during the academic year. Please follow the link for information about Our Pass Our Pass
- Meal subsidy and travel payments will not be paid for any days the student is absent from college.
- Payments are made for attendance during term time only. Students do not receive a payment during timetabled college holidays and half term holidays.
Vulnerable bursary
Students who meet one of the four criteria listed below and who have a financial need can apply for the vulnerable bursary.
The defined vulnerable groups are students who are:
Foster Care (Local Authority)
A young person placed in foster care by the Local Authority, including where the foster carer is on the books of an independent fostering agency, is classed as a looked after child. They meet the criteria for “in care” if they have a financial need.
Foster Care (Private)
A child who is privately fostered, (where a private arrangement is made between the child and the person who will care for the child) is not classed as a looked after child and is not eligible for the vulnerable bursary.
Special Guardianship Order
In some instances, a young person may have been in the care of the local authority and the care transferred to another party via a permanent form of fostering such as a Special Guardianship Order. In these circumstances, the young person is defined as having left care so is now a care leaver. They must meet the definition of a ‘care leaver’ in full.
Asylum Seekers
Generally, asylum seekers are not entitled to public funds.
Accompanied asylum seeking children are entitled to an education but not to public funds. If you are an asylum seeker and have not had your application for asylum refused educational institutions can provide in-kind student support such as books, equipment or a travel pass. Please seek advice from Student Information Services for any assistance which we may be able to make available to you.
Unaccompanied asylum-seeking children do not receive cash support from the Home Office and are the responsibility of the local authority. They are treated as looked after children and are eligible for a bursary for vulnerable groups where there is a financial need.
The Discretionary Bursary
Applications for the Discretionary Bursary are welcome from households where;
Receiving assistance from the bursary fund does not affect receipt of other means-tested benefits paid to families, such as Universal Credit, Income Support, Job Seekers Allowance, Child Benefit, and Housing Benefit.
Availability of Funding and appeals
The college will help as many students as possible with the funding available but will prioritise those in most need. We cannot guarantee assistance in every case, but welcome applications.
Please be aware that in most cases the bursary will not entail a cash payment but will be given “in kind” as access to free meals in college, assistance with travel and resources. This is in line with the current 16-19 Bursary Government guidelines and regulations.
Students who are still eligible for this assistance from the bursary fund will receive an email.
Appeals against unsuccessful applications can be made to the college by e-mail to bursary@aquinas.ac.uk. All appeals will be responded to within one working week by the Assistant Principal Finance.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Who can apply
How do I apply?
New Applicants:
The bursary application form can be found online by the student logging onto myaquinas. The application can then be completed by the student or the student’s parents or carers. To support the discretionary bursary application, documents showing household income need to be uploaded to the application.
The required supporting documentation can be uploaded to the application using a mobile phone, once uploaded these documents are only visible to the Aquinas College staff processing the bursary application.
We would encourage applications from lone parents, bereaved parents, households where the student is being looked after by a family member for example grandparents, families receiving Universal Credits or other benefits.
Students currently in receipt of bursary funding
Students who are currently receiving support from the bursary fund will receive an electronic self-declaration form to confirm that their household circumstances have not changed. This form must be completed and returned to Aquinas College by parents or carers for academic year 2026-27.
Where household circumstances have changed please contact the bursary team on Bursary@aquinas.ac.uk
What do I include with my application?
Documents to include for the vulnerable bursary: Students in Care or Care Leavers:
To verify your looked-after status, please upload one of the following documents:
Students Receiving Income Support or Universal Credit and PIP/DLA:
Additional Documents for Students on Universal Credit (Supporting Others):
If you’re financially supporting yourself or someone living with you while receiving Universal Credit, please provide:
It may be assessed that although a young person may be eligible for a bursary, because they are in one or more of the defined groups above, that they do not have any actual financial need and so do not need support from the scheme.
Documents to include for the discretionary bursary:
Failure to submit all the necessary evidence will result in your application being delayed or rejected.
If you require assistance in completing your application please email your queries to bursary@aquinas.ac.uk
When do I send it?>
I am studying part-time. Can I apply?
SUPPORT YOU MAY RECEIVE
The bursary is to support students with;
The bursary fund is not intended to provide
Any cash payments for approved, eligible students will be sent by BACS to the students Bank Account and are paid weekly.
Funding may be withdrawn for students who fail to attend regularly.
Decisions for the discretionary bursary award are based on each student’s individual circumstances and actual financial need.
How will I receive my bursary?
Eligible students may receive any or some of the following dependant on circumstances:
Meals
Travel
Resources
Assistance with the cost of essential trips.
