Free College Meals Guidelines
Free College Meals- From the start of the 2026-2027 academic year all students from households in receipt Universal Credit will be entitled to a free college meal.
- Eligible students can have a free college meal each day they attend their study programme.
A student must be over 16 but under 19 on 31 August 2026 to be eligible to receive a free college meal.
Students aged 19 or over are eligible for a free meal if they are
- Continuing on the same study programme they started before the age of 19
- Have an educational health and care plan (EHC)
- Have submitted a successful application form
Students or students from households in receipt of one or more of the following benefits may be eligible for a free meal at college
- Universal Credit
- Support under part V1 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Guarantee element of Pension Credit
How to apply:
- Students are only eligible to receive a free meal after making a successful application to college. The application for a free meal can be made through the bursary application form.
- 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 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.
N.B. Students previously receiving free school meals at high school are not automatically eligible for a free college meal and should apply for access to free college meals through the bursary form.
