SWDT Prospectus no bleed - Flipbook - Page 27
Vulnerable Bursary
You may be entitled to a Vulnerable Bursary if you are
aged 16-18 at the start of your course and:
• You are unemployed and in receipt of Job
Seekers’ Allowance (JSA), Employment
Support Allowance (ESA) or Universal Credit
and are studying at Level 2 or below.
● Are a looked after child
• You are in receipt of a low wage (less than
£30,000**) and are studying at Level 2 or
below.
● Receive Disability Living Allowance or Personal
Independence Payments in your own right as well as
ESA or Universal Credit
• You are aged 19 to 23, are studying at Level
3 and do not already hold a Level 3 quali昀椀cation
• Are not in employment and not in receipt of
bene昀椀ts
Free Courses for Jobs:
Available in certain areas of education. You must be 19+
and not already hold a Level 3 or earn under £30,000 if
you do hold a Level 3. Areas include Health and Social
Care, Public Services, Hospitality (list not exhaustive).
● Are a Care Leaver
● Receive Income Support, or Universal
Credit in your own right
Your course must run for a minimum of 30 weeks to
qualify for Vulnerable Bursary.
New Application System
We have implemented a new system to manage the
Learner Support Funds application process, Pay My
Student. Scan the QR code to be directed to the portal.
Bene昀椀ts of Pay My Student:
● Faster, easier applications for learners and staff
You can apply for an Advanced Learner Loan to
fund your course if:
● Improved accuracy and compliance
● You are aged 19 to 23, already hold a
quali昀椀cation at Level 3 or above, and are
studying at Level 3 or above.
● Cost savings for the College
● You are aged 24 or over and are studying at
● Better tracking and reporting
● Replacement travel cards now only £3 (previously
£15)
Financial Support and Travel
All full time learners aged between 16
and 18 are entitled to a fully funded (free) course.
Your course will also be free if you are 19+ and:
Level 3 or above.
Discretionary learner support funds
Discretionary learner support funds provide
昀椀nancial support to learners to help them
access further education. The funds are
prioritised for those who face 昀椀nancial hardship
and are subject to eligibility requirements.
For queries, contact lisa.robson@bacoll.ac.uk.
Learners can apply for:
● Essential course items (books, trips, stationery, kit
and uniform)
● Childcare costs
● Travel costs for learners over 19 years old
● Course fees
Upon enrolment you will be issued with an Arriva
smart card bus pass or a Weardale bus pass which
allows you to travel free on any Arriva or Weardale
bus service running to and from Bishop Auckland
College and connections from the bus station to the
college campus.
● Free School Meals
*Free travel may be available to 16-18 year old learners studying an FE course who live further than 1.5 miles away from their main campus. 19+ learners can apply for
transport funding. For further information, please get in touch with our Learner Funding and Transport Assistant. For information on free travel visit: arrivabus.co.uk
or weardale-travel.co.uk ** Subject to change
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