Getting financial help from your college

As long as you are eligible for help from the college you will not have to pay tuition fees unless you have already received this help in the past.

The maintenance bursary is money to live on while you study.  Most single parent students will be given one of 2 amounts depending on what other benefits you receive and depending on the specific criteria of the college.

1. You will get the full bursary, of £125.55 per week as a single parent student in further education, depending on the college’s criteria.
2. If you are getting Universal Credit, or claim Universal Credit when you start your course, you will get a bursary of £28 per week. This amount is smaller than the full bursary so it does not affect your Universal Credit award.

If you are getting tax credits or Universal Credit you do not have to look for work or take a job if you also get a bursary while studying.

If you work at the same time as studying, your earnings will affect how much Housing Benefit or Universal Credit you get, but will not affect the bursary.

Maintenance bursaries are discretionary so there is no guarantee you will get one.

Apply at the college.

If you are a single parent but live with your parents and they get benefits for you and your child, you will get the Educational Maintenance Allowance instead of a bursary.

The Educational Maintenance Allowance (EMA) is a payment of £30 per week for 16-19 year olds who continue in further education after age 16. Bonuses are also available.

Students must be at school or college full time and have good attendance. The family income needs to be below £24,421 p/a for households with only one dependent child or £26,884 p/a for households with more than one dependent child.

In this case, a dependent child can be either:

• a child below 16 years old
• someone between the age of 16 and 25 in full time further or higher education

The EMA is paid fortnightly into the student’s bank account during term time and does not affect entitlement to other benefits.

Application packs are available from schools, colleges and the local council.

If you are living with your parents and they are getting benefits for you and your child you will get the EMA rather than a bursary if eligible.

Your children may also get the EMA if they stay on at school after leaving age.

If you are 16 or over and have ever been in the care of the local authority you can apply for the Care Experienced Bursary. Care includes having been in foster, kinship and residential care.

The bursary is £225 per week. It will affect Universal Credit, so you may be better off getting the £28 maintenance bursary instead as this does not impact your Universal Credit amount. The college will calculate which is best for you.

Contact the college for more information and to apply.

You can get up to £1,215 p/a towards the cost of registered childcare from the Lone Parent Childcare Grant if you are studying full-time. There may also be extra money available from discretionary funds. Help with childcare costs does not affect any welfare benefits or bursary you are getting.

Apply through the college.

This money is available directly from the college usually to help pay for things like books, equipment, travel and childcare costs. Discretionary funds are limited so the college decides how much to give based on your individual circumstances.

This money does not affect welfare benefits or the bursary.

If you have financial difficulties while studying you should always ask a student financial adviser if there is help from the discretionary fund before leaving your course.

You may get help towards paying for travel to college.

This money does not affect welfare benefits or the bursary.

Ask at the college for details.

There is specific support and financial help for students with an illness or disability that affects their ability to study or attend college.

If you are affected by a disability or illness contact the college for information on how they can help.