There are ways in which the College can help you with costs, so please get in touch if you have any queries. Families in receipt of a low income or a means-tested benefit may be eligible for assistance from the College’s various types of funding.

Students in financial hardship can apply for help with the costs of compulsory materials, equipment, meals, travel, and residential trips and visits.

To find out if you are eligible for financial support contact the Student Support team on 01278 441233 or email studentsupport@btc.ac.uk.

16 – 19 Bursary Fund

Students can apply for the 16-19 Bursary to help with the cost of bus/train travel and compulsory materials, trips and meals if they meet the following criteria:

• Must be aged under 19 as at the 31 August 2023
• Course must be funded by the Education and Skills Funding Agency
• Net parental/household income must be below £40,000 (or below £53,000 for help towards bus/train travel only). This is take home pay.
• Must not be on an Apprenticeship or waged traineeship

The 16-19 Bursary is a limited fund therefore early application is recommended. The bursary can cover all of the compulsory materials and trips costs, meals, plus up to 100% toward bus/train travel.

To find out more information, or to request an application form, please contact the Student Support Team on 01278 441233 or email studentsupport@btc.ac.uk.

Alternatively, you can download the application form here. Please also ensure you download the guidance notes, covering letter and universal credit guide for support with your application. The application will need to be printed and signed by the student and both parents/carers providing evidence where applicable. The form and evidence can then be emailed to us on studentsupport@btc.ac.uk or you can post everything to the address given on the front of the application form.

Scholarships and Specialist Bursaries

Students aged 16-19 who meet the criteria relevant to their courses or interests are invited to apply for one of our Scholarships or Specialist Bursaries. Find out more here.

Free School Meals / Meal Card Scheme

Students aged 16-18 (or 19-25 with an EHC Plan) may be eligible to apply for Free School Meals if their parents/carers are in receipt of at least one of the following benefits:

• Income Support
• Income-Based Jobseekers Allowance
• Income-Related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• The Guaranteed element of State Pension Credit
• Child Tax Credit (provided they are not entitled to Working Tax Credit) and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190, as assessed by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs
• Working Tax Credit run-on – paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
• Universal Credit where the income is less than £7,400

Eligibility will be determined from the evidence provided with the 16-19 Bursary application. A separate application for Free School Meals is available on request for students aged 19-25 with an EHC Plan.

Students applying for the 16-19 Bursary who are not eligible for Free School Meals but whose net household income is below £40,000 may be eligible to apply for the Meal Card Scheme instead.

The Free School Meal or Meal Card Scheme entitlements will be uploaded onto the Student ID Card for use in any of the food outlets at Bridgwater, Taunton and Cannington.

Emergency Meals for students in severe hardship

The government allows use of the bursary fund in individual cases of severe hardship, to provide meal support on the days a student attends their study programme, for a student who is in real need, without undertaking the checks on household income or gathering other evidence that would normally be required.

Students or parents who need to access this support can email us on studentsupport@btc.ac.uk outlining the situation, or referrals can be made to Student Support from staff. The Student Support team will assess the need and award £5 a day to eligible students be spent in College outlets. They will also assess an appropriate duration of the award and advise where a 16-19 bursary provides a more suitable option.

Please consider an application for the 16-19 Bursary in the first instance as we may be able to provide meal support for longer and for other things through this fund.

Vulnerable Groups Bursary

Students under 19 and who are considered to be vulnerable young students may be eligible for up to £1,200 (essential course fees will be deducted from this at where applicable). This award is based on students studying a programme of at least a 30-week duration – students studying less than this may be eligible for a proportional award. The amount students can receive is based on the individual financial need of the student, therefore eligibility may not necessarily mean students will receive any funding. The following criteria applies for this bursary:

• Young Person currently in Local Authority Care
• Young Person Leaving Care
• Young Person in receipt of Income Support or Universal Credit
• Young Person in receipt of Universal Credit (restrictions apply)
• Young Person in receipt of both Employment Support Allowance or Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment
• Unaccompanied asylum seeking children (under 18) who are under Local Authority care.

Care Leavers Apprenticeship Bursary

Students aged under 25 who are a relevant child, eligible child or former relevant child (as determined by the Local Authority) and are starting an Apprenticeship after 1 August 2023 may be eligible for a bursary of £3000 payable in instalments over the first year of their Apprenticeship. For apprentices starting before 1 August 2023, it is a single payment of £1000 in their first year. More information can be found on the Gov.uk website.

To find out more information, or to request an application form, please contact the Student Support Team on 01278 441233 or email studentsupport@btc.ac.uk.

19+ Learner Support Funds (LSF)

Students can access the LSF, to help with the cost of equipment, exams, travel or tuition, if they meet the following criteria:

• Must be aged over 19 at the start of the course
• The course must be funded by the Education and Skills Funding Agency
• Student’s income must be below £38,000 (joint) or £26,500 (single) – This is take home pay
• The fund can help with childcare costs, tuition, exams, travel, materials etc
• Advanced Learner Loan students can access a separate fund for help with travel or childcare using the same income thresholds (Advanced Learner Loan Bursary)

Childcare Support

Funding is available to help students in financial hardship meet childcare costs. Students under 20 can apply for funding from the Government’s Care to Learn Fund. This covers the costs of any registered childcare (nurseries, childminders, after school clubs etc.) alongside associated transport costs. Further information is available online at www.gov.uk/care-to-learn.

Students aged 20 and over can apply to the Childcare Fund. The fund is means-tested and offers support for children up to the age of 15 (or 16 for children with disabilities). This can pay up to 90% of childcare costs for Ofsted registered childminders, nurseries, crèches, breakfast clubs or after school clubs. For more information or an application form, please contact the Student Support Team on 01278 441233 or email studentsupport@btc.ac.uk.

Residential Bursary / Access Fund

Students who are studying specialised Further Education courses that are not available more locally to their home and have no transport links to the College may be able to get help with the cost of onsite accommodation at our Cannington campus. For more information or to request and application form please contact Student Support on 01278 441233 or by emailing studentsupport@btc.ac.uk

Please note: if you are struggling to pay fees and are not eligible for any assistance, please contact the Finance team at creditcontrol@btc.ac.uk or by calling 01278 441327 to discuss further options.