Bursaries and financial support

Eligibility Criteria :

• You must have lived in the UK for at least three years before starting your studies.
• You must be between the ages of 16 and 19 on August 31, 2023.
• You must be enrolled in a full-time study program by August 31, 2023.

The Discretionary Bursary is also available to students who are 19 years old or older and have an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP). 

Additionally, students who are 19 years old or older who are continuing a study program they started between the ages of 16 and 18.

To qualify for a Discretionary Bursary either you or your parents/guardians must receive one of the following benefits:

• Income-related Employment & Support Allowance (ESA)
• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
• Guaranteed element of State Pension Credit
• Support under part VI of the Immigration & Asylum Act 1999
• Universal Credit
• Child Tax Credit (provided they are not entitled to Working Tax Credit)
• Working Tax Credit run-on (paid for four weeks after no longer qualifying for Working Tax Credit)
• Have a family income of below £23,000.

We determine household income in the following ways:

If the household receives Universal Credit/Tax Credits, we combine the average take-home pay with the average amount of Universal Credit/Tax Credit after all deductions to calculate the annual household income.

For wage earners, we use the take-home pay figure.

Those receiving Child or Working Tax Credit must provide the complete 2023/2024 tax credit award.

For those receiving Universal Credit, the three most recent monthly statements must be provided. Adding the take-home pay figure to the amount of Universal Credit after all deductions will give the total monthly income. If you haven’t been receiving the award for three months, we will consider the months you do have.

If eligible The Discretionary Bursary can contribute towards essential college costs for example, a discounted college bus pass, uniforms, course resources and trips. Students must attend at least 90% of their classes and comply with the college rules and behaviour standards.

Bursary funds are allocated based on individual needs. However, due to budget limitations, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to provide full financial support.

Students enrolled in Apprenticeships and Higher Education Courses are not eligible to apply for this bursary.

How to apply for a bursary

Please note that during the peak application period in August and September, it may take up to four weeks to process your application and confirm if you have been awarded a bursary. Therefore, you will be responsible for any travel costs until your financial support is in place. Bursary allocations will be distributed after the student has enrolled and attended their first day at Brockenhurst College.

Please keep in mind the following details for the application process:

• You can only apply for a Discretionary Bursary once you have applied/enrolled for a course and have a student number.
• You will need to provide your bank account details.
• You will need to upload supporting evidence to complete the application.

The Bursary application form is compatible with mobile devices, and you can upload evidence more quickly using a mobile device’s camera or gallery (if you already have images of your evidence). Hence, you may choose to apply using a mobile phone or tablet.

If you require assistance with the application process or are unable to complete it online, please contact the Bursary team via email at bursary@brock.ac.uk

Please note that students will need to reapply for a Bursary each academic year.

Click here to apply now.

Students aged 16-18 on 31/08/2023 who are in one of the following defined groups can apply for a Vulnerable Bursary:

• In Care
• Care leavers
• Receiving Income Support or Universal Credit in their own name, while financially supporting themselves or supporting themselves and a dependent living with them (e.g., child or partner)
• Receiving Disability Allowance or Personal Independence Payments in their own name, along with Employment and Support Allowance or Universal Credit in their own name.

If eligible, this bursary can contribute towards essential college expenses such as travel to college, uniforms, course materials, and trips. Students must attend at least 90% of their classes and comply with the college rules and behaviour standards.

Definition of “In Care”: 

Children who are voluntarily looked after by a local authority (under section 20 of the Children Act 1989) or under a care order (under section 31 of the Children Act 1989).

Definition of “Care Leaver”:

A young person aged 16 or 17 who were previously looked after for a continuous period of 13 weeks (or multiple periods totalling 13 weeks), starting after the age of 14 and ending after the age of 16; or

A young person aged 18 or above who was looked after for a continuous period of 13 weeks (or multiple periods totalling 13 weeks) prior to turning 18, starting after the age of 14 and ending after the age of 16.

Apprenticeship and Higher Education Course students are not eligible for this bursary.

How to apply for a bursary

 Please note that during the peak application period in August and September, it may take up to four weeks to process your application and confirm if you have been awarded a bursary. Therefore, you will be responsible for any travel costs until your financial support is in place. Bursary allocations will be distributed after the student has enrolled and attended their first day at Brockenhurst College.

Please keep in mind the following details for the application process:

• You can only apply for a Vulnerable Bursary once you have applied/enrolled for a course and have a student number.
• You will need to provide your bank account details.
• You will need to upload supporting evidence to complete the application.

The Bursary application form is compatible with mobile devices, and you can upload evidence more quickly using a mobile device’s camera or gallery (if you already have images of your evidence). Hence, you may choose to apply using a mobile phone or tablet.

If you require assistance with the application process or are unable to complete it online, please contact the Bursary team via email at bursary@brock.ac.uk

Please note that students will need to reapply for a Bursary each academic year.

Click here to apply now.

To qualify for Free College Meals, students must meet the following criteria:

Students must be aged 16 or older but under 19 on August 31, 2023

Students who are 19 years old or older can apply for Free College Meals if they are continuing a study program they started between the ages of 16 and 18 or have an Education Health Care Plan

The parent or guardian with whom they live must be receiving one of the following benefits:

• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseekers Allowance (JSA)
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• The guarantee element of State Pension Credit
• Child Tax Credit (provided the parent/guardian is not entitled to Working Tax Credit) and have an annual gross income below £16,190, as assessed by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs
• Working Tax Credit run-on – paid for four weeks after the individual no longer qualifies for Working Tax Credit
• Universal Credit with net earnings not exceeding the equivalent of £7,400 per year (after tax and excluding any benefits received)

Please note: Working Tax Credit does not qualify for free meals, and parents/guardians/students receiving Working Tax Credit are not entitled to free meals.

Eligible students are allocated £5 credit to use in the Hard Brock Cafe for each day they attend college. If you are studying at the Ultima or Marchwood Campus we will directly transfer the money to your bank account

The following students are not eligible for free meals:

• Students who are 19 years old or older at the beginning of their study program, unless they have an Education Health Care Plan or are 19+ continuers
• Apprentices, including those with an Education Health Care Plan

To apply for Free College Meals, you must apply for a Bursary. The assessment process will consider eligibility for meals, as well as travel and material costs.

How to apply for a bursary

 Please note that during the peak application period in August and September, it may take up to four weeks to process your application and confirm if you have been awarded a bursary. Therefore, you will be responsible for any travel costs until your financial support is in place. Bursary allocations will be distributed after the student has enrolled and attended their first day at Brockenhurst College.

Please keep in mind the following details for the application process:

• You can only apply for a Bursary once you have applied/enrolled for a course and have a student number.
• You will need to provide your bank account details.
• You will need to upload supporting evidence to complete the application.

The Bursary application form is compatible with mobile devices, and you can upload evidence more quickly using a mobile device’s camera or gallery (if you already have images of your evidence). Hence, you may choose to apply using a mobile phone or tablet.

If you require assistance with the application process or are unable to complete it online, please contact the Bursary team via email at bursary@brock.ac.uk.

Please note that students will need to reapply for a Bursary each academic year.

Click here to apply now.

Eligibility Criteria:

• You must have been a resident in the UK for at least three years prior to the start of your studies.
• You must be 19 years old or older on August 31, 2023.
• Your household income should be below £30,000 gross.
• To be eligible for support, either you or your partner must receive one of the following benefits:
• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Guarantee element of State Pension Credit
• Universal Credit
• Child Tax Credit

Or have a household income of less than £30,000 per annum.

We determine household income in the following ways:

• If the household receives Universal Credit/Tax Credits, we combine the average take-home pay with the average amount of Universal Credit/Tax Credit after all deductions to calculate the annual household income.
• For wage earners, we use the take-home pay figure.
• For those receiving Child or Working Tax Credit, the complete 2023/2024 tax credit award must be provided.
• For those receiving Universal Credit, the three most recent monthly statements must be submitted. The take-home pay figure, along with the amount of Universal Credit after deductions, determines the total monthly income. If the award has not been received for three months, the months for which it was received will be considered.

The 19+ Bursary can contribute towards the costs of travel to college and childcare whilst you are studying, please note that the availability of funds is limited, and the College cannot guarantee support.

Childcare funding may be available for students aged 20 and above. To qualify for childcare funding, you must use an Ofsted registered childcare provider and use childcare support from other sources, eg 3’s funding, 2’s funding and any Tax Credits or Universal Credit contribution before applying for Bursary childcare funding.

 The funding is intended for scheduled classes and does not support independent study. Bursary funds are paid directly to the childcare provider upon receipt of their monthly or termly invoice.

Students enrolled in Apprenticeships and Higher Education Courses are not eligible to apply for this bursary.

How to apply for a bursary

 Please note that during the peak application period in August and September, it may take up to four weeks to process your application and confirm if you have been awarded a bursary. Therefore, you will be responsible for any travel costs until your financial support is in place. Bursary allocations will be distributed after the student has enrolled and attended their first day at Brockenhurst College.

Please keep in mind the following details for the application process:

• You can only apply for 19+ Bursary once you have applied/enrolled for a course and have a student number.
• You will need to provide your bank account details.
• You will need to upload supporting evidence to complete the application.

The Bursary application form is compatible with mobile devices, and you can upload evidence more quickly using a mobile device’s camera or gallery (if you already have images of your evidence). Hence, you may choose to apply using a mobile phone or tablet.

If you require assistance with the application process or are unable to complete it online, please contact the Bursary team via email at bursary@brock.ac.uk.

Please note that students will need to reapply for a Bursary each academic year.

Click here to apply now.