The following guidelines should help you to decide whether you are entitled to any financial assistance. Please note these are guidelines and the Student Services team will be able to advise you further based on your personal circumstances.

Full-Time Students aged 16 to 18

Fees

Courses are usually free for students on full time programmes who are aged 18 or under on 31^st August 2011. However, there may be some course related costs such as the purchase of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), books etc.

Financial Support

The 16-19 Bursary Fund

The 16-19 Bursary Fund is a new scheme to help young people facing financial hardship to stay in full-time education. The scheme is made up of two parts:

• Students who need financial support to help them stay in education or training and have a household income of less than £20,000 per year will be able to claim the £215 a year bursary. This can be used to help with expenses such as transport, food, equipment or other course related costs.
• Those most in need will be eligible for a bursary of £1,200 a year, this includes young people in care, care leavers, young people receiving income support and disabled young people receiving both employment support allowance and disability living allowance.

How do I find out more about the Bursary?

For more information and advice speak to Student Services. They will send out an application form before the start of your course. You can call into their office at North Street or phone 0113 222 6002.

Educational Maintenance Allowance                                                                     

This is now being phased out by the Government, so it is now only available in its current format (£30, £20 or £10 per week according to household income) to students who first applied for EMA in 2009/10 and received a guarantee of EMA for 3 years. Students who first applied in 2010/11 and were awarded the maximum £30 per week only will receive £20 per week for one more year; students who received £20 or £10 in 10/11 will no longer receive EMA. Capita, who administer the EMA scheme, will contact all those who qualify by post.

For individual student queries please telephone 0800 121 8989.

Childcare

If you require Childcare there is a government support scheme called “Care to Learn”, you can contact them on 0800 121 8989. (Please note Childcare providers must be registered nurseries of child minders).

If you are a lone parent you may be able to get help from the Jobcentre Plus, ask to speak to the “Lone Parent Advisor”, otherwise please contact Student Services.

Travel

Local Education Authorities have an obligation to provide transport for young people age 16-19 (25 with additional needs) to and from schools, colleges and sixth forms. Application forms for travel are available from Student Services throughout the enrolment process.

Leeds Policy click here 

Bradford’s Policy click here

Wakefield’s Policy click here 

Other Sources of Financial Support

There are various Trusts and Charities that you may be able to apply to for help with studying. A list of these is provided below:

• the Educational Grants Directory
• the Charities Digest
• the Grants Register
• the Directory of Grant Making Trusts

You could also consider the Educational Grants Advisory Service (EGAS), which offers a range of services providing information on funding from charitable trusts for people in post-16 education. There is a limited telephone information service open from 2pm to 4pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday only, please call 020 7241 7459. More information can be found by clicking here.

For further information help or advice contact Student Services on 0113 222 6002.

Part-Time Students aged 19+

If you are aged 19+ you are normally expected to pay for your tuition fees unless any of the following apply to you:

• You are in receipt of Job Seeker’s Allowance or Employment Support Allowance in the work-related activity group.
• You are undertaking a level one course which is required for progression to level 2 (age 19+)
• You are undertaking your first full Level 2 course (all ages over 19)
• You are undertaking your first Level 3 course (aged 19 to 24 only)
• You are undertaking an Adult Basic Skills course (literacy or numeracy)

This applies to UK / European Economic Area residents only. Please note that exam and other fees may be payable.      

For fee paying students you may be able to pay in instalments, please contact the College Finance Officer for details on 0113 222 6024.

Benefits and Studying

Job Seeker’s Allowance (JSA)

Full-time students cannot normally receive JSA. To study and claim JSA you will need to be:

• a part-time student. This means that your course of study is 16 ‘guided learning hours’ or less per week. (You need a copy of your timetable and a College Learning Agreement for your signing office confirming your hours of study);
• willing and able to take time off from your course for job interviews;
• able to demonstrate a reasonable pattern of availability for work – 40 hours per week.

To find out more about JSA or to claim please contact Jobcentre Plus on 0800 055 6688, their opening hours are Mon – Fri 08.00 -18.00.

Income Support
If you are claiming Income Support, you may be able to study full time. Your benefit will not normally be affected if you are 19 or over and are a lone parent. For more information Leeds based students can contact an advisor on 0113 226 2181.

New Deal for Lone Parents
Jobcentre Plus provides a package of support for lone parents which can include attendance at College. For more information please contact your local Jobcentre Plus office and ask to speak to a “Lone Parent Advisor”.

Financial Support Schemes

Discretionary Learner Support Fund (DLSF)

The DLSF is an allocation of funding given to colleges to help support students aged 19+ who are facing financial hardship. It can be used as a contribution towards travel, books, equipment and childcare. For more details contact Student Services, funds are limited so please apply early. (Nb Asylum seekers aged 19 or over are not eligible for this fund.)

Adult Learning Grant (ALG)
This is continuing in its current format only for those who are already in receipt of ALG and are on a 2-year course which they are continuing in 2011/12. All other students 19+ in hardship should apply to the Discretionary Learner Support Fund.

Professional Career Development Loans
These loans are operated by some of the major banks and are for work-related learning, you can apply to borrow between £300 and £10,000, but please be aware that interest is payble on the loan. Please note students need to be over 18 and have lived in the UK for 3 years, to find out more click here.

Other Sources of Financial Support

There are various Trusts and Charities you may be able to apply to for help with studying. A list of these is provided below:

• the Educational Grants Directory
• the Charities Digest
• the Grants Register
• the Directory of Grant Making Trusts

You could also consider the Educational Grants Advisory Service (EGAS), which offers a range of services providing information on funding from charitable trusts for people in post-16 education. There is a limited telephone information service open from 2 pm to 4pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday only, please call 020 7241 7459. More information can be found by clicking here.

For further information help or advice contact Student Services on 0113 222 6002.