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16-18 Bursary

Here at West Lancashire College, we believe that finance shouldn’t be a barrier to study. We provide a range of customised financial support, via the funding bodies, which you may be eligible for, depending on your circumstances.

In order to receive financial support from a bursary, you must complete an application form and provide evidence of eligibility. Once your application form has been assessed, you will then be advised of the specific entitlements that you have been awarded.

What is the eligibility criteria to apply for the 16-18 Bursary?

If you fall into one of the following categories, you will be eligible to apply for support from the 16-18 Bursary:

Household income less than £32,300?
A young person
- Living independently and in receipt of Income Support or Universal Credit because you are financially supporting yourself or financially supporting yourself and someone who is dependent on you and living with you, such as a child or partner.
- In receipt of Employment Support Allowance or Universal Credit AND Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payment (PIP) in your own right.
- In care or leaving care.

If I am eligible, what could I receive?

The support that you will be offered is specific to your household income, which is outlined below:

If you have a household income of up to £25,000, you could receive the following support:

FREE travel support (if you live 2 miles away from campus)
FREE meal entitlement
FREE equipment and trips
Laptop loan

If you have a household income of between £25,001 - £32,300, you could receive the following support:

FREE travel support (if you live 3 miles away from campus)
FREE meal entitlement
FREE equipment and trips

How to apply?

Submit your fully completed application form, along with all required evidence, to the Reception desk at Learner Services. Once your application has been assessed, the Learner Support Fund team will contact you via the email address you used at enrolment.

You can download an application form here.

FREE travel support

For those learners who cannot travel on the college coach service you may be eligible for a travel pass or travel payments if you live more than 2 or 3 miles (household income criteria dependent) away from campus. Following an application for support you will be assessed for the most appropriate travel support based upon the travel route options that are available to you, as determined by Learner Support Funds. This could be in the form of a travel pass, or it may be deemed more suitable for you to receive a cash entitlement. This decision will be made by West Lancashire College and is non-negotiable.

You may be eligible to receive travel support through your local authority. Please enquire directly with your local authority to see if you are eligible for travel support, prior to applying for Learner Support Funds.

If you are travelling to West Lancashire College using your own vehicle you will not be able to apply for alternative support nor will West Lancashire College be able to reimburse fuels costs. Please be informed that your application may take up to four weeks to be processed, as we require sufficient verification of attendance from college registers. You will be responsible for any travel costs until your support is in place.

Please be aware that your total travel cost may not be covered.

FREE meal entitlement

You will be able to receive a £4.50 entitlement to purchase a meal on the days that you are timetabled to attend college accessible at the food outlet on campus. If you are attending a placement, it may be deemed more suitable for you to receive a cash entitlement.

FREE equipment and trips

Course leaders have identified items which may be useful to you whilst studying on your course. Some courses may also have trips designed to enhance your learning experience, you may have access to funding to enable you to attend these trips. Please note, funding will be provided directly to the department who will organise this support.