Financial support and FE bursaries

A bursary provides financial support to help students overcome financial barriers to completing a course. It can help with travel, meals, childcare, accommodation, and more.

AM I ELIGIBLE?

Find out if you're eligible to claim a bursary to support your studies.

General Eligibility:  

  • Be enrolled on a funded further education course (excluding apprenticeships and students aged 14-15).  
  • Have a right to study.  
  • Be fee assessed as a home student for the purposes of further education funding.  

 Specific 16-18 Fund Eligibility Criteria:  

  • Aged 16-18 on 31st August 2025.  
  • Aged 19 and continuing a course they began when aged 16-18.  
  • Aged 19-25 with an EHCP.  
  • Net household income of up to £30,000 for a single child household plus £1,700 for each additional dependent child aged 18 or under living at the same address.  
  • Students who meet specific eligibility criteria to receive a bursary for young people in defined vulnerable groups, need to evidence that they are either in care, a care leaver or receive the qualifying benefits in their own right.  
  • Asylum seekers do not have to evidence household income. 

Specific 19+ Bursary Fund and Adult Loans Bursary eligibility criteria:   

  • Net household income of up to £35,000 plus £1,700 for each dependent child under 18 living at the same address. This excludes asylum seekers who do not have to evidence household income.  
  • Students are aged 19+ and enrolling to a course that is eligible for an Advanced Learner Loan (ALL), they must have their loan fully approved before applying for a bursary and evidence of their approved loan is required to support their application. Students with an ALL that leave their course before the two-week liability point must repay all fund that they have received through the ALL Bursary. We do not support learners with their tuition fee if the course is eligible for an ALL. 

HOW TO APPLY

It's easy to apply for a bursary.

Step one: Preparation

  • Ensure you meet each bursary's eligibility criteria and have the correct supporting documents to evidence your eligibility. Missing documents will delay your financial support.
  • If there is any or exceptional circumstances that you would like to include to support your application these details may be added to section 3 of the application or included on a separate sheet.

Please note: We are unable to begin processing your application until it has been completed in full and you have included all of the required evidence. Please refer to our Bursary Evidence Guide.

Step two: Apply

We are unable to begin processing your application until it has been completed in full, signed and all evidence provided as detailed in section 2 of the form. Please refer to our Household Income Evidence guide and the Evidence Required for Bursary Applications guide.

To submit your application, please ensure you complete the application form and include all required supporting evidence. You can submit your completed application in one of the following ways:

  • Send a scanned copy of the form and evidence to: FEbursaries@Activatelearning.ac.uk.
  • In person to the Advice Centre near to Reception.
  • By post to the following address: Activate Learning – Bursary Team, c/o Banbury and Bicester College, Broughton Road, Banbury, Oxfordshire, OX16 9QA.

Step three: Confirmation of Award

  • We will send you an email within four weeks of receipt of your complete application to confirm the bursaries you have been awarded. You will receive a separate email for each bursary you have applied for.
  • If we are unable to award you a bursary, we will let you know the reason and include details of how you can appeal the decision.

Step four: Financial support throughout the year

  • Let us know if there are any changes to your details that affect your bursary. For example, if your timetable changes or you are going on a work placement. You may need additional support to attend University Open days, pay a UCAS fee, or go on a UK field trip.
  • Let us know if you change the bank account that we are to make payments to.
  • If you plan on changing your childcare provider, let us know beforehand so we can ensure we pay invoices to the new childcare provider.
  • If you change address, please complete a new details form.

Applications

  • All applications remain confidential, please refer to our privacy policy - Privacy and Data Protection - Activate Learning.
  • All decisions about which students receive a discretionary bursary and how much they receive are based on each student’s individual circumstances and their actual financial need.
  • Apply by 26 September 2025 as applications submitted after this date may not be processed within our standard time scales and will be added to a waiting list.
  • Applications will only be processed if they have been completed and submitted with all the evidence exactly as detailed in section 2 of the application.
  • We will carry out a financial assessment for each student to establish their household income and to establish the costs the student must have to take part in the course.
  • Bursary applications must be signed by the student to confirm they give formal agreement to their bursary fund conditions and terms of payment.
  • Any equipment/books bought with bursary funds must be returned to their faculty coordinator when they complete their course or withdraw from college.

You will receive an acknowledgment from us within 5 working days of us receiving your application. We process applications as quickly as possible; however, we kindly ask that you allow at least four weeks for processing before contacting us if you have not received the outcome of your application.

If your application is received after 11th August 2025 processing your claim may take slightly longer, we will do our very best to get back to you as soon as possible with the outcome of your application.

If your application form is submitted incomplete, we will let you know the additional information required. To avoid delays we recommend that all documents are provided in the format on the Household Income evidence guide and the Evidence Required for Bursary Applications guide.

What happens next? 

  • Applications are processed on a first come first served basis.
  • We will make an assessment against the eligibility criteria for each bursary you have applied for, taking any into account any additional information you have provided into consideration
  • If you have applied for several bursaries, you will be informed of the outcomes separately.  
  • If you are successful, we will include information on how to get your bursary award in our confirmation to you.
  • If you have been unsuccessful in your application, we will provide details and information on how you can appeal.

Communications

Financial support communications will be sent to students. Parents/carers (emergency contacts) of students ages 16/17 will be notified.

All documents are in PDF. 

16-18 year old

19+

Not age specific, for everyone

Household Income Evidence Guide

Course costs form

Childcare provider form

Evidence required for bursary applications

FE Student bursary policy

Self declaration form

Work-Industry Placement Course Costs form

Travel pass collection confirmation form

Arrange a replacement travel pass form

Change of details form

FE student bursary procedure

WHAT WE OFFER

There are a number of bursaries to help support your studies

We encourage students who meet the eligibility criteria for Meal Credits to apply and take up their free meals.

Eligibility

Apply for a meal credit bursary and their household receive one of the following:

  • 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 you 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 (HMRC))
  • Working Tax Credit run-on: paid for 4 weeks after someone stops qualifying for Working Tax Credit (Please note: Working Tax Credit is not a qualifying benefit for free meals)
  • Universal Credit with net earnings not exceeding the equivalent of £7,400 per year (after tax and not including any benefits you get)

Students who received meal credits or free school meals last year continue to be eligible for free meals if they apply for a meal credit bursary and we have evidence that you previously received free meals. We may ask you to provide your free meal entitlement letter.

Please note: We receive Pupil Premium data around the end of October.

To register your ID card, please see Guide to registering your ID card.

Self-Employed Parents should provide:

  • Their UC award letter.
  • A copy of their HMRC Tax Calculation SA032 form or Company Registration form.
  • Sign a self-declaration form confirming their net earnings do not exceed £7,400.

Support provided

On campus:

A free breakfast or lunch meal deal when timetabled to attend college. You will need to present your student ID card at the till to obtain your free meal.

Meal deals:

  • Any standard box hot meal from the counter and a bottle of water.
  • Any sandwich or panini and a bottle of water.
  • Any salad box (max. two protein items) and a bottle of water.
  • Any breakfast pastry, sausage roll or porridge and any small tea, Americano coffee or bottle of water.

Meals when not based on campus

  • An eVoucher will be provided fortnightly during term time. The eVoucher enables you to order a supermarket voucher of your choice to buy your lunch.
  • You are required to submit three receipts each term to evidence the funds have been spent on meals for college.

Travel bursaries are available to support students with travel costs to and from college.

Please complete the Travel pass collection confirmation form.

Eligibility

  • Attend the nearest college offering the course of study.
  • Have a journey of more than 3 miles walk and less than 30 miles, using Google maps walking distance.

Applications will be refused if the journey is under 3 miles unless exceptional need is evidenced at the time of applying. Proof from a medical professional confirming the student is unable to walk the distance, or confirmation from the local authority or Student Support will be considered.

Support Provided

Support is provided by the most cost-effective method, which will either be a travel pass or travel expenses paid into the students’ bank account.

Travel Passes

We provide travel passes to support the journeys operated by the following travel companies:

  • Chiltern Railways.
  • Falcon Buses.
  • Great Western Railways (GWR).
  • Oxford Buses.
  • Reading Buses.
  • South Western Railways (SWR).
  • Stagecoach Oxfordshire.
  • Stagecoach South.
  • Thames Valley Buses.

Passes are usually available for collection within three weeks of the award notification.

Students will receive a text message when the pass is ready for collection from an Advice Centre or Reception. If the course is not based at an Activate Learning campus, the travel pass will be posted to the place of learning.

For Stagecoach passes students will receive an email with a prepaid code to order the pass from stagecoachbus.com.

When collecting the pass students will be asked to sign a form to confirm when they are required to return their pass.

We recommend you take a photograph of your travel pass; this is so that you will have the pass number if you lose the pass and need a replacement. 

If the pass requires photo ID it is your responsibility to provide the photograph. These passes are not valid for travel unless presented with the photo ID card.

We recommend you store the pass in a plastic wallet to avoid damaging the magnetic strip on the back and lessen the chance of the print fading. The pass should be kept away from any magnetic sources i.e. mobile phone, magnetic clip fastenings as this may stop the pass working at the barriers. 

Funds will not be back dated, and you are responsible for the cost of travel until your pass arrives.

Any passes not collected within two weeks will be returned to the travel company, and there may be a fee for reissuing the pass.

Please ensure to keep your pass safe during college holidays to avoid having to pay your travel fare whilst waiting for a replacement pass.

Arrange Replacement Travel Pass Form

Travel Pass Returns

When students complete or leave their course before the end of the academic year, they are required to return their travel pass to their college Advice Centre near to Reception. Students may be charged for the remaining value of the pass if the pass is not returned.

Travel Expenses

Students may be awarded travel expenses, if:

  • They attend college less than 3 days a week.
  • It is the most cost-effective method of support.
  • Public transport is not available for the journey.
  • Students have evidenced the need to travel by car due to exceptional circumstances.
  • We do not have a purchasing agreement with the desired travel company.
  • The support is towards a contribution for Special Education Needs (SEN) travel, provided by the local Council.

Travel expenses are paid fortnightly in advance during term time.

Payments will be made to the bank account that was detailed on the bursary application form. If incorrect bank details are provided this may result in, you not receiving a payment.

If you do not have a bank account, you will need to open an account and let us know your bank details.

Please be aware that payments are term time only; you will not receive a payment immediately before a college holiday.

Bursary awards are made from the date the bursary application was assessed; we do not backdate awards.

Please note: Students traveling on public transport will need to evidence their cost of travel before funds will be paid. Three travel receipts are required each term.

Students who are not eligible for a travel bursary could check their Local Authorities transport policy to find out if they provide discounted travel schemes.

Bursary funds do not support the cost of taxis.

The college provides all essential items, materials, tools, and equipment you need for the course so you don't have to buy them.

Please complete the Course costs form.

Eligibility

The course requires students to provide essential protective clothing and/or attend essential trips. Faculty can provide details of these essential costs.

How support is Provided

  • Specialist protective clothing: Faculty will provide these items. Bursary funds reimburse faculty for essential specialist protective clothing they have purchased on the students' behalf.
  • Field trips: The cost of the trip is covered by an internal transfer. This means the money will be moved from the department's budget to pay for the trip, so you don't need to make any payments yourself.
  • UCAS Fees Direct transfer to your college account (reduces what you owe).

If you've already paid, you'll get a refund to your bank account.

Bursary funds do not support the cost of:

  • Laptops, or any other IT equipment.
  • Counselling or counselling supervision.
  • Stationery.
  • Items for extra-curricular activities.

Trips (UK only):

If you are awarded support for trips or, for students aged 19 and over for included in your course fee; funds will be transferred to your college account, we do not need receipts. If you have already received confirmation of a bursary for 2025-26, you will not need to pay for the essential trip.

You may submit additional course cost forms throughout the year if you have more essential course costs, e.g., university open days.

Please note: funds are limited, and we cannot guarantee that funds will be available later in the year.

Students eligible for this bursary are:

  • In care.
  • Care leavers.
  • Receiving Income Support (IS), or Universal Credit (UC) because they are financially supporting themselves or financially supporting themselves and someone who is dependent on them and living with them, such as a child or partner.
  • Receiving Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or Personal Independence Payments (PIP) in their own right as well as Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) or UC in their own right.

Support provided?

  • Financial needs are assessed by a member of the Student Support team.
  • Bursary funds are awarded in accordance with the eligibility criteria for each specific bursary unless Student Support assess that they have an exceptional need.
  • The maximum vulnerable bursary award is £1,200.

Please note: Students who have no financial need because they have no participation costs, or their participation costs have already been met will have their application refused.

This bursary contributes to the cost of accommodation for students enrolled in a specialist subject that is not available where they live.

Eligibility

  • Be planning to enrol on a specialist subject that is not available where you live i.e. Land-based courses at Merrist Wood and furniture courses at the City of Oxford College.
  • Have a journey of more than 2 hours one way on public transport.
  • Have a household income of:
    • 16-18 students: up to £35,000 or less for a single child household, plus £1,700 for every additional dependent child aged 18 or under living at the same address.
    • 19+ students: up to £35,000 or less plus £1,700 for each dependent child under 18 living at the same address.

Please note: The bursary only supports courses that lead to a substantial qualification in a specialist subject that is not widely available. It is not awarded for general courses that just enable students to participate in a specific sport.

Support provided

A contribution towards the cost of the students cost of accommodation is paid directly to the landlord. Awards are based on individual circumstances, and length of stay required.

Support with accommodation for the academic year is as follows:

Band 1: Income less than £30,000 (+ £1,700 per additional child) - Award: Up to £4,500.

Band 2: Income £30,001 - £35,000 (+ £1,700 per additional child) - Award: Up to £4,000.

Please note: Where students leave part way through the year, transfer to a non-specialist course or are excluded from their accommodation, their accommodation bursary payments will stop on the date they leave the course or are excluded.

Eligibility:

  • Be the main carer for their child and be able to evidence that they currently receive Child Benefit.
  • Explain the reason any other parent cannot care for their child and confirm the other parent is not claiming Early Years Funding.
  • Use an Ofsted registered childcare provider or school.
  • Use their funded early education entitlement before applying for a childcare bursary or Care to Learn.
  • Complete a childcare provider form.
  • Agreement to the Terms and Conditions.

Care to Learn - for 16-18 and 19+

A government scheme that helps students aged under 20 at the start of their course with their childcare costs while they study.

For details about Care to Learn please see https://www.gov.uk/care-to-learnt.

To apply:

  • Complete and submit a bursary application form and a Childcare provider form. While applying for care to learn you may apply for other bursaries we offer.
  • Provide evidence of being the main carer for the child (UC statement, Child Benefit letter, or birth certificate).
  • Explain the reason the other parent isn't able to provide childcare.
  • Inform us if the other parent is claiming childcare paid through any other source, for example government funded early years places or Childcare Tax Credits.

19+ Childcare Bursary

Support Provided:

  • A contribution towards childcare costs for timetabled classes, the fund does not support independent study.
  • Discretionary funding, normally up to £230 per week per child.
  • Initially allocated for up to two children per household. Funding for additional children is subject to availability.
  • Online courses - up to three days of childcare for full-time online courses, one day for part-time courses.
  • Payments made directly to the childcare provider after receiving invoices and checking the student has attended their course and the child has attended their childcare placement.

To apply: 

  • Complete and submit a bursary application form and a Childcare provider form. While applying for care to learn you may apply for other bursaries we offer.
  • Provide evidence of being the main carer for the child (UC statement, Child Benefit letter, or birth certificate).
  • Explain the reason the other parent isn't able to provide childcare.
  • Inform us if the other parent is claiming childcare paid through any other source, for example government funded early years places or Childcare Tax Credits.

Please note: Activate Learning will pay your childcare fees up to the value stated. If you withdraw or are withdrawn from your course, any financial award will cease from the date of your withdrawal, and you will be liable for any fees due to the childcare provider after this date.

If you are going to a work placement and have successfully applied for a bursary, we can support you with: 

Your travel costs if you live more than 3 miles from your placement.

Supermarket eVouchers – if you are eligible for meal credits.

To let us know the details of what you need, please complete a Work Placement form.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Answers to your most asked questions

Unfortunately, no. You need to live more than 3 miles walking distance from your college to qualify. If you have a medical condition that prevents you from walking, you can provide medical evidence to be considered for an exception.

Yes. You may be eligible for:

  • Up to 3 days of childcare support if your course is full-time (1 day if part-time).
  • Travel support for attending exams (up to £300).
  • Help with essential course costs not already included.

Yes, but if we can confirm your previous eligibility, you can continue receiving meal credits. We might ask for your entitlement letter just to be sure.

Not if you can prove financial independence. This could include tenancy agreements, benefit letters in your name, or evidence of supporting yourself financially.

Only if you’re continuing a course you started before turning 19, or if you have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP). Otherwise, you’ll need to apply under the 19+ bursary scheme.

Yes, but only once your loan is fully approved. You’ll need to provide proof of your loan when you apply.

Possibly. If your course isn’t eligible for an Advanced Learner Loan and your household income is within the threshold, you may get up to 50% of your course fees covered.

Not automatically, but you may be eligible for up to £1,200 if you're in care, a care leaver, or receive certain benefits in your own name. You’ll need to show evidence and demonstrate financial need.

Yes. You should apply for the government’s Care to Learn Grant Fund. If your childcare costs are higher than what Care to Learn covers, you might also be eligible for a top-up bursary of up to £50 per week.

You could receive up to £230 per week per child. The bursary is paid directly to your Ofsted-registered childcare provider. You’ll need to submit a childcare provider form and proof of Child Benefit.

Yes, if the boots are essential and can’t be borrowed from college. Either your faculty will provide them using bursary funds, or you can be reimbursed if you submit a receipt.

Yes. If you’re eligible for meal credits, you can receive supermarket vouchers or meal expenses for the days you’re on placement.

Provided you have submitted a completed, signed application and evidence in line with section 2 of our bursary form you can expect your bursary application to be processed within 2 weeks from submission. However, if there is information missing from the application, this may take longer.

APPEALS

If a student is not satisfied with the outcome of their application and wishes to appeal, they should submit their appeal in writing with a supporting statement within 10 working days of receipt of their application decision. Appeals are responded to within 15 working days.

Appeals should be addressed to the Group Head of Advice and Admissions:

By email: FEbursaries@activatelearning.ac.uk

By letter: Group Head of Advice and Admissions, Activate Learning, Bursary Team, Banbury and Bicester College, Broughton Road, Banbury, OX16 9QA