Further Education Finance

Courses are free for UK students who are under 19 on 31st August in the year in which you enrol.

This is awarded to meet the costs of transport, course materials and books. The amounts awarded will depend on individual circumstances and will normally be paid in termly instalments.

Awards for transport costs will only be given to students who are not in receipt of free transport from their Local Education Authority and who live more than 3 miles away from the University. Awards given to help with transport costs will assume students are in receipt of a half fare bus pass.

If you were eligible for free school meals you may be eligible to continue receiving meal vouchers. For each day you are timetabled you will receive £3.50.

In order to qualify, the household must be in receipt of 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’re not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190)
• Working Tax Credit 'run-on' - the payment someone may receive for a further four weeks after they stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
• Universal Credit - if you apply on or after 1 April 2018 your household income must be less than £7,400 a year (after tax and not including any benefits you get) at the time of your application

Residential Bursary funding is provided to support learners who cannot access the course locally. You may be eligible for Discretionary Learner Support in addition.

Students may apply before the start of their course providing they have been offered a place and have accepted their offer (conditional or unconditional), however an award will not be made until after enrolment.

A Residential Bursary is only available to help with the cost of rent and students will need to budget for other essentials including utility bills (where applicable) and food.

The bursary is available to students whose annual household income is below £28,000 and where the student’s permanent home address is more than 25 miles from the University. The minimum amount available is £1,000 per academic year, however amounts in excess of this may be awarded depending on demand. Students are not eligible for a Residential Bursary if they are in receipt of benefits that support the cost of accommodation, for example housing benefit.

The Residential Bursary is paid termly directly to the landlord.

Please note that an application for a bursary is no guarantee of an award being made as funds are limited and amounts are awarded on receipt of application. You should be aware of this before signing a tenancy agreement.

Students who meet the criteria in one of the following defined groups, and who have a financial need, can apply for a bursary of up to £1200 per year (£40 per week.) The defined groups reflect that these students are unlikely to be receiving financial assistance from parents or carers, so may need a greater level of support to enable them to continue to participate. The amount of the award will be depend on individual financial circumstances.

The defined vulnerable groups are students who are:

• In care
• Care leavers
• Receiving Income Support, or Universal Credit 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 or Personal Independence Payments in their own right as well as Employment and Support Allowance or Universal Credit in their own right

The 19+ Advanced Learner Loan Bursary is available to support adult learners who have an approved Advanced Learner Loan, with meeting some of the associated costs of learning.

The bursary is for learners who are experiencing financial difficulty, which is impacting upon their ability to undertake and complete the course. It may be awarded for example, to help with accommodation and travel, materials and equipment and interview expenses. The amount of the award is based on financial need.

Financial assistance from the 19+ Hardship Fund is designed to assist students who are experiencing unexpected financial hardship. Priority will be given to students with a household income below £16,190; however consideration can be given to those whose household income is above £16,190 and below £28,000 depending on available funds.The amount of the award is based on financial need.

If you would like additional information on any of the bursaries above please contact Student Finance on studentfinance@leeds-art.ac.uk.