What is the 16-19 Bursary Fund?

The 16 to 19 Bursary Fund provides financial support to help students overcome specific financial barriers to participation so they can remain in education. You can apply for one of two bursaries:

• Enhanced Bursary Fund – Government funding for young people in one of four defined vulnerable groups:
  • 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
• Discretionary Bursary Fund – Government funding awarded by the college to meet individual learner’s needs

The bursary is paid to enable you to remain in education and funding is subject to good attendance.

Who can apply?

To apply for one of these bursaries you must:

• meet the ESF Agency residency criteria (see bursary guidelines)
• be aged 16 or over but under 19 at 31 August 2025 (If you turn 19 during your course of study, you will still receive funding until the end of the academic year)
• be aged 19 or over at 31 August 2025 and have an Education, Health and Care Plan (Discretionary Bursary only)

The 16-19 Bursary Fund 2025-26 Application Form (docx file)