Financial Support
At Coastland College, we want every student to feel supported, which is why a range of bursaries and financial help is available for those who meet the criteria.
Funding comes from the Government and is awarded based on financial need.
While being eligible doesn’t guarantee an award, the aim is to help with some of the essential costs of attending college. Awards are discretionary and depend on continued satisfactory attendance.
All awards are subject to funding availability and compliance with government regulations.
To apply for a bursary, you must:
- Have lived in the British Isles or EU for the last three years, or have your passport endorsed to show you have the right to live in the UK
- Have ‘settled status’ in the UK
- Be studying a full-time, funded Further Education course with Coastland College
Eligibility
Students may apply for a Discretionary Bursary if they are aged 16 or over but under 19 on 31 August 2026 to be eligible for bursary support. A student aged 19 and over is only eligible for a discretionary bursary if they have and EHCP or are continuing on the same study programme they started between 16-18 years.
Awards will normally be assessed using a total net annual household income of £35,000 per annum.
The College will take account of:
- All earnt income including from Self-Employment/Company Director
- Universal Credit
- Pension/Pension Guarantee Credit
- Child Maintenance – Only student in question
- Child Benefit
- Personal Independent Payment – only for VB
- Council Tax Benefit
- STIPENDS
- Student maintenance loan
Students will be expected to provide evidence of 3 months household income for the 3 months prior to the start of their course.
If the household income changes during the year, then the student should contact the bursary team for a re assessment of award.
Any costs incurred before a bursary has been approved will not be re imbursed.
Students with a household income over £35,000 can still apply but cases will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
Eligible students may apply for assistance with:
Travel Costs – for students that live over 2 miles from their primary campus
- Bus passes – students must provide evidence of bus pass ticket
- Public transport
- Mileage support – £0.45 per mile where public transport is unavailable or unsuitable.
- Work placement travel
- T Level industry placement travel
Vulnerable bursaries
- 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 addition to Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) or UC – all benefits must be received by the student, in their own right
Students must be in receipt of DLA or PIP and ESA or UC to be eligible – receipt of DLA or PIP alone does not meet the criteria.
Support may include:
- Travel (if living over 2 miles from their primary campus)
- Meals
- Equipment
- PPE
- Educational visits
- Digital access support
Upload all required evidence before your application can be reviewed.
Your application will be processed by our Student Engagement team and you’ll receive your decision via email. You must accept and sign your bursary award notice before any support can be applied.
If your application is unsuccessful, we’ll explain why and guide you through the appeals process if needed. Please note that receiving a different award to another student is not grounds for appeal.
Free college meals
- The College may provide an enhanced Free Meal rate of £3.00 per timetabled day from the discretionary bursary for students that have been awarded a DB bursary.
Meal entitlement may also apply to:
- Students aged 19–24 with an Education, Health and Care Plan where the FCM criteria is met.
- Eligible continuing students who meet government criteria.
Free college meal eligibility
Students must be enrolled in FE provision funded by DfE and be in reception of or have parents who are in receipt of one or more of the following benefits:
- Universal Credit
- support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
Students will only receive a free college meal once they have made an application to the college and received an award confirmation.
Child care support
If you are aged under 20 at the start of you course you may be eligible for child care support via the government Care to Learn scheme, more details can be found here Care to Learn Guidance
How to apply
You will be invited via email to apply for a bursary using the Pay My Student portal. You will be required to input required information and upload financial evidence before you application can be reviewed.
Once your bursary has been processed you will receive the outcome via email. You will need to accept your awarded before accessing any support.
If your application is unsuccessful, we’ll explain why and guide you through the appeals process if needed.
Please note that receiving a different award to another student is not grounds for appeal.
Additional information
Any costs incurred prior to an award being in place may not be refunded.
Attendance criteria:
| Attendance Level | Outcome |
| 80% and above | Full support maintained |
| 60%-79% | Support review and intervention |
| Below 60% | Payments may be suspended pending review |
Bursary funds cannot be used for:
- Branded college clothing
- Exam fees
- General clothing
- Non-essential equipment
- Non-essential trips
