Student Finance

Bursary funding is available to eligible students on both full and part-time funded programmes. The 16-18 bursary funding is only available to students enrolling on a funded programme who are aged 16-18 (and under 19) on 31 August 2020.

A bursary may be available for any student whose annual household income does not exceed £30,000. Evidence of relevant household income/benefits will have to be provided.

Find out more: 1618 Bursary Guidance 20-21.

Apply for this Bursary here

A bursary of up to £1,200 a year (if you are participating on a study programme that lasts 30 weeks or more; a pro-rata amount is paid to students on study programmes of less than 30 weeks) will be available to assist with the costs of travel, meals, books and other associated course costs.

(Please note that this full amount may not be awarded automatically though the students may be eligible because they are in one or more defined Vulnerable groups as below, the award will be assessed based on actual financial need and would only receive the amount they actually need to participate on the study programme.)

Students in the following groups will be eligible if enrolled and assessed as being in one of the four defined vulnerable groups:

• In care
• Care leaver
• Young person in receipt of 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
• Young person in receipt of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or Personal Independent Payments (PIP) in their own right as well as Employment and Support Allowance or Universal Credit in their own right

Find out more: 1618 Bursary Guidance 20-21

Apply for this bursary here

Students aged 19 and over as of 31st August 2020 could be eligible to receive financial support. Bursary Funding is available to students who are studying on a qualifying, funded full or part time course.

A bursary could be available to students whose household income does not exceed £30,000, this includes your own, spouse, co-habiting partner or parents, if applicable. This bursary may be available to assist with the cost of travel, meals, kit and other associated course costs.

Find out more: 19+ Bursary Guidance 20-21

Apply for this Bursary here

Milton Keynes College currently offers a Free College Meal Scheme. To find out if you are eligible please contact our Bursary and Student Funds Team or call 01908 684364.

The 20+ childcare bursary may be available to assist you with childcare costs based upon your timetabled hours. To apply for childcare support, you will need to meet the following criteria:

- Aged 20 or over and approved for a 19+ Bursary or Advanced Learner Loan Bursary
- You must use Ofsted registered childcare provision
- If your child is eligible for Free Early Education, your funding will take into account any free hours

Childcare Guidance 20-21

If you are under the age of 20 at the start of your course, Care to Learn can help with childcare costs. It is only available if the student's childcare provider is Ofsted registered and offers up to £160 per week per child. Students must apply to C2L directly by completing an online application form.

For further information visit www.gov.uk/care-to-learn or call 01908 684364 or click here to contact our Welfare & Bursary Team.

If you’re aged 19 or over, live in the UK and are thinking about further education or training, you might qualify for an Advanced Learner Loan. An Advanced Learner Loan is targeted at helping adult learners manage the cost of further education. It’s easy to apply and you won’t have to pay anything back until you’re earning over £26,575 a year.

These loans cover tuition fees for a range of Level 3 to Level 6 courses.
Including:

• General and vocational qualifications
• Access to Higher Education diplomas

If you are interested in applying for a loan and would like further guidance please visit the government website for more information.

Students aged 19 and over on the first day of their course, who have been approved for an Advanced Learner Loan, could be eligible to receive financial support from the Milton Keynes College Advanced Learner Loan Bursary. A bursary could be available to students whose household income does not exceed £30,000, this includes your own, spouse, co-habiting partner or parents (if applicable).

Priority will be given to vulnerable groups and disadvantaged learners. The loans bursary fund is provided to help vulnerable and disadvantaged learners to overcome barriers which may prevent them from taking part in or continuing in learning.

Please note: The amount of bursary provided will depend on individual circumstances and may be subject to change due to the availability of funds. Payments will be adjusted for programmes that do not run over a full academic year.

If you are in support of any state benefits it is your responsibility to inform the Department for Work and Pensions about any learner support you receive as the learner support payments may affect your eligibility for some state benefits.

Advanced Learner Loan Bursary Guidance Info 20-21

Apply for this Bursary here

The Department of Education has recently announced funding to support students whose learning was disrupted as a result of the COVID pandemic. This 16-19 Tuition Fund is available to all 16 to 19 providers such as Milton Keynes College and is ring-fenced for 16 to 19 small group tuition only. The funding can be used to support small group tuition for 16 to 19 students in English, maths, and other courses where learning has been disrupted. The guidance indicates that the supported students must be on a 16 to 19 study programme and who have not achieved grade 5 or above in GCSE maths and/or English by age 16. Students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) aged 19 to 24 who have an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan will also be eligible for support via the 16 to 19 Tuition Fund.

The College commits to using the small group tuition funding that it has been given to provide maths and English and vocational support to mitigate against the impact of the pandemic on our study programme students. Sessions will be limited to three to five students per group and will be above and beyond normal timetabled hours. Students will be prioritised for small group tuition based on the guidance released by the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA). The full guidance can be accessed here.

Maths and English catch-up support sessions will be prioritised for those students:

·         who have not achieved a grade 4 in English and/or maths

·         with an Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan

·         with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), particularly where they have experienced additional disruption to learning as a result of their specific needs and disabilities

·         who will benefit most from small group tuition

Vocational support sessions including study skills support will be prioritised for those students:

·         whose assessment has been deferred because of lockdown

·         with an Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan

·         on Entry, Level 1 and Level 2 study programmes

·         who have not achieved a grade 4 in English and/or maths

If our funding allocation allows, support may also be provided for those students who have achieved a grade 4 in GCSE maths and/or English by age 16.