16-19 Bursary Funds
If you are eligible and would like to apply for one of the bursary funds shown, please visit the link below to complete an online application.
The bursary provides financial assistance to help remove specific barriers to education enabling you to stay in or return to learning. Support may include contributions towards transport, meals, essential kits or equipment, course materials, educational trips and childcare on the days you attend College. Any support awarded will be subject to the terms and conditions outlined in our bursary application form.
Contact the Student Services team on: Bursary@coulsdon.ac.uk or call 01737 558071
16-19 VULNERABLE BURSARY FUND
Eligibility criteria:
- Aged 16, 17, or 18 at 31st August 2026. *Students aged 19 are not eligible for bursaries for vulnerable groups regardless if they are a continuing learner who was 18 at the start of the course
And can provide evidence that you are:
- In care; or
- A care leaver; or
- in receipt of Income Support or Universal Credit in your own name because you are financially independent; or
- Receiving Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or Personal Independence Payments (PIP) in your own name as well as Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) or Universal Credit in your own name
Support available:
- Support with travel costs to and from college that are not covered by the 16+ Oyster Zip Card or for students who need to travel via. rail as they live 1 hour or more from college via. bus route
- Oyster Zip Card application fee
- Essential course equipment (e.g. hair/beauty kit, uniform, art materials)
- Course-related books
- Essential educational trips & visits
- UCAS application fees
- Costs for authorised university visits (e.g. university interviews or Open Days)
- College arranged work experience/placement related costs
- Discretionary free college meals
- IT equipment support
- Childcare costs
Applications are assessed on an individual basis to ensure the financial support is used in a way that benefits the students the most, with in kind support offered in the first instance.
You can apply online by clicking here.
16-19 DISCRETIONARY BURSARY FUND
Eligibility criteria:
- Aged 16 or over but under 19 at 31st August 2026, or;
- Aged 19 or over and continuing on the 2nd year of a 2 year programme you began aged 16 to 18 (19+ continuer), or;
- Aged 19 to 24 with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP)
And
- Living at home with a parent/guardian and can provide evidence that the total household income is less than £36,000pa (This figure will/can include all benefits
Support available:
- Support with travel costs to and from college that are not covered by the 16+ Oyster Zip Card or for students who need to travel via. rail as they live 1 hour or more from college via. bus route
- Oyster Zip Card application fee
- Essential course equipment (e.g. hair/beauty kit, uniform, art materials)
- Course-related books
- Essential educational trips & visits
- UCAS application fees
- Costs for authorised university visits (e.g. university interviews or Open Days)
- College arranged work experience/placement related costs
- Discretionary free college meals
- IT equipment support
- Childcare costs
Applications are assessed on an individual basis to ensure the financial support is used in a way that benefits the students the most, with in kind support offered in the first instance.
You can apply online by clicking here.
THE 16-19 FE FREE COLLEGE MEALS SCHEME
Eligibility criteria:
- Students aged 16, 17 or 18 at 31st August 2026
- Students aged 19-24 with an EHCP
- Students aged 19 and continuing on the 2nd year of a 2-year programme (19+ Continuer)
FE Free College Meals are targeted at disadvantaged students. Free meals in FE defines disadvantage as students being in receipt of, or having parents who are in receipt of, one or more of the following benefits:
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- The guarantee element of State Pension Credit
- Universal Credit
A student is only eligible to receive a free meal when they, or a responsible adult on their behalf, have made a successful application and provided evidence of their eligibility.
Students who meet the criteria for either the 16-19 Vulnerable Bursary Fund or the 16-19 Discretionary Bursary Fund, but not the FE Free Meals will be awarded Discretionary Free Meals.
Students who meet the criteria for FE Free Meals but exceed the £36,000 threshold will only be awarded the FE Free Meals (topped up to the £6 daily allowance) and no other support type will be given.
You can apply online by clicking here.
HOW TO APPLY?
Click HERE to apply now
You will be asked to provide evidence of your circumstances, and we cannot process your application without this. If you don’t provide everything that we ask for we will contact you, but this will delay your application being processed.
Once you have registered on the online portal you will be able to access your account and view any correspondence that we send you, the status of your application, and information about your payments if your application is approved.
Bursary Application Guides
You will be asked to provide evidence of your circumstances, and we cannot process your application without this. If you don’t provide everything that we ask for we will contact you, but this will delay your application being processed.
Once you have registered on the online portal you will be able to access your account and view any correspondence that we send you, the status of your application, and information about your payments if your application is approved.
Find our Student Financial Support Policy here.
Apply now
CLICK HERE to search for courses and apply to Coulsdon Sixth Form College
