In 2011-2012, the government launched the 16-19 Bursary Fund (known as the Sixth Form Bursary Fund). The Fund's purpose is to provide financial assistance to disadvantaged students in order to help those students overcome specific barriers to participation and remain within education.

The Bursary Fund is available to students who may need financial support to enable them to study at the Sixth Form. Any young person can apply for the ​Bursary providing they satisfy the eligibility criteria detailed on this page, which relate to household income.  

The amount of money available to each eligible young person will depend on each student's individual circumstances and their actual financial needs. 

To apply for the Bursary Fund please click here

The ​Bursary Fund is made-up of two parts 

1. Bursaries for students in defined vulnerable groups 

Students who meet the criteria, and who have a financial need, can apply for a bursary for vulnerable groups. 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. 

2. Discretionary bursary 

The Sixth Form makes a discretionary bursary award to students to help them overcome individual barriers to participation. This means to help with the cost of travel, to buy essential books, equipment or specialist clothing (such as protective overalls, for example). 

The Sixth Form decides which students receive a discretionary bursary and how much they will get. Support will normally be provided for students who cannot stay in education without financial help and can cover a range of needs and resources such as: 

• Transport
• Meals
• Essential educational activities linked to chosen A level courses 
• Student learning resources
• Extra tests required for university entrance purposes 
• Digital devices for use in the classroom and at home

Bursary funding criteria

The fund is for young people who are 16 or over, but under 19, on 31 August in the academic year in which they start their programme of study. 

They must also satisfy one or both of the criteria below.

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 discretionary bursary 

• Young people within the categories listed above; and/or  
• Students whose household income is below £30,000 per annum (after tax and NI deduction). 

 

More information is available on the government's website 16 to 19 Bursary Fund