Financial Support
At Oaklands we do our best to make sure that we make learning affordable for you and we work hard to keep our fees to a minimum. Everyone's circumstances are different, and it is the job of our experienced staff to assess your personal situation and offer you advice and support where you are eligible.
This page covers information on; eligibility, types of bursaries available, evidence needed to apply, and how to apply
Get Advice
Our Student Advisors are the best place to check in with any questions or concerns about coming to College. They'll be able to discuss your situation and guide you further. The support available to you will depend on a number of factors such as your age, status, existing qualifications and whether the course is funded or full cost. Try not to make any assumptions about what you are or aren't eligible for until you have spoken to our team - their expertise will give you the advice you need.
Students NOT eligible for college bursary fund:
- Higher Education Student (excluding access)
- Work based Learning and Apprentices
Types of Bursaries
- College Meal Element – college meal element of residential cost is reduced. If successful in the application for bursary you may be awarded £1861.50 for bursary meals, this will reduce the fee to £4888.50.
- Free School Meals – could be awarded in additional to bursary meals to top to a third meal (has to be specific benefit awards for eligibility)
- Kit, Books, equipment – 50% towards academy kit and other essential items for course i.e. textbooks, materials.
- Travel - No travel allocation as students live on site.
- Monthly Travel Based – amount provided is assessed on distance from college. This is paid monthly based on attendance being 90% or above, travel is paid a month in advance. Travel awards can be up to £60, £75 or £90 monthly based on distance from college and days in college.
- Kit, Books, equipment – 50% towards academy kit and other essential items for course i.e. textbooks, materials.
- Meal Element – £4.25 daily for timetables days – on student ID card and swiped in the canteen. This is assessed on household income. Not all applicants will receive meals.
- Trip - 50% towards trips essential to curriculum.
- UCAS fees – 100% towards UCAS application.
- Childcare – Care to Learn – government programme where students aged 16-19 can apply for funding for childcare during their studies. Students apply independently: https://www.gov.uk/care-to-learn
- For students aged 16-18 living and financially supporting them independently or classed as being in care with the local authority.
- £35 weekly – term time only payments. Based on attendance 90% or above – paid 1 week in advance for the previous weeks’ attendance.
- Trips – 50% towards essential trips linked to curriculum.
- This money used to pay for travel, and kits required meals – no further payment provided.
- If students are looked after by local authority, then Virtual School pay for the students kit required and trips.
- Monthly Travel Based – amount provided is assessed on distance from college. This is paid monthly based on attendance being 90% or above, travel is paid a month in advance. Travel awards can be up to £60, £75 or £90 monthly based on distance from college and days in college.
- Kit, Books, equipment – 100% towards academy kit and other essential items for course i.e. textbooks, materials.
- Meal Element – £4.25 daily for timetables days – on student ID card and swiped in the canteen. This is assessed on household income. Not all applicants will receive meals.
- Trip - 50% towards trips essential to curriculum.
- UCAS fees – 100% towards UCAS application.
- Childcare – paid childcare from approved OSFTED registered provider during college timetable hours. Student completes childcare form with childcare provider and children details.
- 19+ who are on a level 3 or above qualification who have an approved Advanced Learner Loan.
What evidence you need to supply:
Please provide as much of this evidence as possible
Please note bank statements cannot be used by the college as proof of income, all evidence needs to be provided with the recipient’s full name and contact details for all tax returns, wage slips and benefit letters provided.Â
- Tax credit award for current financial year 2023-24. We can accept provisional tax credit award letters or the 2022-2023 award if this rolls into the year 2023; however final new letter to be sent to the college by 1st December 2023.Â
- Universal Credit – 3 x the most recent monthly award notices or statements from online account. Take home pay must also be provided along with 3x monthly Universal Credit statements to assess total household income, net earnings must not exceed £7400 per year.Â
- Proof of earnings in the household – 3 x most recent wages slips and/or P60 for all 18+ adults and or the most recent self-certificate for self-employment.
- Child Tax Credit
- Working Tax credit Â
- Council Tax Benefit (excluding single person allowance).  Â
- Copy of the Guarantee element of State Pension CreditÂ
- Benefit letter - dated within the last 3 months (Income Support, Employment Support Allowance, Job Seekers Allowance)Â
- If you are a student aged 16-18 and in receipt of your own income and independently financially supporting yourself: provide benefit letter dated with last 3 months or the last 2 months of universal credit payments, tenancy agreement and utility bill confirming you live at the address to evidence you are independently financially supporting yourself.
- If you are in care or a care leaver: Letter from your Virtual Schools confirming your eligibility and care status. Â
- If you have an EHCP, aged 16-18 and registered as a Disabled young person: Copy of your Employment Support Allowance (ESA) or Universal Credit AND disability living allowance (DLA)/personal independence payments (PIP) as well as financial household income.
How to Apply
Visit the bursary team in person: Take all evidence down to the college Student Advice Hub for a member of the team to process from the 22nd August and someone will access your evidence.
Back payments:
Please be advised bursary can only be awarded when the bursary team receive the full evidence required. The bursary fund cannot backdate any payments prior to the month the full evidence is received and reviewed by the bursary team, despite a student’s start date of college being prior to the application and receipt of all qualifying evidence required.
Higher Education Bursary
All students joining a Higher Education programme are liable for tuition fees. There are no concessions available however you can apply for a Student Loan to cover your tuition fee. You may also be eligible for a Maintenance Loan. The College also has a HE Bursary and students can apply for this.
National Skills Fund
The National Skills Fund is available to adults over 19 who do not already have a Level 3 qualification and offers fully funded Level 3 courses.
