Oaklands College Bursary

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. Please get in touch with the contact centre regarding course fees.

This page covers information on; eligibility, types of bursaries available, evidence needed to apply, and how to apply once you have enrolled with Oaklands College.

Full information about College Bursary Funding can be downloaded from the link below.

College Bursary Funds 2024-25

Students NOT eligible for college bursary fund:

Higher Education Student (excluding access)
Work based Learning and Apprentices

Types of Bursaries

Residential Students (aged 16-18)

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.
Government 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- See below
Essential kits, books and course equipment – a maximum 50% (Tier 2), 30% (Tier 1) contribution towards essential approved items required for your study programme. This is in the form of a reimbursement upon production of a receipt.
Travel - No travel allocation as students who live on site

Aged 16-18 Student (not residential) Discretionary Bursary

- Monthly Travel Based– If you live further than 2 miles from college a travel bursary may be offered. This could be in the form of a bus pass or a contribution towards costs based on timetabled college days and distance from college sites and is subject to college attendance being above 90%
- Essential kits, books and course equipment – a maximum 50% (Tier 2), 30% (Tier 1) contribution towards essential approved items required for your study programme. This is in the form of a reimbursement upon production of a receipt.
- Trip - Maximum 50% towards trip cost 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

Aged 16-18 Vulnerable Bursary (students living independently or are care experienced separate to the other 16-18 bursary amounts listed above)

For students aged 16-18 living and financially supporting them independently or classed as having been in care with the local authority or currently care experienced.
£33 weekly – term time only payments. Based on attendance 90% or above – paid 1 week in advance for the previous weeks’ attendance. 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.

Aged 19+ Students (students on Skills Funding Agency Course)

Monthly Travel Based– If you live further than 2 miles from college a travel bursary may be offered. This could be in the form of a bus pass or a contribution towards costs based on timetabled college days and distance from college sites and is subject to college attendance being above 90%.
Essential kits, books and course equipment – a maximum 50% (Tier 2), 30% (Tier 1) contribution towards essential approved items required for your study programme. This is in the form of a reimbursement upon production of a receipt.
Trip – Maximum 50% towards trip cost essential to curriculum.
UCAS fees – 100% towards UCAS application.

Aged 20+ Childcare Students

Childcare – paid childcare from approved OSFTED registered provider during college timetable hours. Student completes childcare form with childcare provider and children details.

Government Free School Meals

If the student meets the eligibility criteria set for Government Free School Meals (GFSM) the college will provide an amount of £4.25 via the student’s ID card for them to access a meal deal. The options are a meal deal (sandwich, snack & drink) or a hot meal & a drink.
The GFSM can only be accessed with a student ID card, if the student does not have their ID card the meal will NOT be available.
Eligibility criteria can be found at https://www.gov.uk/apply-free-school-meals

Advanced Learning Loan Bursary Fund

19+ who are on a level 3 or above qualification who have an approved Advanced Learner Loan.

Instalment Plans

Did you know you may be eligible for one of our instalment plans? To find out more, please contact contactcentre@oaklands.ac.uk

Details are available upon request.

What makes you eligible to apply?

Students do not receive an automatic entitlement to the college bursary fund based on any individual circumstances i.e., disability, diagnosis, or receipt of benefits – evidence of household income must be provided and individual need will be assessed.

Anyone aged 16 or above up can apply.
Total Household Income must be below £29,250 annually (Tier 1) - this includes salaries and benefits received from anyone aged 18 or above who lives with the student. A higher award may be given for those with household income of less than £23,500 (Tier 2).
A full assessment of household income is required to assess financial needs, as often household income contributes to supporting that student at home and therefore their financial needs may already be being met and/or because they have no relevant costs.

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.

Universal Credit – provide 3 most recent monthly statements. These statements must be the full statement showing all awards and deductions and will include earned income.
Tax credit award for current financial year 2024-2025. We can accept provisional tax credit award letters or the 2023-2024 award if this rolls into the year 2024; however final award letter must be sent to the college by 1^st December 2024 to prevent payments being stopped.
Child Tax Credit
Working Tax credit
Benefit letter - dated within the last 3 months (Income Support, Employment Support Allowance, Job Seekers Allowance).
Council Tax Benefit (excluding single person allowance).
Copy of the Guarantee element of State Pension Credit
Proof of earnings in the household – provide the 3 most recent wages slips and/or P60 for all 18+ adults and/or the most recent self-certificate for self-employment.
If you are a student aged 16-18 and in receipt of your own income and independently financially supporting yourself - provide a benefit letter dated with last 3 months or the last 3 months of Universal Credit statements AND a tenancy agreement or utility bill confirming you live at the address to evidence you are independently financially supporting yourself.
Care Experienced Students - Letter from your Virtual Schools confirming your eligibility and care status.
If you have an EHCP, aged 16-18 and registered as a Disabled young person - Copy of your Employment Support Allowance (ESA) award and Disability Living Allowance (DLA) award or your Universal Credit statements and Personal Independence Payments (PIP) along with 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 22^nd 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.

Find out more

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.