Bursary

Bursary, Free Meals and Childcare Support

Supporting you through your studies

New City College is committed to making sure financial pressures don’t stop you from succeeding. We carry out a financial assessment for all applicants to understand individual needs, and we have funds available to help with the costs of attending college including travel, compulsory kits, uniforms, learning materials, meals and childcare. If you’re facing financial hardship, you may also be eligible for additional support to help you stay focused on your course and your future.

You may be eligible to access financial support through the following funds during the academic year:

• 16 to 19 Bursary (including free college meals)
• 19+ Adult Bursary
• Advanced Learner Loan Bursary
• 20+ Childcare

Applying for Bursary

To submit an application, you will need to sign in to the online Pay My Student portal using your college email and password. If you have any issues logging in to the college system please contact your tutor or IT services.

Submit your application including the supporting documents requested on the application form. The process is fairly straightforward but if you are not confident in using the online feature, you may wish to ask a family member or a friend to support you. Bursary staff will also be available at the main campuses if you need further advice. Once you have submitted your application you will receive updates and notifications sent to your college email address.

Further information and guidance

Please carefully read the information and guidance below before applying as applications will be assessed based on eligibility and need.

Students in the following categories are not eligible for support:

• Income above £35,000 per year
• Higher Education students (see HE team for support)
• Fee paying overseas students
• Students on apprenticeship programmes or any waged training are employed rather than in education.

16 to 19 Bursary (including free college meals)

Students must be aged 16 or over but under 19 on 31 August 2026 to be eligible for help from the bursary fund. Students aged 19 on 31 August 2026 are only eligible to receive a discretionary bursary if they are continuing onto year 2 of a study programme, they began aged 16 to 18 (‘19+ continuers’) or have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) up to the age of 25.

The two types of bursaries are Discretionary Bursary and Vulnerable Bursary

Discretionary Bursary 

Aged 16-18 or 19-25 with EHCP

Eligibility and Evidence – Proof of income must be dated within 3 months of application.

The household income must be less than £35,000 per year (including Universal Credit payments).  We will accept the following means tested benefits as evidence of your income:

• Income Support
• Jobseekers Allowance
• Employment Support Allowance (ESA)
• Support under part IV of the – Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• Guaranteed element of State Pension Credit
• Child / Working Tax Credit with an annual income of £35,000 or less
• Universal Credit

If none of these benefits are claimed, students may not be eligible to apply for a bursary or free meals unless they are able to prove that their household income is below £35,000.

Vulnerable Bursary 

Students aged 16-18 who are:

• In care
• Care leavers
• receiving Income Support (IS), or Universal Credit (UC) 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 (DLA) or Personal Independence Payments (PIP) in addition to Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) or UC – all benefits must be received by the student, in their own right. PIP on its own is not an eligible benefit.

19+ Adult Bursary

The Adult Bursary is for students who will be aged 19 or over on 31 August 2026. The fund is there to support students with travel, compulsory kits, uniforms, materials, trips and childcare.

Eligibility

Students must be aged 19 or over on 31 August 2026.  Students must have an income of less than £35,000 per year or be in receipt of a means tested benefit such as one of the following. Proof of income must be dated within 3 months of application.

• Income Support
• Jobseekers Allowance
• Employment Support Allowance (ESA)
• Support under part IV of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• Guaranteed element of State Pension Credit
• Child / Working Credits with an annual income of £35,000 or less
• Universal Credit

If no benefits are claimed, proof of earnings such as pay slips and a P60 are required.

Support with Travel, Compulsory Equipment/Kit/Uniform/Trips

Support for equipment, kit, uniform and trips will only be provided if it is a compulsory part of a course.  We may reimburse students if they have paid in advance or we may transfer the funds to the curriculum area to purchase on behalf of eligible students.  Students may be eligible to receive a contribution towards travel costs, depending on the distance between their home and their college campus.

Payments

Payments will be withheld for students who do not meet the agreed college standards of attendance and behavior. Students who are dissatisfied with a decision regarding their application or payment are required to follow the appeals process outlined in the 19+ Bursary Guidance. A payment schedule will be sent via student email once an application is approved. Payments will normally be made via bank transfer. In certain circumstances, awards may be provided in kind through alternative means where appropriate and feasible.

Advanced Learner Loan Bursary

You can apply for a bursary as long as your loan has been approved and you meet the eligibility criteria set out above under 19+ Adult Bursary.  In addition, evidence of your loan approval will need to be uploaded on your application.

Deadline

You are strongly advised to apply as soon as you start your course.  Late applications will be assessed on a first come first served basis subject to the availability of funds.

20+ Childcare

If you are a parent who is aged 20+ and your income is less than £35,000 per year you may qualify for support towards childcare whilst you study. The College will contribute or make full payment of up to £195 per week term time only towards the cost of private OFSTED registered childcare, subject to eligibility and availability of funds. Payment is made direct to the childcare provider. Parents aged 16 to 19 apply for childcare through the Pay My Student portal (click apply now above). Further information can be found on the Care to Learn Policy below.

On-campus childcare facilities

New City Nursery is based at the Hackney campus. Please visit the website for more information.

Policies and Procedures