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Financial Support 16-18

16-18 Bursary Fund

North Kent College operates a range of Bursary schemes to assist students from low-income households with a contribution to the costs of attending college. These schemes are subject to Government funding levels, and awarded on a first come, first served basis and can be withdrawn at any time.

Financial support is available to students who:

  • Are on a Government funded course and
  • Have a household income below the college criteria. This includes housing and council tax benefits.

Bursary awards are tailored to the individual student and the award allocated will depend upon your course of study, where you live and how many days you are timetabled to attend college.

The Bursary is only a contribution towards course related costs and will not necessarily cover the full amount. These costs could include, but are not limited to the following:

  • Course contribution/materials fee applicable to your course
  • Essential books, kit, uniform or equipment required for your course
  • Travel (depending on where you live and how many timetabled days you attend college).
  • Childcare costs (only applies to students aged 20 or above). Students under the age of 20 should apply to the national Care to Learn Scheme for assistance with childcare

  • How do I apply?

    Please apply AFTER the Easter holiday, you can apply online here. Alternatively you can pick up one of our financial support leaflets from reception and use the QR code shown. Funds are limited and applications are assessed in order of receipt. Please note that applying for financial support does not guarantee that funding will be allocated.

  • When do I apply?

    Please apply by 1st June for progression students and 1st August for new students.Late applications will still be assessed but any fees due at enrolment will need to be paid by the student/parent/guardian.If a bursary award is made after enrolment, then a refund may be made towards the fees paid which are covered by the bursary.

    The Student Bursary team can be contacted via emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 

  • How do I know if I am eligible?

    For completed applications received by 1st August, we aim to assess these within 10 working days and will inform applicants if the assessment will take longer. Applications received after 1st August may take up to 30 working days to assess. The outcome of the assessment will be communicated via the student's personal email held on college records before enrolment. After enrolment any future correspondence regarding the bursary will be sent to either the student’s personal email and/or parents’ / guardians’ personal email. A copy of correspondence sent can also be found on the student bursary portal (using this link apply online here )along with the application for financial support.

  • When will I receive funding?

    Where students have applied for funding for course equipment or trips, this funding will be made ‘in kind’ where possible or paid direct to the curriculum. If funding is paid to the student by BACS, this will not be paid until the end of November.

    If travel is agreed as part of the award, then this is paid in arrears at the end of each month, commencing at the end of September or the month after the application has been awarded (for late applications).

    Under no circumstances will the College pay funds in advance or purchase travel tickets for students.

    All travel payments are subject to the student’s attendance being 90% or over in all subjects. Attendance below 90% will incur a reduction to the travel for the month the student has not travelled in.

  • Are there any ongoing requirements?

    All discretionary awards made by the College are subject to eligibility and attendance levels. Awards will be reduced if attendance falls below 90%, and are checked on a regular basis.

Appeals

Once you have applied for a bursary, if you receive notification that an award cannot be made and wish to appeal this decision, an appeal must be made in writing to the Student Bursary Coordinator within 2 weeks. We will review your application and make a decision. All appeals received after the final cut-off date of 1st August will not be reviewed until the October half term. If you are unhappy with the outcome of your appeal, you should follow the college’s complaints procedure here. 

If you require any further help, please contact our Student Bursary Team:

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Telephone: 01322 629400 and ask to speak to a member of Student Bursary team at the campus you will be attending (Dartford, Gravesend, Greenwich, Hadlow or Tonbridge). 

Help with Travel Expenses

Students who live two or more miles away from the College (or, for Dartford campus, two miles or more, from Dartford Station where they can pick up a free shuttle bus to the Dartford campus), may be eligible for funding to contribute to travel costs while they are at college.

Depending on where you live and how you are travelling to college, you may receive a monthly travel allowance.

A travel payment may be awarded to students depending on where they live and the number of timetabled days. Funding is at the discretion of the College and will take into account the discounts available to students and if the student already has support in place from the local authority. It will only be a contribution to assist with travel and may mean the student is awarded funding for monthly ticket options for example. The contribution will not exceed the cheapest option for travel to the college. Awards for travel will be paid directly into the student’s bank account via a BACS payment, in monthly instalments in arrears.

Under no circumstances will the College pay funds in advance or purchase travel tickets for students.

All travel payments are subject to the student’s attendance being 90% or over in all subjects. Attendance below 90% will incur a reduction to the travel for the month the student has not travelled in.

Getting to College

If you need some guidance on how to get to one of our campuses, click here.

  • Travel discounts available?

    Travel discounts available

    Kent County Council 16+ Travel Saver

    Designed for students who are a resident in Kent, aged 16-19 years old and in education, this will save approximately 50% of what you may pay if you bought an annual season ticket from a bus operator. It is valid throughout the year, including evenings, weekends, and holidays.

    Travel Options

    Applications and payments must be made directly to Kent County Council online for KCC 16+ Travel Saver card, click here.

    Where is the Travel Saver Card sent to?

    All Travel Saver cards are sent by KCC to the College Student Bursary department who will contact the student on receipt and can be collected during the advertised opening times. Where a Travel Saver card is not received by the start of term, the student must make arrangements to fund their travel until the pass is received.

    Oyster Card

    Students travelling from a London Borough will be required to use their free 16+ or 18+ Oyster photo card within the Oyster catchment area (taking advantage of the free or reduced travel). Students making the onward journey from outside of the Oyster card catchment area may be awarded a travel payment for the remainder of their journey.

    Railcard

    If you’re aged 16 or 17 you should apply for the 16-17 Saver railcard which can offer you 50% off train fares. Please see the following website for more information.

    What other discounts are available?

    • If you live in East Sussex, information on support available can be found on the East Sussex County Council site
    • Arriva – Weekly/Termly/Academic tickets, please refer to their website.

Vulnerable Student Bursary

Vulnerable students aged 16-18 may be eligible to receive a package of support up to the value of £1,200 per academic year that they are studying at college. The amount allocated will depend on the course you are undertaking and where you live. 

The following groups of students may be eligible for this bursary:

  • Young people in local authority care
  • Care leavers
  • Receiving Income Support, or Universal Credit because you are financially supporting yourselves or, financially supporting yourselves and someone who is dependent on you and living with you, such as a child or partner
  • Receiving Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payments in your own right as well, as Employment and Support Allowance or Universal Credit in your own right

The £1,200 support package is set to meet the needs of the individual student and may assist with paying for travel to college, course contribution fees, AAT membership fee, kit, uniform or equipment costs and the cost of essential books (these costs will depend on which course you are taking). This also includes a weekly allowance towards meals which is paid on to your student ID card, you ID card can then be used at your campus café or refectory.

Childcare Support

The cost of childcare does not need to be a barrier to your learning. Through Government-run schemes, support is available.

Students aged 19 and under at the start of their course can apply for childcare support from the Government’s Care to Learn scheme. Please visit https://www.gov.uk/care-to-learn for further information, and the online application. Applying for Childcare support through Care to Learn does not mean students cannot still apply for the College Bursary to assist with other costs.

Applications should be submitted with essential documentary evidence:

  • A completed Financial Support Application form with all required documentary evidence of household income
  • Birth Certificate or Passport or Adoption papers for relevant children
  • Completed Agreement signed by childcare provider and student

The Dartford and Gravesend campuses have on-site nurseries that also accept children of students with Care to Learn funding (subject to availability and the child's age).

Home - Bright Beginnings

Care to Learn

Free College Meals

Free College Meals (for 16-18 and EHCP Students)

The eligibility criteria for Free College Meals are set by the Government and are different to the college criteria for the Bursary funds. To be eligible for the Free College Meals, students must be 16-18 or 19+ with an EHCP. The student or their parents/guardians must be in receipt of one or more of the following benefits below:

  • Income Support
  • Income Based Jobseeker’s Allowance
  • Income Related Employment and Support Allowance
  • Guaranteed element of the State Pension Credit
  • Child Tax Credit Only (provided you are not entitled to Working Tax Credits) and have an annual gross income of not more than £16,190 as assessed by HMRC
  • Universal Credits with net earnings not exceeding the equivalent of £7,400 p.a.
  • Working Tax Credit run on - paid for four weeks after you stopped qualifying for Working Tax Credit
  • Support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999

If parents/guardians are in receipt of Working Tax Credits, students will NOT be eligible for Free College Meals.

Eligible students will receive the minimum Government Allowance of £2.53 per timetabled day in college, which is loaded automatically on to their college ID/cashless catering card. (Subject to Government funds, the College does try to top the daily amount up each week, but this is not guaranteed.) This can be used to purchase hot or cold meals, snacks and drinks in the college cafeteria. This daily amount can be used for breakfast or  lunch and is paid weekly depending on the number of timetabled days the student attends college.

Even if you do not meet the eligibility criteria for the Free College Meals, you may still be eligible for support for travel/course related costs.

How to apply for a 16-18 Bursary/Free College Meals

To apply for a 16-18 Bursary or Vulnerable Student Bursary (which may include free college meals), please complete the online Student Financial Support application form by following the link here.