Apply for student support

Applications for 22/23 academic year are now open.  All application forms are available below.

16-18 Bursary Application Form

19+ Support Funds Application Form

Free Meals Application

Further Education Fees Support 22/23

See assessment criteria for fees here.

• Financial information and advice for 16-18 year olds
• Financial information and advice for 19+ year olds
• Terms and conditions for all support funds

Guidance Notes

G1 - What are Level 2 Qualifications?

GCSE/O Level (5 or more grades A* – C), CSE Grade 1 (5 or more), 1 A-Level, 2 or 3 AS Levels, OCF Diploma or Certificate Level 2, GNVQ Intermediate, NVQ Level 2

G2 – What are Level 3 Qualifications?

2 or more A Level passes, 4 or more AS Level passes, QCF Diploma Level 3 , 30/60/90/120/180 credit Level 3 qualification, QAA Access to HE, GNVQ Advanced, NVQ Level 3

G3 – Examples of status evidence: 

Evidence requirements (E) If you are an EU National or migrant worker we require a photocopy of your passport/settled status.

If you have been granted status in the UK please provide copies of any notification from the Home Office that clearly identifies your status.  Any evidence must clearly show your name.

If you are an asylum seeker, we require evidence that your initial claim for asylum has been outstanding for at least 6 months and a decision has not yet been made.  This may be a recent letter from your solicitor or your ARC card together with a post office receipt (this must be dated within one month).

If you have been granted section 4 support please submit the letter from the Home Office clearly stating this.  The letter must be dated within the last 3 months.

Any evidence must clearly show your name.

If your claim for asylum has been refused and you have not been granted status in the UK and you do not receive section 4 support you are not eligible to apply.

If you are an international student you are not eligible to apply.

If your status is not mentioned, it does not necessarily mean that you do not qualify.  Declare what your status is in the UK and any evidence you have to support this.  We may need to contact you.

G4 – Personal Status: 

Number of people in the household

Only count yourself, your partner if you have one and any children living with you who you are responsible for (i.e. who are under 18 or you are claiming child benefit for them)

G5 – Income: 

We only require evidence of your income and that of your partner if you have one.  If you or your partner claim benefits please provide photocopied evidence.  This can be a letter from the local authority, notification from the DWP/Jobcentre Plus, Pensions Service or HM Revenue & Customs for other benefits.  If you are living at home and do not claim benefits or work, you must state how you are supporting yourself and provide evidence such as a bank statement in support of your application.  We reserve the right to request additional information about household income if you state that your income is nil.  If you are in receipt of section 4 support, provide a copy of the notification from the Home Office.

Evidence of household income can be:

Photocopies of recent payslips for you and your partner if you have one.   Tax credit notifications.   Any other earnings that form the main household income for example a pension.  Include evidence of all income that you and your partner if you have one receive.

 Do not include: Disability Living Allowance, attendance allowance or discretionary payments from Local Authority.

Terms & Conditions

• If you wish to secure a place on your chosen course you may want to pay the fees yourself.
• If you cannot pay your fees at the point of enrolment, you will need to wait until you are officially notified of the outcome of your application.
• We will endeavour to process correctly completed applications within 5 working days.
• If you do not provide the necessary documentation your application will be delayed and this may cause you to lose a place on the course.
• If successful, we will send you an award notification which you must bring in to College to enrol. Once you have attended 4 classes the funds will be transferred to the relevant department
• If successful and you have already paid your fees, you will be refunded by BACS payment after you have been confirmed as attending at least 4 sessions of your course.
• If unsuccessful, we will send you a refusal notification. If you have not yet enrolled, you should contact the Customer Services Team to arrange payment of your fees.
• Please note: payments will only be made when attendance has been confirmed for 4 sessions of the course.
• If successful, your award is for 1 year only.
• If successful we will contribute 100% only up to a maximum of £1000 towards the cost of your fees.  You will need to pay the balance on enrolment.
• The fee must be for the full academic year eg if courses are split into three termly course codes we must have all course codes and full year fee amount.

If you require assistance with other study related costs, such as travel, course grant or childcare, you can complete a 19+ Learner Support Fund application form.

For further information or advice you can contact the Support Funds Team on (0191) 490 4627, call at Support Funds Office (Baltic Campus) or email support.funds@gateshead.ac.uk.