For all information finance
Heart of Worcestershire College recognises that all students whether full or part time have financial demands on them attending college.
Financial support is available in a number of different ways providing you fulfil the eligibility requirements of each scheme.
You can apply for student support through our college portal.
We offer support for bursaries, free meals, travel support and childcare alongside essential equipment and trips for your course. Our handy form tells you more about the process of applying for support.
From bursaries, free meals, travel support and childcare to support with essential equipment and trips, simply download the PDF below to see what financial support you could be eligible for.
16 - 19 Bursary
The 16-19 bursary is a scheme to assist young people to continue in full-time education who may have difficulties in completing their course due to financial reasons.
The scheme is made up of two parts:
Vulnerable Bursary
Bursaries of up to £1,200 are available to Vulnerable Students (16-18) as defined by:
- Being in care or being a care leaver – Letter from local authority confirming status required.
- Student personally in receipt of universal credit – Evidence required.
- Being a disabled young person and in receipt of Employment Support Allowance and Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payments in their own right – Evidence of both required.
Discretionary Bursary
Students facing financial difficulties may also be able to request assistance with transport, mandatory equipment, meals, trips or other course related costs. Travel support is available to students who travel more than 1.5 miles to their main campus of study.
All students requesting support with travel are asked to apply via the 16-19 Bursary Fund Application Form available from Advice Centre’s/Reception. Due to the high volume of applications students are expected to cover their own transport costs up to half term, which will then be reimbursed if successfully awarded support.
Free Meals
Students who meet the criteria can claim one meal per day from college onsite cafes. Criteria is based on parents who are in receipt of one or more of the following benefits:
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- The guarantee element of State Pension Credit
- Child Tax Credit (provided they are not entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190, as assessed by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC))
- Working Tax Credit run-on – paid for 4 weeks after someone stops qualifying for Working Tax Credit
- UC with net earnings not exceeding the equivalent of £7,400 pa (after tax and not including any benefits you get)
All student requesting free meals must complete the Financial Support Application form and provide the relevant evidence.
Childcare
Childcare is intended to assist young parents under the age of 20 to continue in, and return to, education after the birth of a child by providing funding for childcare whilst the young parent is engaged in a study programme.
Further information regarding how to apply is available at www.gov.uk/care-to-learn.
19+ Discretionary Learner Support (DLS)
Students aged 19-23 at the start of their course studying up to a Level 3 Programme and student learners over 24 but studying a Programme up to a Level 2 can apply for support from the 19+ DLS fund. The DLS fund can help towards, travel, childcare, and trips.
19+ Advanced Learner Loan Bursary
This bursary is available to students who have approved Advanced Learner loans in place. The fund may provide a contribution towards travel and childcare costs. Any essential equipment should be provided by the department. In exceptional cases students can request assistance with hardship.
HE Financial Support
At HE with HoW College we are proud to be able to offer competitive tuition fees for both full time and part time study. This ensures you get the best value for money whilst guaranteeing you are receiving the same standard of education you would expect from a traditional university.
There are a variety of options available to help pay for higher education course fees; student loans are available from Student Finance England for both full time and part time students. Alternatively, if you are not applying for a loan for your HE course or wish to pay in instalments for a professional course, arrangements can be made with our finance department during enrolment.
We have access to a variety of support funds to help learners continue to study a higher education qualification with us, such as the Higher Education Access to Learning Fund, Advanced Learning Loans, and Higher Education Boost Awards.
Full time higher education students also have the option to apply for a maintenance loan via the Student Loans Company.
Advanced Learning Funds
All eligible students can get help with tuition fees and living costs through Student Loans. There are two types of Student Loans per academic year:
- A tuition fee loan for fees - to cover the cost of your tuition fees in full
- A maintenance loan - to help with living expenses (how much you get depends on your household income)
Higher Education Boost Awards
The Higher Education Boost Awards assists higher education students with specific needs. Funds are awarded on a discretionary and case-by-case basis. To be eligible for support your household income must be less than £25,000. You must also be on an HNC, HND, or a Foundation Degree course on a non-franchised and non-sponsored basis and have accessed all of the available funds via Student Finance England.
Forms for The Higher Education Boost Awards are available from the Advice Centres at the start of July.
Hardship Funds
Hardship funds may be available for students struggling to pay course related costs or for a one off emergency which may prevent you from attending college. To receive support from the hardship fund you must have applied for the full Student Finance package available to you i.e. full maintenance loan. Support will not normally be provided from both Boost and Hardship. Hardship can also be provided towards DSA assessment costs.
Disabled Students Allowance
As a higher education student living in England, you can apply for a Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) if you have a disability, including
- long-term health condition
- mental health condition
- specific learning difficulty, eg dyslexia
- The support you get depends on your individual needs and not on income
If eligible you could get help with;
- specialist equipment, for example a computer if you need one because of your disability.
- non-medical helpers
- extra travel because of your disability
- other disability-related costs of studying
- For more information and to apply please visit www.gov.uk
Childcare Grant
If you have children under 15, or under 17 if they have special educational needs you may be eligible for help with your childcare costs from Student Finance England. Please visit the Government website for more information.
Heart of Worcestershire College and Higher Education Worcestershire Scholarship Programme
Heart of Worcestershire College (HoW College) and Higher Education Worcestershire (HE Worcestershire) have created two scholarships for students making significant academic and personal progress during their studies at HoW College. Those who apply must be planning to study on a Foundation Degree or HNC/D at the College. Apply through our Scholarship Programme form.