Eastleigh College does not want essential transport costs to be a barrier to outstanding vocational education, so it has developed a new bursary scheme to support full-time students with the costs of travel. A travel bursary will be available to new students who are:

• aged between 16-18 years of age
• registered as living in excess of three miles (direct) from Eastleigh College
• enrolled on a full-time course at Eastleigh College in 2012/13 

Travel bursary funding for 2012/13 will be as follows:

• Living within 3-5 miles of Eastleigh College - £50 per term (£150 per academic year)
• Living within 5-7 miles of Eastleigh College - £75 per term (£225 per academic year)
• Living in excess of 7 miles of Eastleigh College - £100 per term (£300 per academic year)
• Living within 0-3 miles of Eastleigh College - no travel allowance available

Payments are made each term on an instalment basis, direct to each student.
Students wishing to apply for the travel bursary will need to do so prior to enrolment in September 2012. To be eligible to receive payments, both proof of student address and a completed travel bursary application form will be required for submission to the College.

Payments are subject to minimum attendance, achievement and behaviour levels. The bursary will be available to all students aged 16-18 who are enrolled on a full-time government fully funded programme at Eastleigh College in academic year 2012/13. The College reserves the right to withdraw payments at any time.

For those students who may require additional financial support, an increased travel bursary is available, subject to eligibility criteria. Please enquire with the Student Support team for details on how to apply, and for further information on student finance.

16-19 Bursary Fund (full-time students only)

The 16-19 Bursary Fund is a financial support scheme which provides assistance to students where financial considerations may prevent attendance on a full time course.

The Bursary is split in to two types of funding support:

1. Bursary for all vulnerable students (those in Local Authority Care, Living Independently or have a registered disability and in receipt of Employment Support and Disability Living Allowances
2. Discretionary Awards for college related expenditure for families who earn less than £25,000 per year. 

Below is a table which illustrates the type of support available to students in these categories:

Currently Eastleigh College students presently in receipt of a £20.00 Eastleigh College Bursary will be eligible to continue to receive this financial support if they are entering the second year of a two year (plus) course. This bursary will not be available to new learners or students starting new courses.

19+ Learner Support Fund (full-time students only)

Students on full-time courses who receive a means tested benefit or have an annual household income of less than £25,000 per year may be eligible for support with:

• Essential uniform, equipment, books and field trips
• Course Fees (19 years +)
• Childcare (20 years +) - also see 'Care to Learn scheme' under Childcare below for parents under 20 years. 

It may also pay you a monthly bursary, depending on circumstances, to students where there is a low household income.

Young parents (male or female aged 16-19) who are in learning may be able to claim help with childcare costs under the Care to Learn Scheme, which is not means tested.

For further information visit the Direct Gov website www.direct.gov.uk/caretolearn or phone the Care to Learn helpline 0800 121 8989.

The Learner Support Fund also provides assistance with childcare costs for students aged over 20 years, where there is a low household income (see Learner Support Funds section above).

The Access to Learning Fund provides financial assistance to students who are in financial difficulty and who are enrolled on a Higher Education Course. It is not intended to pay for costs normally covered by Student Loans.  Applications are means tested and awards allocated according to need. 

Students with learning difficulties/disabilities should apply for the Disabled Students Allowance in the first instance. For further information visit www.direct.gov.uk website. The College may be able to assist with financing a diagnostic assessment of specific learning difficulties (e.g. dyslexia) depending on financial circumstances. 

For more information regarding any aspect of financial support please contact the Student Team on 023 8091 1228 or visit them in the Student Services Centre.