Discretionary financial support

Information for students aged 16-18 

• The Discretionary Bursary

  The Discretionary Bursary (DB) are funds allocated to the College by the government to enable us to help students aged 16-18 in financial difficulty, with a low household income, to help overcome any individual financial barriers they may face participating at college.

  • Any student aged 16 and over as of the 31st August 2026 whose household income is below £35,000 can apply.
     

    To assess your household income, we require one or more of the following documents:

    • A P60 issued by your current employer dated April 2026
    • Last 3 months’ payslips if paid monthly or every 4 weeks
    • Last 6 payslips if paid fortnightly
    • Last 12 payslips if paid weekly
    • Photocopies of benefit award letters dated after April 2026
    • Details of accounts or HMRC Tax Return for the previous tax year if self-employed
    • Universal Credit award showing: all payments, details of who is being claimed for, deductions for the last 3 months and Child Benefit documentation.
      
      
  • If students are aged 16–18 and living with parents this will be based on the household income 
  • Financial Support is subject to students maintaining the required expectations for attendance, behaviour and punctuality. The college reserves the right to temporarily withdraw any financial support if the requirements are not met. 
  • DB funds are limited and will be allocated on a first come first served basis

  Students aged 19 and over who have an Education & Health Care Plan (EHCP), or those continuing on the same study programme, may also receive help with essential kit, equipment, books and uniform.
  
  Eligibility does not guarantee that an award will be made. All applications are confidential.

• Who cannot apply?

  Students will not be eligible for assistance if they are:

  Under 16 years old on 31 August 2026
  Mandated to undertake a course of study by Job Centre Plus
  A learner who is in prison or young offenders institute on day release
  An asylum seeker aged 19 or over
  On a higher education course
  A learner who is on a waged Work Based Learning program or waged apprenticeship
  
  

• What can the DB help with?

  Travel

  Students may be eligible for travel support if they meet the household income criteria and live more than 1.5 miles from the College campus (measured using Google Maps walking directions).  ​​

  Travel support is provided in the form of a bus pass or train warrant available from the campus. The student remains liable for their travel costs until an award is agreed and reimbursement for travel costs before this time is not offered. If a bus pass is lost there will be a replacement fee of £15. We will only replace one bus pass per student per academic year. Should a train pass be lost, the college is unable to replace this, and it should be reported as lost to National Rail by following their policies.    ​​

  Students with additional transport needs as a direct result of a disability, learning difficulty or ill health should liaise with their Local Authority to see whether help is available.  

  Materials
  
  Your curriculum team will provide information for how to order any essential equipment and uniform which may covered from the 16-18 Discretionary bursary fund. Equipment will be supplied through the College and there is no cash alternative. If you are applying for financial assistance, please wait for the outcome of your application. Unfortunately we are unable to offer refunds. Equipment paid for by the funds remains the property of MidKent College and students may be requested to return non-perishable/reusable items to the College for redistribution at the end of their course.

  Students under 20 and in need of childcare assistance should apply for the Care to Learn Scheme. You can get Care to Learn if all of the following apply to you: ​

  • you’re a parent under 20 at the start of your course ​
  • you’re the main carer for your child ​
  • you live in England ​
  • you’re either a British citizen or have a legal right to live and study in England ​
  • your course qualifies ​
  • your childcare provider qualifies ​

  ​To apply for this, make an application to the 16-18 Discretionary bursary on the MidKent College website and select childcare support for those aged 16-20 when prompted. More information is available at https://www.gov.uk/care-to-learn. Care to Learn can also help with the cost of transport to and from the chosen childcare provider provided the total of the childcare and travel costs does not exceed the Care to Learn maximum weekly amount (£180 per child per week). 
  
  Attendance/Withdrawal
  
  The DB is an attendance based award; attendance will be monitored regularly. The college reserves the right to temporarily withdraw any financial support if the requirements are not met. 

   All equipment/uniform/kit/books purchased from the DB remain the property of MidKent College. When the student’s course finishes or if they withdraw from their course they may be required to return all items.

• Appeals

  If you believe your application has been incorrectly assessed, you have the right to appeal. Your appeal must be in writing and should include details of the additional information you would like us to consider. Please address appeals to: Student Finance Hub, MidKent College, Medway Campus, Medway Road, Gillingham, Kent ME7 1FN or email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
  
  *Students who are taking advantage of the 19+ Advanced Learner Loan should apply for help through the 19+ Advanced Learner Loan Bursary.

Information for students aged 19+

• The Discretionary Learner Support Fund

  The discretionary Learner Support Fund (dLSF) are funds allocated to the College by the government to enable us to help students aged 19 or over in financial difficulty with a low household income to help them overcome any financial barriers they may face participating at College.

• Who can apply?

  • Any student whose household income is below £35,000 can apply. Income will be assessed from the evidence you supply,this could include a P60 issued by current employerdated April 2026, Last three months’ payslips if paid monthly or 4 weekly, last 6 payslips if paid fortnightly or last 12 payslips if paid weekly, Photocopies of benefit award letters dated after April 2026. Details of accounts or HMRC Tax Return for previous Tax year in the case of self-employment.  ​

  Universal Credit Award showing all payments, details of who are claimed for and deductions for the last 3 months.  

  Eligibility does not guarantee that an award will be made. All applications are confidential.

• Who cannot apply?

  Students will not be eligible for assistance if they are:

  • Mandated to undertake a course of study by Job Centre Plus 
  • A learner who is in prison or young offenders institute on day release 
  • An asylum seeker aged 19 or over 
  • On a higher education course 
  • A learner who is on a waged Work Based Learning program or waged apprenticeship
  • Over 19 and undertaking a level 3 or above course*

• What can the dLSF help with?

  Travel

  Students may be eligible for travel support if they meet the household income criteria and live more than 1.5 miles from the College campus (measured using Google Maps walking directions).

  Travel support is provided in the form of a bus pass or train warrant available from the campus. Students remain responsible for their travel costs until an award has been agreed, and reimbursement for travel costs incurred before this time is not available.

  If a bus pass is lost, there will be a replacement fee of £15. Please note that only one replacement bus pass will be issued per student per academic year.

  If a train pass is lost, the College is unable to replace it. Lost train passes should be reported directly to National Rail in line with their policies.

  Students with additional transport needs as a direct result of a disability, learning difficulty, or ill health should contact their Local Authority to find out whether support is available.

  Childcare
  
  The dLSF may be able to assist with the cost of childcare if students are aged 20 or over at the start of their course. Students will be required to make arrangements with their own local OFSTED registered childcare provider. The College’s childcare contribution will not exceed £60 per full day (£35 per half day) and £20 per afterschool club per child and is only payable for the days/hours that the student is in College or on placement. Payment for childcare will be made directly to the childcare provider by BACS and will not be released unless signed College agreements are in place with both the learner and the childcare provider. The primary contract remains in place between the student and the childcare provider, the student remains liable under that contract should the College not agree to release funds for sessions where the student did not fulfil the criteria.

  ​Students under 20 and in need of childcare assistance should apply for the Care to Learn Scheme. You can get Care to Learn if all of the following apply to you: ​

  • you’re a parent under 20 at the start of your course ​
  • you’re the main carer for your child ​
  • you live in England ​
  • you’re either a British citizen or have a legal right to live and study in England ​
  • your course qualifies ​
  • your childcare provider qualifies ​

  To apply for this, make an application for the 16-18 Discretionary bursary on the MidKent College website and select Childcare support when prompted. More information is available at Care To Learn. Care to Learn can also help with the cost of transport to and from the chosen childcare provider.  
  
  Materials​

  Your curriculum team will provide information for how to order any essential equipment and uniform which may covered from 19+ Discretionary bursary fund. Equipment will be supplied through the College and there is no cash alternative. If you are applying for financial assistance, please wait for the outcome of your application. Unfortunately we are unable to offer refunds. Equipment paid for by the funds remains the property of MidKent College and students may be requested to return non-perishable/reusable items to the College for redistribution at the end of their course. ​

   Attendance/Withdrawal
  
  The dLSF is an attendance based award; attendance will be monitored regularly. The college reserves the right to temporarily withdraw any financial support if the requirements are not met. 

  All equipment/uniform/kit/books purchased from the DB and dLSF remain the property of MidKent College. When the student’s course finishes or if they withdraw from their course they may be required to return all items.

• Appeals

  If you believe your application has been incorrectly assessed, you have the right to appeal. Your appeal must be in writing and should include details of the additional information you would like us to consider. Please address appeals to: Student Finance Hub, MidKent College, Medway Campus, Medway Road, Gillingham, Kent ME7 1FN or email to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
  
  *Students who are taking advantage of the 19+ Advanced Learner Loan should apply for help through the 19+ Advanced Learner Loan Bursary.