The Government has set up a bursary fund for those studying at publicly funded schools or colleges in England aged 16 to 19. Funds from this are allocated to schools that can then award bursaries to provide financial assistance to help with Post-16 studies.
The amount of the bursary could be up to £1200, depending on your circumstances.
The 16 to 19 Bursary Fund provides financial support to help students overcome specific financial barriers to participation on so they can remain in education. Qualifying students aged 16-19 on 31st August 2025 and in full-time education on can apply to the school’s 16 to 19 Bursary Fund. This fund has been allocated directly to individual schools to administer.
Eligibility
Priority Group – Category 1
A priority group of students has been identified and these students will be entitled to a Vulnerable Bursary of £1200 per year (paid pro rata, in instalments throughout the year). This group includes:
- Students in care (including unaccompanied asylum-seeking children) and care leavers.
- Students receiving Income Support or Universal Credit (in their own name) because they are financially supporting themselves or financially supporting themselves and someone who is dependent on them and living with them, such as child or partner.
- Students receiving Disability Learning Allowance (DLA) or Personal Independence Payments (PIP) in their own right, as well as Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) or Universal Credit in their own right.
Discretionary Bursaries – Category 2
A secondary fund is available to support other students facing financial hardship who do not qualify for the Priority Group. Such “Discretionary bursaries” are awarded to applicants in the following groups:
- Students or their siblings receive Free School Meals. This will confirm the household income is of a level to receive bursary support and no other financial checks need to be made.
- Students that have been eligible for Pupil Premium during the previous five years.
- Families whose total household income is less than £30,385 for the last financial tax year (April 2024 to March 2025). An assessment of financial need will be made, and evidence of household income will be required.
If you are 19 or over, you can apply for a discretionary bursary if you either:
- Are continuing a course you started aged 16 to 18 (known as being a ‘19+ continuer’)
- Have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP)
What does the bursary cover?
The discretionary bursary can be used for course related costs such as:
- Equipment, textbooks, revision guides and stationary.
- Educational courses or trips associated with subjects being studied.
- Contributions towards travel costs to and from school in the form of purchase of a monthly bus pass.
- Assistance with costs to university open days (two maximum) and university/apprenticeship interviews.
- Contribution towards meals taken whilst in school.
- The cost of the UCAS application.
Students should not purchase their own books or equipment with the intent of later being reimbursed, and such retrospective requests will be denied. Should a student require a specific item or piece of equipment, they should initially speak to the Head of Sixth Form, who will use the Bursary to purchase the item, where appropriate.
However, if the school cannot purchase the items on your behalf, prior approval must be granted before a reimbursement will be given. Receipts for all items purchased must be provided for a reimbursement to be made. Any agreed reimbursements will be paid direct to the students bank account only.
The Application Process
Year 12 students can apply for the 16-19 Bursary when they start Year 12 in September 2025. Applications can be completed via the school website through Applicaa Bursary 16+ and must be made by the student themselves.
Year 13 students who were in receipt of the 16-19 Bursary in Year 12 do not need to submit a full application in Year 13, however they must complete a Self-declaration which states that their household circumstances have not changed considerably since their initial application.
Before submitting an application, students must check to make sure that they have completed all the sections relevant to their circumstances and that they have uploaded copies of the relevant evidence to support their claim. If they have not, their application will be returned to them and, there will be a delay in any potential Bursary support being made. Details of the evidence required can be found in the relevant sections of the application form.
All applications will be assessed initially by Beckfoot Oakbank Sixth Form team and then Beckfoot Trust Finance teams, and decisions will be made based on the criteria set out above. Students will be informed via their online account of the outcome upon complete assessment of their application.
Deadlines for applications
There is no set deadline for receipt of applications, however please note, any Bursary support will only be available from the date of the award. We will not be able to make retrospective payments/support, therefore, we would urge you to apply as soon as possible so we can begin to determine the level of any allocation.
Should students have a significant change in financial circumstances, they are encouraged to reapply for the Bursary if they were previously unsuccessful, at which point their new circumstances will be considered.