16 to 19 Bursaries

A bursary is an award made by any educational institution or funding authority to individuals. It is usually awarded to enable a student to attend school, university or college when they might not be able. The bursary does not have to be repaid as long as conditions are met.

Newcastle council runs a 16 to 19 bursary scheme with Newcastle secondary schools. The aim is to help students remain in education. You can apply for funding if you:

are in care
recently left local authority care
receive income support or Universal Credit because you are financially supporting yourself or financially supporting yourself and someone who is dependent on you and who you are living with, such as a child or partner
receive Disability Living Allowances or Personal Independence Payments in your own right, as well as Employment Support Allowance or Universal Credit in your own right

Visit 16 to 19 bursary scheme for information about how to apply.

If your child is in further education (school or college) or training, they could apply for a 16 to 19 bursary. You should apply for this at your school or college. Here is the link to Newcastle Colleges information.

There are two types of bursaries:

Vulnerable student bursary:

Up to £1,200 per year for young people aged 16 to 19 years when at least one of the following applies:

in or recently left local authority care
is getting Income Support (IS) Universal Credit because they are financially supporting themselves
getting Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payment and either Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) or Universal Credit

Discretionary bursary

Your child can apply for this if they need financial help, but do not qualify for a vulnerable student bursary. The education or training provider decides how much your child will get based on individual circumstances (this usually includes your household income) and what it can be used for. This bursary is mainly for young people aged 16 to 19 years, but those aged 19+ may also qualify if they are continuing on a course that they started aged 16 to 18, or if they have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).

For more information, see 16 to 19 Bursary Fund: What you’ll get.