Learner Support Fund Application

First name *

Please enter your first name

Last name *

Please enter your last name

Student ID *

Your Student ID is usually 8 characters long some students may have 11 characters.

Email *

Please enter a valid email address

Telephone *

Please enter a valid telephone number

How old are you on 31st August 2025? *

Please select an option

Do you have an in-date Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP)? *

YesNo Please select an option

Are you 19 years old and enrolled/enrolling on the 2nd year of a 2 year a Level 3 Further Education programme? *

YesNo Please select an option

Are you enrolled/enrolling on a Level 3 (or above) qualification? E.g. Access course, HND or Foundation Degree programme? *

YesYes, and I've applied for an Advanced Learner Loan No Please select an option

Free College Meals

Free College Meals is a weekly contribution towards meals purchased at College. The amount will be attached to your College ID card and can be used at all outlets on campus, similar to contactless payment cards.

Do you or your parent/carer receive one or more of the following? (Tick all that apply) *

Income Support
Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
The guaranteed element of Pension Credit
Child Tax Credit (provided you’re not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190)
Working Tax Credit run-on - paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
Universal Credit - your household income must be less than £7,400 a year (after tax and not including any benefits you get)
None of the above apply Please select an option

Free College Meals Evidence

It looks like you are eligible to apply for Free College Meals, please upload your supporting evidence. Please save this as FSM and your name e.g. FSMFirstnameSurname *

Please upload your supporting evidence

It doesn’t look like you’re eligible to apply for Free College Meals, but you may be entitled for support towards your travel and/or kit and equipment costs. Please continue to the next question.

Vunerable Learner Bursary

The Vulnerable Learner Bursary is generally accessed by Looked After young people to help pay for books, equipment, travel and food when you’re at college. It is paid weekly and the amount you receive is based on your attendance.

Do any of the following apply to you? (Tick all that apply) *

I am in (or have recently left) local authority care
I get Income Support or Universal Credit in my own name as I am financially supporting myself
I get Disability Living Allowance (DLA) in my own name and either Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) or Universal Credit too
I get Personal Independence Payment (PIP) in your name and either ESA or Universal Credit
None of the above apply Please select at least one option

Vunerable Learner Bursary Evidence

It looks like you are eligible to apply for the Vulnerable Learner Bursary please upload your supporting evidence. If you are a Looked After Child, this is usually a letter from your Social Worker confirming your status *

Please upload your supporting evidence

It doesn’t look like you’re eligible to apply for the Vulnerable Learner Bursary, but you may be entitled for support towards your travel and/or kit and equipment costs. Please continue to the next question.

West Herts College Discretionary Bursary

The College’s Discretionary Bursary is based on your household income and is generally made up of a weekly cash or voucher contribution towards your travel costs. If your course requires specialist equipment you may also be entitled to a one-off payment towards kit or equipment.

If you are over 19 and studying a Level 2 course or below, you may also be eligible for support with your course fees.

College Discretionary Bursary Evidence

It looks like you are eligible to apply for the College’s Discretionary Bursary, please upload your supporting evidence. Please upload all pages of your supporting evidence in one file if possible.

Please note, benefit evidence should be dated within the last 3 months.

If you are not in receipt of any of the listed benefits and are applying for funding based on your household income you will need to provide one of the following:

All payslips from the past 3 months
P60, dated for the last financial year
Tax return letter from HMRC, dated for the last financial year

Please upload your supporting evidence below. *

Please upload your supporting evidence

In order to calculate the amount you will receive, we require a bit more detail about your circumstances.

What is your total household income (not including any benefits received due to disability or caring responsibilities) *

Please select an option

Travel

The College’s Discretionary Bursary can provide a contribution towards public transport costs for students who live 2 or more miles from their campus of study. Cash payments or bus vouchers are usually provided on a weekly basis. Adjustments will be made based on your attendance and engagement with you course.

Do you live 2 or more miles from your campus of study? *

YesNo Please select an option

Enter your postcode *

Please enter your postcode

Enter your campus of study *

Please select an option

What is the approximate daily cost of your travel? *

Please enter the approximate daily cost of your travel

What is your starting train station? *

Please enter your starting station

What train station do you travel to? *

Please enter your destination station

How many miles is your return journey each day? *

Please tell us how many miles your return journey is

Kit & Equipment

If your course requires specialist equipment you may also be entitled to a one-off payment towards kit or equipment from the College’s Discretionary Bursary.

Are you enrolled/enrolling on any of the listed courses? *

Please select an option

How much money have you spent on specialist kit/equipment? *

Please enter how much you have spent on specialist kit/equipment. If you are not making a claim please enter 0

Kit & Equipment Evidence

Please attach receipts/invoices of all specialist kit/equipment you are seeking reimbursement

Please upload receipts/invoices of all specialist kit/equipment you are seeing reimbursement

Childcare

If you have a dependant child, you may be eligible for support towards your childcare costs.

Which of the following applies to you? *

Please select an option

It looks like you might be eligible for funding via. Care to Learn. An advisor will be in contact shortly to provide more information.

It looks like you might be eligible for funding via. our Discretionary College Bursary. We will be in contact shortly to provide an additional form for you to complete with your childcare provider. Contributions, towards childcare costs are usually paid termly and always directly to the childcare provider. The childcare provide you select must be Ofsted registered to qualify.

Bank Details

If your application is approved, which bank account would you like the College to pay applicable awards into? In most circumstances this should be your own account.

Bank/Building Society name *

Please enter your bank or building society's name

Account holder's name *

Please enter the account holders name

Sort Code *

Please the bank account sort code

Account number *

Please enter the bank account number

Is this your own bank account? *

Please select an option

Declaration

By ticking the below box you confirm that the evidence that has been provided is correct and complete to the best of your knowledge. You understand that if any information is found to be inaccurate it may impact your eligibility for financial support. You also acknowledge that you must maintain high levels of attendance, punctuality and engagement with your studies to remain eligible for financial support. *

I confirm that I accept the terms Invalid Input