Financial Assistance
The Woking College Bursary Fund aims to provide assistance to those students facing financial barriers to participation in education, such as costs of books, transport, equipment, childcare or paying for trips where the trip is an essential part of a student’s course. To qualify students must be under the age of 19 on 31st August 2022 and meet certain residency requirements. For those students aged 19 or over at 31st August 2022 they must be continuing a study programme they began aged 16 to 18 or have an Educational, Health and Care Plan.
The College runs two bursary schemes:
Vulnerable Bursary Fund
Vulnerable Bursary Fund
Bursaries of up to £1,200 a year are available for students who fall into one of the defined vulnerable groups below. Awards will be subject to a financial needs’ assessment.
Vulnerable Bursary Fund
Bursaries of up to £1,200 a year are available for students who fall into one of the defined vulnerable groups below. Awards will be subject to a financial needs’ assessment.
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Group |
Evidence Required |
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Looked After Children, or previously Looked after Children i.e. cared for by the Local Authority
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A letter from your Social Worker, Key Worker or Local Authority |
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Receiving Income Support (IS) or Universal Credit (UC) because you are financially supporting yourself or financially supporting yourself and someone who is dependent on you and living with you |
A copy of your IS or UC award notice. If you are in receipt of UC we must also see other documentation such as a tenancy agreement in your name, utility bill, birth certificate
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In receipt of both Employment Support Allowance (ESA) and Disability Living Allowance (DLA) in your own name or in receipt of both Employment Support Allowance and Personal Independence Payments (PIP) in your own name
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A copy of your UC award notice. Evidence of DLA or PIP must be provided |
Discretionary Bursary Fund
Discretionary Bursary Fund
Students who reside in a household which has a taxable income of less than £26,000 may be eligible for a discretionary bursary.
Please click here to for more details about the Discretionary Bursary Fund
Discretionary Bursary Fund
Students who reside in a household which has a taxable income of less than £26,000 may be eligible for discretionary bursary.
Eligibility for a Discretionary Bursary
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Circumstances |
Evidence Required |
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You, or your parent(s)/carer(s), are currently in receipt of one of the following benefits: • Income Support • Income based Job Seekers allowance • Child/Working tax credit with a gross annual income of £25,000 or less. • Employment and Support Allowance • Guaranteed Element of State Pension • Housing Benefit • Universal Credit • Council Tax Benefit |
A letter confirming your entitlement to benefits from one of the following: • Job Centre Plus • Department for Work and Pensions • Your local Authority • Last 3 months Universal Credit statements • HMRC Tax Credit Award letter for 2022- 23. Any letter provided to us should be dated in the last 3 months. If your letter is older than 3 months then please also provide a recent bank statement showing a payment going into your account within the last 3 months. |
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You, or your parent(s)/carers(s), are not in receipt of a benefit listed above, but are employed or self-employed with a gross annual household income of less than £25,000 |
Provide one of the following for each parent/carer: · Two recent pay slips · P60 for the 2021-22 tax year · Evidence of self-employed income e.g. tax return or accountants’ letter |
The amount awarded is dependent upon individual circumstances. All bursary payments are linked to student’s attendance, behaviour and in making satisfactory progress in their studies.
Free School Meals (FSM)
Free School Meals (FSM)
FSM are offered as standard to students receiving the Vulnerable Bursary Fund. Students will be entitled to up to £3.50 a day of food and drink from the College’s catering facilities. Students will need to use their College ID Card to obtain their free school meal.
Students who are eligible for the Discretionary Bursary may also qualify for a free school meal.
Please click here to for more details about Free School Meals.
Eligibility for Free School Meals
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Benefit |
Evidence |
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Income Support, income-based Jobseekers Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) |
Entitlement/award letter dated within the last 3 months |
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Support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 |
Documentary evidence |
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The guarantee element of State Pension Credit |
Entitlement/award letter dated within the last 3 months |
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Child Tax Credit (provided that you are not entitled to Working Tax Credit) and have annual gross income of no more than £16,190 as assessed by HMRC |
Final Tax Credits Award showing total household income for the financial year April 2021-22 |
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Working Tax credit run-on – paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit |
Documentary evidence |
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Universal Credit with net earnings not exceeding the equivalent of £7,400 per annum (after tax and not including any benefits you may get) |
Documentary evidence |
Additional Help
Students who are not automatically eligible for a bursary can apply for financial support in exceptional circumstances. Please contact the finance department for further details.
Bank Account
We cannot make payments to students in cash. All payments will be via BACS directly into a student’s own bank account. If you need any assistance with this please get in touch.
How to apply
Students will be able to apply for a bursary once enrolled. This can be done by logging on to the Student Portal and clicking on the ‘Financial Awards’ link. Financial evidence should be emailed to bursaries@woking.ac.uk Further details will be available on the Student Intranet at the start of term.