Financial Support

If you’re aged 16–18 (or 19+ continuing a course you started before your 19th birthday), or 19-24 with an EHCP, you could receive help with:

• Travel to and from college
• Learning materials and course equipment
• College meals
• Essential trips.

If your household income is between £0-£27,500, you could get 100% essential course costs, £5 per timetabled day for meals, and 100% travel support (up to £6/day).

If your household income is between £27,501-£40,000, you could get 50% essential course costs and 50% travel support (up to £3/day).

Eligibility criteria apply, including a household income below £40,000 (net). Funds are limited, so we encourage early applications.

You may qualify for  Free College Meals  (FCM) or our Meal Card Scheme, which both provide £5 per timetabled day to spend at our food outlets using your Student ID card.

Our food outlets offer a £5 Meal Deal daily, with a range of options to suit different dietary needs including vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free choices.

You may be eligible for Free College Meals if your household receives benefits such as Universal Credit.

You may be eligible for the Meal Card Scheme if your household income is below £27,500.

Funding is added to your ID card after your bursary application has been approved.

We offer help for students who are also parents:

• Under 20s: UCS College Group administers the Care to Learn scheme, which supports childcare and related transport costs.
• Age 20+: Our Childcare Fund may cover up to 80% of registered childcare costs, based on household income. Maximum limits apply.

Applications are made through our Online Student Portal.

We provide support towards the most cost-effective travel option, usually by bus.

• Up to £6 per timetabled day for students in the higher support band
• Up to £3 per timetabled day for students in the partial support band
• Fuel allowances are not covered under the 16–19 Bursary.

Students must initially cover their own travel costs. Payments begin once two weeks of ticket evidence have been submitted and attendance remains above 85%.

Payments will pause if attendance falls below 85% and will resume once attendance improves.

If you experience severe financial hardship, we can offer short-term support while your bursary application is being processed:

• Emergency Meals: £5 per day for up to 7 days
• Emergency Travel Support: Short-term assistance to ensure you can attend college while longer-term funding is arranged.

Students aged 19+ can get help with:

• Tuition fees
• Travel
• Childcare
• Course materials.

Income thresholds apply:

• Single: under £27,500
• Joint: under £40,000.

Students with an Advanced Learner Loan may also access a separate bursary with the same income thresholds.

If you’re under 19 and meet specific criteria, you could receive up to £1,200. You may be eligible if you are:

• In care or leaving care

• In receipt of Income Support (IC), 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, such as a child or partner

• Receiving Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or Personal Independence Payments (PIP) in your own right, as well as Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) or UC in your own right

The amount is based on financial need and course duration. Apply via our Online Student Portal.

Support is available to help students with the cost of on-site accommodation for specialist courses not widely offered elsewhere (e.g., Agriculture, Motorsport).

Students must:

• Live over 15 miles from college and more than 3 miles from a public or college transport route

• Have a household income of less than £40,000 net.

Eligible students may receive up to the full cost of standard accommodation (meal plans not included).

If you’re progressing from a Level 3 course with us directly into a degree at University Centre Somerset, you could receive a £1,000 bursary:

• £500 in Year 1
• £500 in Year 2

Make sure we are listed as your current college on your UCAS application.

Are you aged 11–24, living or studying in the former Borough of Taunton Deane, and need help to continue your education?

You could be eligible for support from this external charity. Find out more by visiting their website.