Financial Support
Bursary Funding
The College has access to a number of Bursary funds aimed at supporting students with specific financial difficulties which may prevent them from taking part in learning. Eligibility for the funds will be based on household income, and recent evidence of this must be submitted with your application. Bursary applications can be made online.
PLEASE NOTE – Higher Education courses, Full Cost courses and Apprenticeships are not eligible for the college bursary. If your course is HE, you will need to apply for support through Student Finance England. Further details are available via the following link https://www.gov.uk/get-undergraduate-student-loan
14-19 SCHOOL LEAVERS
Vulnerable Bursary (16-18 Years Only)
Learners from the following categories are entitled to this bursary:
• In Care (including unaccompanied Asylum Seekers)
• A Care Leaver
• In receipt of Income Support/Universal Credit
• In receipt of Employment Support Allowance and Disability Living Allowance/Personal Independence Payment
16-18 Discretionary Learning Support Fund
Provides financial help towards the cost of travel expenses (if you live more than 1.3 miles from the College) and lunch vouchers (for eligible learners).
16-19 Childcare
Funded through the government’s Care to Learn scheme, with a maximum weekly threshold of £160 per child. See www.gov.uk/care-to-learn for more details.
External Grants and Funding
The College engages with a number of external charities and trusts in sourcing financial and other support for students who meet specific eligibility criteria. Previous students have access funding from the Pinecone Trust, Shepherd Street Trust, United Utilities Trust Fund and the Helena Kennedy Foundation.
Free College Meals
Students can access free College meals if aged between 16–18 years old (excluding apprentices) at the start of their course, and if they or their parents are in receipt of one or more of the following benefits:
• Income Support
• Income based Jobseekers Allowance (JSA)
• Income based Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act (1999)
• The guarantee element of State Pension Credit
• Child Tax Credit (provided you are not entitled to Working Tax Credit) and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190, as assessed by HMRC
• Working Tax Credit run on – paid for four weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
• Universal Credit (net earnings not exceeding the equivalent of £7,400 per annum)
If you are aged 19 and continuing on the same study programme that you started before you turned 19, or are aged 19-24 and have a current Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP), you could also be eligible.
To apply please speak to your Student Manager or visit Student Services.
Transport
The cost of the bus passes for 16 – 18 year old learners are dependent on the student’s home address/bus company operating area. Further subsidies are also available, subject to eligibility.
19+ learners can apply to the 19+ Bursary fund for financial assistance with the cost of the bus pass, if eligible.
ADULTS
In the current climate, we appreciate the cost of courses and training is important but did you know that you may be entitled to part or FULLY FUNDED study? Even if you are working!
Our team of advisors are on hand to discuss your individual circumstances and what financial support you may be able to receive. You may also be eligible to access a bursary for financial support.
Remember, it’s always worth checking with our team to see what support you could be entitled to, as the rules and guidance can be complex.
EMPLOYED
You may be able to receive full funding if you are employed or self-employed, studying up to and including Level 3, and your annual income is below £25,750. This support is awarded based on your individual gross salary. For individuals earning more than £25,750, you will be required to contribute to your tuition fees or for Level 3 courses you may be eligible to apply for an Advanced Learner Loan.
LEGAL ENTITLEMENTS
Individuals aged 19+ may be fully funded for English and maths courses from Entry Level up to Level 2, if you have not already achieved a GCSE (or equivalent) at grade 4 or functional skills at Level 2.Individuals aged 19+ may be fully funded for digital skills courses from Entry Level up to Level 1, subject to your assessment being below Level 1.Individuals aged 19-23 who have not previously achieved a full Level 2 or full Level 3 may be fully funded, regardless of the earnings threshold or employment status, if the course has an eligible legal entitlement status.
NOT CURRENTLY EMPLOYED
If you are currently unemployed and are in receipt of an eligible state benefit, you may be able to receive full funding for your tuition fees in order to study up to and including Level 3 programmes. State benefits refer to Universal Credit, Job Seekers Allowance, ESA and Tax Credits, but this is not an exhaustive list.
ADVANCED LEARNER LOANS
Where funding is not available for specific Level 3 courses and where eligible, you could apply for an Advanced Learning Loan to cover your tuition fees. Loan eligibility does not depend on your income, nor are there any credit checks, and you will not have to pay anything back until you are earning over £25,000.
Where funding is not available, for specific Level 3 courses and where eligible, you could apply for an Advanced Learner Loan to cover your tuition fees. Loan eligibility does not depend on your income, nor are there any credit checks, and you will not have to pay anything back until you are earning over £25,000. For loans taken for the academic year 2025/26.
Please refer to Student Finance England for repayment guidance
FINANCIAL SUPPORT PACKAGES
Depending on your individual circumstances you may be eligible to receive financial support in the form of a bursary, towards your travel expenses and childcare. Our Advisors will work with you to determine all available financial support.
PAYING FOR YOUR COURSE
If your chosen course costs £150 or more, you can choose to pay in instalments by direct debit. To pay by instalments, your payments must be a minimum of £25 per month, with a minimum of three direct debit payments and a maximum of twelve. Your first payment will be made when you enrol, with further payments taken on the first day of the month. If you wish, you can also choose to pay by cash*
*Cash is limited to a maximum of £500.
EMPLOYER SPONSORSHIP
If your course is being sponsored by your employer, we can organise for them to receive an invoice. We will require evidence that your employer has agreed to pay for your course. This payment option will be discussed with you prior to enrolment.
For advice and information on funding please call 01772 22 55 22 or email info@preston.ac.uk
Project Funding Available
Preston College has been successful in its bid to secure project funding, as part of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) and the levelling up agenda, to enable Preston City Council residents to gain access to funded training opportunities and qualifications that will enhance skills development and career progression. Designed to positively support individuals to succeed in education and work, support small businesses and to meet the skills needs of Preston’s evolving economy, this funding has been made available from Preston City Council, and will be delivered across the following projects:
GREEN SKILLS
The Green Skills project specialises in the delivery of green skills courses. It designed for Preston City Council residents, who are employed within the construction sector, to support the transition towards a net zero economy. Training will be centred around design & surveying retrofit, air source heat pump installation, hybrid vehicles, photovoltaic panel installation and managing net zero & sustainability.
For more information on courses available visit www.preston.ac.uk/sustainability
TRAINING TO UPSKILL PEOPLE IN EMPLOYMENT
This project is designed for Preston City Council residents who are employed or self-employed and require bespoke training/qualifications that will advance career progression within their chosen occupation. Some of the continued professional development (CPD) opportunities available include team leading, leadership & management, managing change, project management, performance management and customer service. The fund also supports Preston based SME’s to upskill any employees who are Preston City Council residents looking to enhance their leadership and management skills.
For more information about this funding project CLICK HERE, call 01772 22 55 22 or email info@preston.ac.uk
LOCAL SKILLS FUND
The Local Skill Fund bridges some of the current gaps in adult funding, presenting an opportunity for Preston City Council residents to develop their potential and achieve eligible Level 2 or 3 qualifications, within high demand sectors. Courses that attract funding include Health and Social Care, Construction, Engineering, Professional Business Services, Accounting, Health & Safety and SEND qualifications.
For more information about funding you may be eligible for, please apply online for
your course of interest and we can then explore your funding options, call
01772 225522 or email info@preston.ac.uk
In Addition…
FREE COURSES FOR JOBS (LEVEL 3)
For those looking to advance skills, improve employment prospects and enhance earning potential, you may be able to receive full funding across a selection of eligible Level 3 courses. Click here for further details
To find out if you are eligible contact our course advisors on 01772 225522 or email info@preston.ac.uk
HIGHER EDUCATION
At Preston College, we understand that choosing to study for a degree is a big decision, with the financial implications of higher level study playing a key part in the decision making process.
As a higher education student at Preston College, the good news is that you do not need to pay anything upfront, your tuition fees can be paid directly to Preston College from the Student Loans Company, upon you successfully applying to them for a tuition fee loan, and you will only begin to re-pay the loan once you start to earn a certain amount of money.
The exact amount of tuition fee charged differs from course to course, so please visit your chosen course page for clarification on the exact fee.
A tuition fee loan is available to all eligible students (for eligibility checks, please visit: https://www.gov.uk/student-finance/who-qualifies). It is not based on household income and a successful application will result in your tuition fees being paid directly to Preston College, on your behalf, by the Student Loans Company (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/student-loans-company).
All those starting a course on or after 1st August 2016 are also able to apply for a maintenance loan, to help cover living costs. This is paid directly into your bank account, at the start of each term and like the tuition fee loan, has to be paid back.
The College will set, publish and charge fees for all its course provision. In determining fee levels, the College will operate legally and within national published guidelines where these exist.
Click here to access the HE Fees & Charges page.
Additional information relating to fees can be found in the Fees Policy:
Fees differ from course to course, so please visit your chosen course page for confirmation.
Additional Financial Support
Additional financial support is available, to those who qualify, in the form of Childcare Grants (full-time students only), Parents’ Learning Allowance (full-time students only), Adult Dependants’ Grant (full-time students only), Child Tax Credits and Disabled Students’ Allowance. Additional eligibility criteria comes with all of these extra financial support funds and you should check the criteria before applying.
Re-paying your loans
Those who secure a tuition fee loan and/or maintenance loan will have to repay the loan, with any accrued interest. Your loan repayments are linked to your income and you won’t have to start repaying the loan until the April after you have finished your studies and are earning over the threshold. For more information on loans and additional support visit: www.gov.uk/student-finance
Access to Higher Education
All eligible students starting a Level 3, 4, 5 or 6 qualification, for example, an Access to Higher Education course, at an approved college, such as Preston College and aged 19 or above on the first day of their course, can apply for an Advanced Learner Loan. Additional eligibility criteria apply. For the most up to date information, please visit: www.gov.uk/advanced-learner-loan
If you successfully complete your access course and progress onto a recognised higher education course and successfully complete that course, Student Finance England will ‘write off’ any outstanding Advanced Learner Loan balance you owe for your Access to Higher Education Course, meaning that the loan you borrowed to complete the Access course at Preston College doesn’t have to be paid back.
CHILDCARE FUNDING
Childcare Funding for Learners Aged 20+
The Bursary Fund can help to subsidise childcare costs for eligible learners aged 20+. Eligibility for funding is dependent on household income. A maximum childcare amount of £240 per week per child is available.
To apply you must first complete a Bursary Application online. Once you have completed this, please fill in the Childcare Subsidy application below.
If your programme of study requires a period of compulsory work experience you will need to apply for this separately by completing the Childcare Work Placement Form. Any assistance with this will be subject to available funds.
Childcare Change of Circumstances
If you already have an approved childcare subsidy application, but would like to amend the days/ fees which the college funds, please complete the Childcare Change of Circumstances Form below.
Care to Learn – Childcare Funding for Learners Aged 16-19
Care to Learn provides funding for childcare to help young parents aged 16-19. The maximum amount of funding available is £180 per child per week.