If money worries are making it difficult for you to study at college or sixth form, there’s help out there for you.

Are you aged between 16 and 19 and struggling to afford the costs of full-time education or training? You may be able to receive a bursary of up to £1,200 from your school or college if you are in one of the most 'in need' groups:

• you are in care
• you are a care leaver
• you claim Income Support, or
• you are disabled and receive Employment Support Allowance and Disability Living Allowance.

The bursaries will be given out by your school, college or training provider. Ask your tutor or student support for more details.

Other bursaries

If you aren’t most ‘in need’ but are still having genuine money difficulties, you may be able to get a bursary from your school or college. This can help pay for things like books or transport. Your school or college will decide on the amount, and how the bursaries are paid. The bursary may be linked to your behaviour or attendance.

To find out more, ask your tutor or student support at your college.

What will happen to my EMA?

The EMA has been replaced by the 16-19 bursary. If you have already been receiving EMA payments, you will receive some payments until July 2012. For more details, go to Direct gov – Young people currently receiving EMA

If your family receives certain benefits or tax credits, you may be able to get a coach permit, bus season ticket or grant towards your travel costs. We can help if you have to travel more than three miles to the nearest appropriate further education college or sixth form and attend a full-time course.

To find out more and apply, download the guidance notes and form:

Guidance notes for completing a Sussex schools or colleges travel application form - 2011/12 (Adobe PDF, 406KB)

Travel assistance for students in further education (Adobe PDF, 33KB)

PS1 application form – print, write and post (Adobe PDF, 243KB)

Please return your form to the Admissions and Transport Team. Applications will usually take three weeks to process.

You can also find out more about other travel discounts in our Travel section.

I have special needs

If you have special needs which mean you can’t use public transport to get to your closest suitable college, you may be able to get help. We can arrange transport to college, usually with other young people. Find out more by contacting the Admissions Team:

Admissions and Transport Team
County Hall
St Anne’s Crescent
Lewes
East Sussex BN7 1SG

Phone: 0345 60 80 190

Email: admissions@eastsussex.gov.uk

If you are aged between 16 and 19 want to attend an FE course, but are worried about the cost of childcare, you may be able to claim Care to Learn funding of up to £160 per week.

Find out more at Directgov - Care to Learn

Or you can call the Learner Support helpline free – Phone: 0800 121 8989.

If you have to live away from home to attend a college course, because the course you want to do isn’t available locally, you can apply for funding to help with the cost of accommodation.

Find out more at Directgov – Help if you’re studying away from home.

We cannot offer any financial help to FE students over 19 years of age. You might be able to get help from your college. Talk to your tutor for more details.

You can also find out about other sources of funding, like the Adult Learning Grant at Directgov – Help with learning costs.

Are you at college? How are you managing financially?