Financial Support
The following support is available to learners:
Bursaries (support with essential course costs)
Travel
Free College Meals
Childcare Funding
Bursary funding
Bursary funding provides financial support to help learners overcome barriers that may stop them being able to participate in education.
Apply Now!
If you need financial support to help you while you are at college you can now complete an online Bursary application using the Pay My Student link.
Watch this short video for help using the bursary application system.
PLEASE Ensure that all relevant and correct evidence is uploaded with your application to avoid delay.
You will receive an email once your application has been successful.
Age 16+ bursary
Discretionary Bursary
Students with a low household income may be eligible for help towards:
- Travel
- Age 20+ Childcare – please also complete a 20+ Childcare form
- Young Carers payment
- Kit, uniform, stationery and books
- Student Resource Contribution and Material fees
- Membership fees
- Replacement student cards and printing credit
- Help towards the cost of applying to University
- Trips
- Other education related costs on a case by case basis.
Vulnerable Bursary
A yearly bursary of up to £1,200 is available to students aged 16-18 on 31st August 2022. To apply you will need to provide evidence from the defined vulnerable groups.
Advanced learner loans bursary
Bursary help available:
Learners with a low individual income may be eligible for help towards:
- Travel
- Age 20+ Childcare – please also complete a 20+ Childcare form
- Additional Learning Support
- Kit, uniform, stationery and books – predetermined list applies
- Material fees
- Membership fees – you may need to provide receipts
- Replacement student cards and printing credit
- Help towards the cost of applying to University
- Trips – based on individual circumstances
For further information and enquiries please call 01983 550833.
Totum discount card
TOTUM, the new name for the NUS (National Union of Students) extra card, brings you student discounts to save you money. Go to www.totum.com to see all 200+ UK discounts and if you wish to purchase a TOTUM card.
Isle of Wight College card
The College Student ID Cards can be used to gain discounts from a range of local shops and services.
Material fees
If you are taking a full-time course (540 hours or over per year), you will be charged a Student Resource Contribution of £40 at the start of your course year.
Other than that, you will only need to purchase equipment for your course that you can take away with you at the end and depending on your circumstances there may be some financial help for this element of the material charge.
Tuition fees
Please refer to our Tuition Fees policy for further information.
Money advice
Visit www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk for free, unbiased, independent advice on loans for adults in further education and training.
Further information
If you think your finances will prevent you from starting a course please phone Student Services on 01983 550833 or email bursary.info@iwcollege.ac.uk.
Childcare
The government is introducing new ways to help parents with childcare costs. Whether you have toddlers or teens, you could get support. Please visit www.childcarechoices.gov.uk for more information.
Students aged between 16 to 19 years of age can access childcare support through the government funded Care to Learn scheme. Further details on Care to Learn funding and how to apply can be found at www.gov.uk/care-to-learn/how-to-claim.
Students aged 20+ can apply for childcare support through the College Bursaries – this will be part of the bursary questions online.
Free college meals
In addition to other bursary help eligible students aged 16-18 and some students aged 19-24 (19+ Continuer or EHCP students only) may be able to receive Free College Meals (FCM) depending on the benefits received by the household:
- Income Support
- income-based Jobseekers Allowance
- income-related 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 they are not entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190, as assessed by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC))
- Working Tax Credit run-on – paid for 4 weeks after someone stops qualifying for Working Tax Credit
- Universal Credit with net earnings not exceeding the equivalent of £7,400 pa
Your evidence for Free College Meals must be uploaded as the bursary evidence.
Travel
You may be eligible through one of the IW College Bursaries for support towards the costs of travelling to and from college either through a free bus pass or a travel allowance paid in arrears.
Travel is awarded to bursary learners living at least 3 miles from their College site or work placement. If you are entitled to a free bus pass it will be allocated on assessment of your bursary application. There is no separate bus pass form. The contribution towards petrol money is paid at the end of each Term based on attendance.
Students with a SEN or an EHCP should apply to the Isle of Wight Council for travel help. Please contact the SEN Team on 01983 823470 or email transport.info@iow.gov.uk.
Support through the bursary is not available to students on an apprenticeship. However, apprentices can apply for up to 80% off a Southern Vectis multi-bundle by contacting apprenticeships@iwcollege.ac.uk.
If you do not qualify for a bursary, or help from the IW Council, there are other forms of transport help available:
If you are aged 16 years old, Southern Vectis will allow a 50% discount on bus fares. You must provide photo ID to confirm your age before any discounts can be applied.
If you are a student aged 17 or older Southern Vectis will allow a 25% discount on fares for students with an NUS Extra or TOTUM card.
Cost of living information from Isle of Wight Council
www.iow.gov.uk/costofliving / 01983 823134
General help and support
Citizens Advice IW can give free help with money issues and much more.
www.citizensadviceiw.org.uk 0800 144 88 48 or Textphone on 18001 0800 144 8884
Debts and paying bills
Citizens Advice Money team www.citizensadviceiw.org.uk/money-advice-team / 01983 823898 ext: 2825 debtenquiries@iwcab.org.uk
Buying food
www.iow.gov.uk/costofliving and tap on ‘food’ for more information.
Join a community pantry and for £5 a week, receive over £15 worth of food.
- 01983 296592 East Cowes Community Pantry
- 07961 959003 Ventnor Community Pantry
- 01983 563732 Ryde Community Pantry
Connect4communities
Support including food vouchers, getting weather appropriate clothing (directly with your school) and more. connect4communities@iow.gov.uk and www.connect4communities.org
Benefits
Check whether you are getting all the benefits you can - Citizens Advice Help to Claim line: 0800 144 8444 / www.gov.uk/benefits-calculators
Energy bills
The Footprint Trust give guidance on energy bills, efficiency and getting grants. 01983 822282 / info@footprint-trust.co.uk / www.footprint-trust.co.uk
Pension Credit
If you are of State Pension age you may be entitled to Pension Credit. If you get Pension Credit you can get other benefits. 0800 99 1234 or Textphone on 0800 169 0133 / www.gov.uk/pension-credit
Paying for broadband and mobile phone
Social tariffs are available if you’re on a low income / www.ofcom.org.uk/cheap-broadband
Feeling lonely
The Living Well and Early Help Partnership works on the Island to connect people: 01983 240732 / reception@lweh.org.uk / www.lweh.org.uk
In a crisis
If you have no money for food, gas and electricity you may be able to get emergency help: 01983 823859 / www.iow.gov.uk/HelpThroughCrisis
Other useful contacts
Other useful information
Multiply
There are some excellent free maths courses available at the moment.
Any Islander who is aged 19 or over and does not have maths GCSE at grade c or above can take part in free training courses. Multiply is a new programme to help adults improve their maths skills with free courses. The training could lead you on the first steps towards gaining a maths qualification or help you use maths to manage your household budget. Get more info here.