EMA has closed to new applicants. However, if you received EMA during 2009/10 or 2010/11 and will still be aged under 19 on 31st August 2011 you may still be eligible to receive EMA under the transitional arrangements and should be contacted by EMA over the summer.
16-18 Bursary Fund is available to 'home' students aged between 16 and 18 on 31st August 2011 studying on eligible courses. Learners do not have to live in Nottinghamshire to be eligible, but support will be based on individual need and related to the household or learner income.
Help is usually given in the form of a grant towards specific and actual costs involved in coming to College, such as:
Learners who are in receipt of EMA are expected to contribute to their own travel and equipment costs, although assistance may be given where costs of essential equipment are exceptionally high.
Applications are accepted from the end of August. You will need to complete a green coloured, 16-18 Bursary Fund application form (specifically for learners aged 16-18 on August 31st 2011) with details of your financial situation and the help you are requesting. These forms are available from Student Services or your Centre Reception.
We will have to see evidence of your household income, eg, Tax Credit Award Notice (TCAN), income related benefit book or bank statement showing Benefit payment, P60, 5 weeks' wage slips or 2 months' salary slips, so it will speed things up if you bring these with you to interview, or send them in with the application form.
You should hear if your application has been successful, and how the grant will be paid, within 15 working days of receipt of a fully completed application (although this may be a little longer in September). If you are not satisfied with your grant allocation, please ask for a reassessment interview. If you continue to be dissatisfied with the outcome, you may make an appeal in writing to the Manager of Student Services.
Please note that it is quicker to pay any grant to you via the bank automated credit system (BACS), which pays the money directly into your bank account – a form is available for you to complete giving your bank details to enable us to do this.
16-18 Student Bursary Fund payments will only be released if your attendance is at least 90% and your progress is satisfactory. If you withdraw from your course early, you will be expected to repay part of the Grant paid to you.
Vulnerable students aged 16-18 will be eligible to receive a special VSB of £1,200 (this will be paid instead of the transitional EMA if you are a continuing student).
Vulnerable students are specifically named as:
The £1,200 support package will be tailored to meet the needs of the individual student and may contain help with transport, kit and other course costs.
If you would like to discuss your individual needs, or would like help in filling out the application form, call in at Student Services or your Centre Reception, to arrange an appointment at the centre of your choice. If you would prefer an application form posting to you, or would like to talk to someone about your particular circumstances, please telephone:
0115 884 2681 - Ext. 2336 / 2828
0115 914 6379 - Ext. 6271
A copy of the College's Student Funds' Policy is available on request.
Learners living more than 2 radial miles from the College Centre they are attending may purchase a half-fare pass, for travel between home and College, after payment of £99 annual charge to the Local Authority. Application forms are available from Student Services or telephone one of the above numbers to have one posted to you.
The College is hoping to be able to offer a discounted bus pass for travel on NCT buses. We may be able to further subsidise this pass or, in some cases, provide it free. Further details will be available in August.
The College is hoping to be able to offer a further subsidy to the Student Mango Card from September. Further details will be available in August.
If you live in Derbyshire, you will be eligible for a b-line, half fare, travel-pass until your 19th birthday, as long as you are a full-time student. Application forms are available from Student Services or visit the b-line Derbyshire.gov.uk website. You will need to get the application form and a recent passport sized photograph signed by a member of the Student Finance Team.
You will need to contact your own Local Education Authority to check if you are eligible for any subsidised travel before applying to the Bursary Fund for assistance.
The Adult Learning Grant (ALG) has been closed to all new applicants. However, if you received ALG during 2010/11 and are continuing onto the second year of the same course, you should still be eligible, and ALG will be sending you a new Learning Agreement for 2011/12, which you will need to bring into College as soon as you can.
The 19+ Student Fund is part of the Discretionary Learner Support Funds provided by Government and distributed by Colleges. Grants are available to full or part-time ‘home’ students, aged 19 or over on 31st August 2011, enrolled on a Government funded, priority course, who can demonstrate need. You do not have to live in Nottinghamshire to be eligible for help from this fund.
Help is usually given in the form of a grant towards specific and actual costs involved in coming to College, such as:
For those students in receipt of benefits, such assistance is normally disregarded by the DSS and therefore help from the 19+ Student Fund should not affect benefits, however, it is recommended that learners declare any assistance given.
Second year students in receipt of ALG will be expected to contribute towards their own travel and equipment costs, although assistance may be given where costs are exceptionally high or would cause hardship.
If you are aged 20+ and need to arrange childcare while you are at College, we can advise you on whether financial assistance is available. Please contact the Student Finance Team, telephone (0115) 884 2223 or (0115) 914 6379 to discuss. (Note: students aged under the age of 20 should be eligible for Care to Learn funding – please ask for an application pack.)
You will need to complete a yellow, 19+ Student Fund application form (for learners aged 19+) with details of your financial situation. You may also have a short interview to discuss your needs. We will have to see evidence of your household income, eg, Tax Credit Award Notice (TCAN), evidence that you are dependent on an income related Benefit, P60, 5 weeks’ wage slips or 2 months’ salary slips, so it will speed things up if you bring these with you to interview, or send them in with the application form.
Please note that we prefer to pay any grant allocation via the bank automated credit system (BACS), which pays the money directly into your bank account – a form is available for you to complete giving your bank details to enable us to do this.
If you would like to discuss your individual needs, or would like help in filling out the application form, call at Student Services or your Centre Reception to arrange an appointment at the centre of your choice or telephone the Student Finance Team.
You will receive correspondence (usually within 15 working days, but allow a little longer in September) telling you what help you will receive, and how this will be paid.
You will be expected to maintain at least 90% attendance rate, and to be progressing satisfactorily on your course. An acceptable report will be required from your tutor before the spring and summer term instalments are released. However, if your attendance is below 90%, your spring and summer instalments may be reduced proportionally. If you withdraw from your course, you will normally be expected to return a proportion of the funds granted during the current term, as well as any bus passes or equipment provided through the Fund.
If you are not satisfied with your grant allocation, please ask for a reassessment interview. If you are not satisfied with the outcome, you may then make an appeal in writing to the Manager of Student Services.
A copy of the College’s Student Funds’ Policy is available on request. If you would like a copy or have any further questions about financial support please telephone the Telephone Enquiry Centre on 0115 914 6414 and ask to be put through to the Student Finance Team.
Updated June 2011