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GrantEngland

16 to 19 Bursary Fund

Schools, colleges, and training providers (England), funded via the Department for Education / Education and Skills Funding Agency

Description

Financial support for 16-19 year-olds (or up to 25 with an Education, Health and Care Plan) studying at a publicly-funded school, college, or training provider in England, to help with course-related costs like clothing, books and equipment, transport, and lunch on study days. Split into a 'vulnerable bursary' (up to £1,200/year, for students in narrowly-defined vulnerable groups — e.g. in care, care leavers, receiving Income Support or Universal Credit in their own right, or receiving Disability Living Allowance/PIP plus Employment and Support Allowance) and a discretionary bursary (no set amount, awarded by the school/college itself based on individual financial need and available funds) for everyone else from a lower-income household.

Amount

Vulnerable bursary: up to £1,200/year. Discretionary bursary: no set amount — decided by your school/college based on need and available funds.

Deadline

Rolling / no fixed deadline

Eligibility summary

  • Available in: England.
  • Open to individuals — not restricted to businesses.
  • Relevant income bands: earning under the Personal Allowance.
  • Relevant age groups: under 18, 18–24.
Notes
Not automatic — you must apply through your school, college, or training provider, which decides discretionary awards and can pay in cash, bank transfer, or in kind (travel pass, free meals, books). Providers can withdraw support if attendance or conditions aren't met. Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland do not run an equivalent bursary scheme — they instead run their own Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) schemes, each with different names in branding but the same EMA structure, different weekly rates, and different income thresholds (see the separate Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland EMA entries in this directory).
Requirement
Aged 16-19 (or up to 25 with an EHC plan), studying at a publicly-funded school, college, sixth form, or training provider in England (not a university). Vulnerable bursary requires meeting one of a specific set of defined categories (in care, care leaver, claiming certain benefits in your own right); everyone else applies for the discretionary bursary based on household financial need, set and administered by their own institution.

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How to apply

Apply directly through your school, college, or training provider — contact their student services or financial support team; they administer both bursary types and decide discretionary awards.

View official source

Last verified: 1 August 2026. See the footer disclaimer — this is general information, not financial or tax advice.