What is the 16-19 Bursary Fund?

The fund is made available from the government through its funding body, the Education Funding Agency (EFA), to provide assistance to students aged 16-19 year olds whose access to, or completion of, education is inhibited by financial constraints or barriers.

The Fund has two elements:

• A bursary of up to £1,200 a year for young people in one of four defined vulnerable groups

• Discretionary awards targeted towards those young people who cannot stay in education without financial help for things like transport, meals, books and equipment

Who is eligible to apply for 16-19 Bursary Funding?

Students at the school are eligible if they are at least 16 and under 19 years of age on 31 August 2026 and fall into one of the following categories:-

Vulnerable Bursaries

Students eligible for vulnerable bursaries must fall into one of four defined vulnerable groups: 

• Young people in care, including unaccompanied asylum-seeking children

• Care leavers

• Young people receiving Income Support or the equivalent Universal Credit (UC) in their own right

• Young people receiving Employment and Support Allowance or Universal Credit and Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payments in their own right

Discretionary Bursaries

Students who are economically or socially disadvantaged and at risk of not taking up or continuing in their education are eligible for discretionary bursaries. Typically students are eligible if their household income is less than £25,000 pa, or they are entitled to Free School Meals, or they are in receipt of other means tested benefits.;

Who is not eligible for 16-19 Bursary Funding?

• Students under 16 years of age (except in exceptional circumstances where a student is following an accelerated study programme) or aged 19 years or over on 31 August 2026.

• Students who are not resident in England (see EFA guidance for full eligibility criteria)