At BSDC, we offer two bursaries for those aged 19 years of age or over which are designed to help learners from low income families to meet some of the costs incurred as a result of studying. Support is available per academic year. If you are on a two year course it is important to note that you will need to make a new application each year of study.
- Discretionary Adult Learner Support Fund (DALSf)
The Discretionary Adult Learner Support Fund is designed to help adult learners aged 19 years of age or over as of the 31st August who meet Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) criteria for adult provision. The priority groups for support are:
• An adult living with parent(s) or guardian(s), who are expected to be financially independent, with a personal income of less than £20,048.08 gross per year (before deductions).
• An adult living independently or with a partner/spouse with a combined household income of less than £31,400 gross per year (before deductions) or are solely dependent on savings.
• An adult in receipt of the guaranteed element of a state pension.
• An adult who has legally been in the UK pending consideration of their claim by the Home Office for longer than six months and no decision has been made.
• An adult eligible for support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.
• An adult living independently or with a partner/spouse who are in receipt of one or more of the following means tested benefits:
(a) Income Support
(b) Income-based Jobseekers Allowance (JSA)
(c) Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
(d) Support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
(e) The guarantee element of State Pension Credit
(f) Child Tax Credit with no Working Tax Credit entitlement
(g) Child Tax and Working Tax Credit where the combined sum of the household employment income and working tax credit does not exceed the stated maximum household income threshold.
(h) Universal Credit
(I) Housing Benefit
Applications made by those with a household income of less than £31,400 gross per year will be considered for assistance with:
• Travel (travel contributions, concessionary bus tickets or Cycle2College scheme for those who live more than 1.5 miles from their campus)
• Equipment, uniform, work wear (including shoes and boots) - for information on the kit and uniform requirements for your chosen subject, please visit our website page for details and order forms
• Art and design materials
• Educational trips and visits
• Text books and or revision guides
• Discretionary meals
• Childcare costs
• Professional memberships
- Advanced Loans Bursary Fund (ALBf)
The Advanced Loans Bursary Fund (ALBf) is designed to help adult learners aged 19 years of age or over as of the 31st August who are using an approved Advanced Learner Loan to meet some or all of the cost of their course tuition. The priority groups for support are:
• An adult living with parent(s) or guardian(s), who are expected to be financially independent, with a personal income of less than £20,048.08 gross per year (before deductions)
• An adult living independently or with a partner/spouse with a combined household income of less than £31,400 gross per year (before deductions) or are solely dependent on savings
• An adult in receipt of the guaranteed element of a state pension
• An adult who has legally been in the UK pending consideration of their claim by the Home Office for longer than six months and no decision has been made
• An adult eligible for support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• An adult living independently or with a partner/spouse who are in receipt of one or more of the following means tested benefits:
(a) Income Support
(b) Income-based Jobseekers Allowance (JSA)
(c) Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
(d) Support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
(e) The guarantee element of State Pension Credit
(f) Child Tax Credit with no Working Tax Credit entitlement
(g) Child Tax and Working Tax Credit where the combined sum of the household employment income and working tax credit does not exceed the stated maximum household income threshold.
(h) Universal Credit
(I) Housing Benefit
Applications made by those with a household income of less than £31,400 gross per year will be considered for assistance with:
• Travel (travel contributions, concessionary bus tickets or Cycle2College scheme for those who live more than 1.5 miles from their campus)
• Childcare costs.