There are 2 types of bursaries:
- Bursaries for vulnerable groups
- Discretionary bursaries
The main rules which have recently been updated for 2023/24 academic year are:
- A student must be aged 16 or over but under 19 on 31 August 2023 to be eligible for help from a Bursary Fund.
- Students aged 19 or over are only eligible for help from a discretionary bursary fund if they are continuing on a study programme the student commenced aged 16 to 18.
- Generally, bursaries should only be paid to students aged 16 or over. However, in exceptional cases where under 16 students are on funded 16 to 19 study programmes at the Trust, discretion may be used to pay bursaries to younger students.
- A bursary for vulnerable groups can be paid of up to £1,200 a year for a student that participates in a study programme lasting 30 weeks or more. Students on study programmes of less than 30 weeks, the bursary of
- £1,200 must be reduced proportionally.
- Exceptionally a bursary of more than £1,200 can be paid, if it is assessed that extra help is required for the student to remain in education. However, any payments over £1,200 must be paid from a discretionary bursary allocation or your Trusts own funds.
- A policy or statement must be published on the Trust website as to how the Bursary Fund will be used.
The rules over 16 – 19 Bursary funding are complex and it is therefore good practice to complete a 16 to 19 Bursary Fund check list for each student being paid Bursary funding.
The next steps
If your Trust needs any help or guidance with the rules on 16–19 Bursary funding, please contact your local UHY Partner.
