A bursary of up to £1,200 is available to students aged under 19 (as at 31^st August 2023) and who meet one of the four criteria below who have a financial need.

• In Care
• Care leavers
• Receiving Income Support, or Universal Credit in their own name, because they are financially supporting themselves or financially supporting themselves and someone who is dependent on them and living with them such as a child or partner
• Receiving Disability Allowance or Personal Independence Payments in their own name, as well as Employment and Support Allowance or Universal Credit in their own name.

If eligible for the bursary this fund can contribute to essential college costs such as travel to college by bus or train, uniform, course materials and trips. To qualify for travel funding, you must live at least 2.5 miles from your site of study Farnborough or Aldershot (using Google maps). Students must have an attendance of 85% of their classes and abide by the College rules and behaviour standards. You can apply for Free College Meals in addition to this bursary.

DEFINITION OF IN CARE: Children looked after by a local authority on a voluntary basis (section 20 of the Children Act 1989) or under a care order (section 31 of the Children Act 1989).

 DEFINITION OF CARE LEAVER:

• A young person aged 16 and 17 who were previously looked after for a period of 13 weeks consecutively (or periods amounting to 13 weeks), which began after the age of 14 and ended after the age of 16; or
• A young person aged 18 or above who was looked after prior to becoming 18 for a period of 13 weeks consecutively (or periods of 13 weeks), which began after the age of 14 and ended after the age of 16.

Students on Apprenticeships and Higher Education Courses cannot apply for this bursary.

How do I apply for Financial Support?

Academic Year 2023/24 - click here

Please note: During our peak application period during August and September, it can take up to four weeks to process your application and confirm if you have been awarded a bursary, so you will be responsible for any travel costs until your financial support is in place.

All bursary allocations will be distributed once the student has enrolled and attended their first day at Farnborough College of Technology.

• You cannot apply for Financial Support until you have applied/enrolled for a course and have a student number
• You will need to have bank account details
• You will need to upload your supporting evidence to complete this application

The entire application form is mobile compatible and uploading evidence can be much quicker using a mobile device’s camera or gallery (if you already have images of your evidence) so you may wish to apply using a mobile phone or tablet.

If you need help with the application process or are unable to complete this application process online then contact the Bursary team by email bursary@farn-ct.ac.uk

Students will need to reapply for the bursary each academic year. This will include the resubmission of proof of eligibility.

A bursary of up to £1200 is dependent on your fulfilling the bursary eligibility criteria   detailed below.  If eligible for the bursary, this fund can contribute to essential college costs, such as bus or train travel, uniform or course materials dependant on your course. To qualify for travel funding you must live at least 2.5 miles from your site of study Farnborough or Aldershot (using Google maps).

• You must have been a resident in the UK for 3 years prior to the start of your studies
• You must be aged 16 and over but under 19 on 31^st August 2023
• You must be registered for a full-time study programme as of 31^st August 2023

This fund is also available to students aged 19 or over with an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP) and to students aged 19 or over and continuing a study programme which began when they were aged 16-18.

To be eligible for support you or your parents/guardians must be in receipt of one of the following benefits;

• Income Support
  Letter dated on or after 1 April 2023 stating you currently receive this benefit.
• Job Seekers Allowance (income-based)
  All pages of your notification dated on or after 1 April 2023.
• Employment and Support Allowance (income-related)
  All pages of your notification dated on or after 1 April 2023.
• Pension Credit (Guarantee element)
  All pages of your State Pension Credit (guarantee element) issued by the pension service dated on or after 1 April 2023.
• Support under part V1 of the Immigration & Asylum Act 1999
• Home Office paperwork evidencing your right to reside in the UK whilst your application for Asylum is being assessed.
• Universal Credit (other than child tax element)
  Your last three most recent monthly Award Statements which will include all calculations of deductions; you will need to upload the details from your UC online account. We add together the average take home pay for the household and average amount of Universal Credit, after all deductions, to calculate the annual household income which must not exceed £25,000.
• Child Tax Credit (providing they are not entitled to Working Tax Credit)
• All pages of your Tax Credit Award notification dated on or after 1 April 2023 (NOT Tax credit Annual Review)

Bursary funding is allocated based on individual needs. As the budget is limited, we cannot guarantee that we will be in a position to support you with all the financial support you need.

Students on Apprenticeships and Higher Education Courses cannot apply for this bursary.

How do I apply for Financial Support?

Academic Year 2023/24 - click here

Please note: During our peak application period, it can take up to four weeks to process your application and confirm if you have been awarded a bursary, so you will be responsible for any travel costs until your financial support is in place.

All bursary allocations will be distributed once the students has enrolled and attended their first day at Farnborough College of Technology.

The entire application form is mobile compatible and uploading evidence can be much quicker using a mobile device’s camera or gallery (if you already have images of your evidence) so you may wish to apply using a mobile phone or tablet.

If you need help with the application process or are unable to complete this application process online then contact the Bursary team by email bursary@farn-ct.ac.uk

Students will need to reapply for the bursary each academic year. This will include the resubmission of proof of eligibility.

Free College Meals are only available to some students receiving a bursary.  College Meals allow students to collect a meal from the Refectory free of charge for each day they are in college.

There is a specific criteria that a student must meet in order to receive this. The student must be aged 16 or over but under 19 on 31^st August 2023 to be eligible and their live-in parent/guardian, must be in receipt of one of the below benefits;

• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseekers Allowance (JSA)
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• The guarantee element of State Pension Credit
• Child Tax Credit (providing you/your parent are not entitled to Working Tax Credit) and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190 as assessed by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs
• Working Tax Credit run-on – paid for 4 weeks after someone stops qualifying for Working Tax Credit
• Universal Credit with net earnings not exceeding the equivalent of £7,400pa (after tax and not including any benefits you get)

Please note: Working Tax Credit is not a qualifying benefit for free meals and a parent/guardian/student in receipt of Working Tax Credit is not entitled to a free meal.

Students aged 19 or over are only eligible to receive a free meal if they are continuing on a study programme, they began aged 16 to 18 (19+ continuers) or have an Education Health Care Plan.

 The following students are not eligible for free meals;

• Students aged 19 or over at the start of their study programme, unless they have an EHCP or are a 19+ continuer
• Apprentices, including those with an EHCP

You can apply for Free College Meals by applying for the bursary. You will be assessed for this, as well as travel and material costs.

How do I apply for Financial Support?

Academic Year 2023/24 - click here

Please note: During our peak application period, it can take up to four weeks to process your application and confirm if you have been awarded a bursary, so you will be responsible for any travel costs until your financial support is in place.

All bursary allocations will be distributed once the students has enrolled and attended their first day at Farnborough College of Technology.

• You cannot apply for Financial Support until you have applied/enrolled for a course and have a student number
• You will need to have bank account details
• You will need to upload your supporting evidence to complete this application

The entire application form is mobile compatible and uploading evidence can be much quicker using a mobile device’s camera or gallery (if you already have images of your evidence) so you may wish to apply using a mobile phone or tablet.

If you need help with the application process or are unable to complete this application process online then contact the Bursary team by email bursary@farn-ct.ac.uk

Students will need to reapply for the bursary each academic year. This will include the resubmission of proof of eligibility.

The Care to Learn scheme can help you with childcare costs while you study. You must be aged under 20 at the start of your course to apply. Care to Learn funding is administered by the Education Funding Agency and is monitored by the college. Payments are subject to good attendance.

You will need to provide Learner Services with a copy of your childcare provider’s Ofsted registration (unless you are using the college nursery) and a copy of the child’s birth certificate. Full details of the scheme and the application form are available at www.gov.uk/care-to-learn.

For further information please call the Learner Services Team on 01252 407339, email support@farn-ct.ac.uk, or visit the Learner Services Office (based in E Block).

Under 19?

Full-time students, who are under the age of 19 on 1 September in the year their full-time Further Education programme starts don’t pay tuition fees. All the costs of tuition and examinations are paid for by the college from the money that it receives from the government

Over 19?

Tuition fees are payable for students aged 19 or over, however, there are some concessions. Please check with us before you apply as there may be help if you’re starting your first full Level 2 qualification or between the age of 19-23 and taking your first full Level 3 qualification.

If you have any questions about fees, please contact us on 01252 405555 or message us.

What is cashless catering / sQuid?

• sQuid is an online payment system that can be used to pay for food and drink in College.
• Students (or their parents) and staff can add cash to their sQuid account via an online portal
• Students use their College student card to make payments / Staff use their ID card

Benefits to students and staff

• No need to carry cash
• No more fiddling with change
• It’s convenient – forget cash, forget change
• It’s secure
• Check your balance anytime
• View all of your transactions online
• Top up whenever you want

Benefits to parents

• More convenient; no need to worry about sending cash or cheques
• View your child’s transactions anywhere, at any time
• Ensure money is being spent on healthy school meals
• Auto top-up payments for peace of mind that your account will never run out of funds

Need help?

If you would like to set-up your sQuid account contact the Refectory refectory@farn-ct.ac.uk

A bursary of up to £1,200 is available to Learners whose family income is on low income and dependent on you fulfilling the bursary eligibility criteria detailed below.

If eligible for the bursary, this fund can contribute to essential college costs, such as bus or train travel, uniform or course materials dependant on your course. In addition you can apply for support towards Childcare if you are aged 20+.  To qualify for travel funding you must live at least 2.5 miles from your site of study Farnborough or Aldershot (using Google maps).

• You must have been a resident in the UK for 3 years prior to the start of your studies
• You are 19 years old or over on 31^st August 2023
• Your household income must be below £25,000 gross

To be eligible for support you or your parent/guardian must be in receipt of one of the following benefits

• Income Support
  Letter dated on or after 1 April 2023 stating you currently receive this benefit.
• Job Seekers Allowance (income-based)
  All pages of your notification dated on or after 1 April 2023.
• Employment and Support Allowance (income-related)
  All pages of your notification dated on or after 1 April 2023.
• Pension Credit (Guarantee element)
  All pages of your State Pension Credit (guarantee element) issued by the pension service dated on or after 1 April 2023.
• Support under part V1 of the Immigration & Asylum Act 1999
• Home Office paperwork evidencing your right to reside in the UK whilst your application for Asylum is being assessed.
• Universal Credit (other than child tax element)
  Your last three most recent monthly Award Statements which will include all calculations of deductions; you will need to upload the details from your UC online account. We add together the average take home pay for the household and average amount of Universal Credit, after all deductions, to calculate the annual household income which must not exceed £25,000.
• Child Tax Credit (providing they are not entitled to Working Tax Credit)
• All pages of your Tax Credit Award notification dated on or after 1 April 2023 (NOT Tax credit Annual Review)

This bursary can contribute towards the costs of travel to college by bus or train, childcare, uniform, course materials and trips. Bursary funding is allocated based on individual needs and not all students who qualify for this bursary will receive the full £1,200. Please note that bursary funds are limited, and the College cannot guarantee that funds will be provided to every student who meets the basic eligibility criteria.

Childcare

You may also be able to access funding for childcare costs if you are aged 20+ and have a household income of below £25,000 per annum. To qualify for childcare funding, you will need to be using an Ofsted registered childcare provider. Funding is for timetabled classes, and it does not support independent study. Bursary funds are paid directly to the childcare provider after we have received their monthly or termly invoice.

Students on Apprenticeships and Higher Education Courses cannot apply for this bursary.

How do I apply for Financial Support?

Academic Year 2023/24 - click here

Please note: During our peak application period during August and September, it can take up to four weeks to process your application and confirm if you have been awarded a bursary, so you will be responsible for any travel costs until your financial support is in place. All bursary allocations will be distributed once the students has enrolled and attended their first day at Farnborough College of Technology.

• You cannot apply for Financial Support until you have applied/enrolled for a course and have a student number
• You will need to have bank account details
• You will need to upload your supporting evidence to complete this application

The entire application form is mobile compatible and uploading evidence can be much quicker using a mobile device’s camera or gallery (if you already have images of your evidence) so you may wish to apply using a mobile phone or tablet.

If you need help with the application process or are unable to complete this application process online then contact the Bursary team by email bursary@farn-ct.ac.uk

Students will need to reapply for the bursary each academic year. This will include the resubmission of proof of eligibility.

Planning your journey to college

You can plan your journey to college using the website www.traveline.info.

Any address can be used as the starting point for your trip, and it will search all routes and times to show you a variety of options.

Stagecoach Bus passes:

Students can purchase a StudentRider bus pass from Stagecoach for less than the standard season ticket.  The pass allows students to travel anywhere within the Blackwater Valley area 7 days a week. The smart cards are ordered directly from Stagecoach via their website using your college ID number.

The college offers full-time students an additional discount of £150 off the price of an Annual StudentRider reducing it from £650 to £500 or £50 off the price of an Autumn term StudentRider reducing it from £260 to £210.  Subsequent discount codes can then be requested for the Spring and Summer terms.

To request a discount code please email support@farn-ct.ac.uk stating the student name and ID number and also if you require a code for the annual pass or the termly one.

Student tickets for Blackwater Valley | Stagecoach (stagecoachbus.com)

If you have any questions about using your pass, you can contact the Stagecoach Helpline on 0345 121 0190 or email south.enquiries@stagecoachbus.com .

Surrey Student Fare Card

The Surrey Student Fare Card scheme gives students aged 16-18 who live in Surrey reduced bus and/or rail travel to colleges. There is an annual fee for the Student Fare Cards but it can you a third on season tickets. For further information and to see if you qualify, please visit the website

Apply for a student fare card - Surrey County Council (surreycc.gov.uk)

Train passes:

South West Trains Academic Season Pass

South West Trains offer reduced ticket prices to all full-time students who purchase an Academic Season Pass through the College, which are issued on a termly basis.

You can buy your South West Trains Academic Season Pass online or through the College Store at http://estore.farn-ct.ac.uk/.

Alternatively, you can consider purchasing the following rail cards from South West trains;

• 16-17 Saver card, you can claim 50% off your rail tickets.
• 16-25 Railcard if you are in full-time education, saving you 1/3 on train tickets.
• 26-30 Railcard, saving you a 1/3 on your travel

Please note: This cannot be used in conjunctions with the college discount offer.

BURSARY STUDENTS

For bursary students applying for a Stagecoach StudentRider bus pass

The bursary team will send you a discount code as soon as your application has been approved. You can order your Smart Card bus pass directly from the Stagecoach website.

For bursary students applying for a South West Train Pass

The college can only provide discounted seasoned tickets for South West trains; if you need to use other train operators, we are unable to provide ticket alternatives for other operators.

You will receive a letter from the bursary team informing you of the outcome of your application. Depending on your location and your funding requests, your rail pass might be totally funded, or you may have to pay a proportion of the ticket.

During our peak application period during August and September, it can take up to four weeks to process your application and confirm if you have been awarded a bursary, so you will be responsible for any travel costs until your financial support is in place.

For further information, please call the Learner Services team on either 01252 407339 or email support@farn-ct.ac.uk or bursary@farn-ct.ac.uk or visit the Learner Services Office (based in E Block).

All students are entitled to apply for a Totum card, this costs from as little as £14.99 and gives students the use of SU facilities across the country. Being a member of the National Union of Students (NUS) also gives you access to a range of discounts at well-known high street stores, visitor attractions and cinemas along with some ethically sourced products. You can now also purchase with age ID (all the great features of TOTUM with the bonus of PASS verified proof of age ID card) Membership is available for all students, whether part-time, full-time, on day release or short courses, over or under 18. To apply you need your enrolment certificate, a passport-size photo, photo ID and payment. Also, for any card purchased Totum give back to the College which goes towards Enrichment and Event activities at your College.

All Totum cards are delivered to the college, where you will be notified to collect from your Learner Services (located in E Block) Visit: www.totum.com to get yours today!