There are opportunities available for you to apply for financial support to help with your studies. Details are listed below and information on how to apply can be obtained from the Learner Services team at Reception or at learnerservices@wmcollege.ac.uk.
Advanced Learner Loans
Advanced Learner Loans are available for learners aged 19 and above on 31 August 2025, studying courses at Level 3 and above. The Student Finance England provides loans that can be used to pay for all or part of your course fees.
More information can be found at Student Finance England or from our Learner Services team at learnerservices@wmcollege.ac.uk
Courses that are eligible for an Advanced Learner Loan are:
- Level 3 AAT Certificate and Diploma
- Art and Design University of the Arts (UAL) Foundation Diploma
For more information about these loans, visit gov.uk/advanced-learner-loans
Advanced Learner Loan Bursary
This is available to learners who have an approved Advanced Learner Loan. The bursary can help to pay for travel, childcare, and course materials costs and whose income totals less than £30,000.
More detailed information can be found in our Advanced Learner Loan Bursary Guidance document, found here, or from Learner Services at Reception.
Discretionary Learner Support Fund (DLSF)
The fund is open to all learners studying an Adult Core course at WM College who, at the time of enrolment, are on a means-tested benefit, unemployed, or earn below the GLA low earning threshold (currently £27,007.50 annual gross salary). It can help with travel support for asylum seekers to provide access to study, course materials not provided by the College that are essential to achieving a qualification and emergency welfare payments.
Any support you are given from the fund is on an assessment of your financial circumstances and is distributed on a first-come first-served basis. We will, in accordance with the funding guidance, further prioritise the funding to priority groups of disadvantaged learners.
For more detailed information on the Discretionary Learner Support Fund (DLSF), see our guidance document here.
The 16 to 19 Bursary Fund
If you are under 19 years old on 31 August 2025, you may be eligible for support from the 16-19 Bursary Fund.
The fund aims to help cover some of the financial costs of attending College, such as transport, food, equipment and other course-related costs.
There are two types of 16 to 19 bursaries:
Bursaries for defined vulnerable groups: learners in care, care leavers, in receipt of benefits such as UC/PIP/ESA because they are financially supporting themselves
Discretionary bursary awards are made to help learners with the cost of travel, food and course-related costs (books, equipment, or specialist clothing). Funds are not to support extra-curricular or non-compulsory activities that are not essential to the learner’s study or to provide living costs support.
For more detailed information on the 16-19 Bursary, including who is eligible to apply, see our guidance document here.
Care to Learn
Care to Learn is a government scheme that can assist young parents, aged under 20 at the start of their course, with the costs of registered childcare and traveling expenses to and from their childcare provider.
If you are a young parent starting a new course, you can claim up to £195 per week towards the cost of Ofsted registered childcare.
There are no restrictions on the number of hours per week you study, or on the length of the course you take. Payments can cover the periods you are studying in College, and may also be paid during the holidays to retain your place if your course continues the following year.
The money is paid directly to the registered childcare provider.
For more detailed information on the Care to Learn Bursary, including who is eligible to apply, see our guidance document here.
Welfare Advice & Support
If you have financial worries, are confused about welfare benefits, are facing homelessness, or are on low income and think you might be eligible for support with childcare, travel and course-related materials, please contact a member of the Learner Services team at Reception or at learnerservices@wmcollege.ac.uk
