Activate Learning Financial Support and FE Bursaries
Create a free account to applyCover costs that could otherwise keep you from completing your FE course, from travel and meals to childcare, course materials and essential trips. Apply online with the required evidence; support is assessed against your eligibility and financial need.
Activate Learning’s FE bursary scheme provides financial support to help students complete their course when costs would otherwise be a barrier. The bursaries can help with travel, meals, childcare, accommodation, course materials, protective clothing, UCAS fees, and essential trips, with support assessed against eligibility and financial need.
The scheme includes different bursary routes for 16-18 students, 19+ learners, students in defined vulnerable groups, childcare support, accommodation support, travel support, meal credits, and help with course costs. Some support is targeted at students on funded FE courses, while apprenticeships are excluded from the main bursary scheme.
Applications are completed online using the Apply Now form and must be submitted with all required evidence. The college says awards are based on individual circumstances, decisions are normally confirmed within four weeks, and appeals can be made in writing if an application is unsuccessful.
1 August 2026
2026-27 bursary update
Location
- Be enrolled on a funded further education course (apprenticeships and students aged 14-15 are excluded).
- Have a right to study.
- Be fee assessed as a home student for further education funding.
- For 16-18 funding: be aged 16-18 on 31 August 2026, or aged 19 and continuing a course started when aged 16-18.
- For 16-18 funding: be aged 19-25 with an EHCP.
- For 16-18 funding: have net household income up to £30,000 for a single child household, plus £1,700 for each additional dependent child aged 18 or under living at the same address.
- For 16-18 vulnerable bursaries: be in care, a care leaver, or receive qualifying benefits in your own right.
- Asylum seekers do not have to evidence household income for 16-18 funding.
- For 19+ bursary funding: have net household income up to £35,000, plus £1,700 for each dependent child under 18 living at the same address.
- For 19+ funding on an Advanced Learner Loan course: the loan must be fully approved before applying for a bursary, and proof of approval is required.
- Students on an Advanced Learner Loan course are not supported with tuition fees through the ALL Bursary.
- Meal credit bursary applicants must meet the household benefit criteria listed by the college.
- Travel bursary applicants must attend the nearest college offering the course and travel more than 3 miles but less than 30 miles walking distance.
- Accommodation bursary applicants must be planning to study a specialist subject not available where they live and have a journey of more than 2 hours one way by public transport.
- Childcare bursary applicants must be the main carer for their child, provide evidence of Child Benefit, use an Ofsted-registered childcare provider or school, and complete the childcare provider form.
Financial support is available to help students overcome barriers to completing a further education course. Support can help with travel, meals, childcare, accommodation, essential course costs, specialist protective clothing, UCAS fees, field trips, and support for students in defined vulnerable groups. Some awards are paid directly to students, while others are paid to providers, colleges, landlords, or travel companies, depending on the bursary.
Checked 1 November 2026
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