What is the City College Bursary Scheme?

The City College Bursary Scheme provides financial assistance to those students in most need of support. There are 2 types of City College Bursary, a Higher Bursary of £1200 and a Standard Bursary of £400.

The City College Bursary Scheme replaces the government Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) which has been discontinued by the government.

All eligible students can apply to the City College Bursary Scheme but please note that if you are in receipt of EMA in 2011/2012 under the government EMA transition arrangements* your bursary award will be adjusted to take this into account. It is not possible to make a new application for EMA in 2011/2012

Can I apply?

You can apply to the City College 16-19 Bursary Scheme if you are a City College student, aged under 19 years of age on 31 August in the academic year in which you start your programme of study.

We cannot award a bursary to you if you are:-

• A young person on a Higher Education (HE) course
• A young person on a waged apprenticeship
• A young person in prison or young offender institution, or those who have been released on temporary licence, for example day release

How do I know if I qualify for a bursary?

• To qualify for the Higher Bursary of £1200 you will be:-

• A young person in or leaving care
• A young person in receipt of income support in your own right
• A disabled young person in receipt of both Employment Support Allowance and Disability Living Allowance

• To qualify for the Standard Bursary of £400 your parent/s or carer will be in receipt of:-

• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• The Guarantee element of State Pension Credit
• Child Tax Credit, provided they are not entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual income (as assessed by HM Revenue & Customs) that does not exceed £16,190
• Working Tax Credit 'run-on' - the payment someone may receive for a further four weeks after they stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit

How will I receive my bursary award if my application is successful?

• If you are eligible for the Standard Bursary you will receive a combination of the following to the value of £400:

• Free bus travel to college
• Free meals at college (voucher system)
• Free kit and equipment

• If you are eligible for the Higher Bursary you will receive a combination of the following to the value of £1200:

• Free bus travel
• Free meals at college (voucher system)
• Free kit and equipment
• Direct payment into your bank account by BACS

To continue receiving financial assistance through the City College Bursary Scheme you must attend college regularly.

How can I appeal if I think you have made the wrong decision?

• To make an appeal you should complete an appeal form which is available through Citybit
• Your appeal will be reviewed by the Head of Student Support or Assistant Principal Learner Progression Support and Partnership Liaison
• You will be notified of the outcome by email to your college email account within 5 working days of receipt 

*EMA - transition arrangements

All students who received EMA from 2009/10 will continue to receive the same payments for attendance at college or training until the end of the 2011/12 academic year. 

All students who received the maximum weekly EMA payment of £30 in 2010/11 will be eligible for £20 for each week they are in education or training, until the end of the 2011/12 academic year.

Students who received £20 or £10 since 2010/11 will not receive EMA.