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If you’re a student aged 16-18 then you do not pay any tuition, registration or exam fees, but you may be required to purchase course-related resources during your studies.
16-19 Discretionary Bursary
To be eligible for the 16 – 19 bursary you must be 18 or under on 31st August in the academic year you start college or be aged 24 and under if have an EHC plan (Educational Healthcare Plan). To apply for the College Bursary you household income needs to be £40,000 per year or less (before tax).
Registered Young Carers with a household income of less than £40,000 per year (before tax) may be eligible for a weekly bursary.
If you are eligible for the Bursary, you may be able to get help with travel, essential equipment, meals and trips.
16-19 Vulnerable Bursary
A weekly bursary may also be awarded to students who meet one of the criteria below:
If you are a student who is in the care of the Local authority or are a Care Leaver or living with Foster Parents (but not a private foster care arrangement)
Students who receive Universal Credit in their own right because they are financially supporting themselves and someone living with them such as a child or a partner
Students who receive Employment and Support Allowance or Universal Credit in their own right as well as Personal Independence Payments or Disability Living Allowance
Students who receive Employment and Support Allowance or Universal Credit in their own right as well as Personal Independence Payments or Disability Living Allowance
Bursary applications can either be downloaded below or can be collected from Learner Services at your campus of study.
If you have any queries, please email the campus where you are going to be studying:
Trafford College – Altrincham campus: bursary@trafford.ac.uk
Trafford College – Stretford campus: bursary@trafford.ac.uk
Marple Sixth Form College: bursary@marple.ac.uk
Cheadle College: bursary@cheadle.ac.uk
Stockport College: bursary@stockport.ac.uk
Altrincham –
Helpful Information
Free college meals
The government has extended the free meals support to students from lower income families attending further education courses. This means that if you were in receipt of free meals whilst at school and are aged 16 – 18, you may still receive an allowance towards your lunch. In order to be eligible, you or your parents must be in receipt of one or more of the following benefits:
- Income support
- Income-based jobseekers allowance
- Income-related employment and support allowance
- Guaranteed element of state pension credit
- Child tax credit with a gross income of less than £16,190
- Working tax credit run on — paid for the 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for working tax credit
- Universal credit (with income under £616.67 per month)
Please complete a bursary application form and your eligibility for Free College Meals will be assessed.
Childcare Expenses
If you’re a young parent, you may be able to get help with childcare costs (up to £160 – £180 per child per week).
You can apply for assistance with childcare costs at an Ofsted registered childcare provider (nursery, childminder or before/after school provision) for the days and times you are in College.
Please call into Learner Services and discuss your childcare support needs with the Finance Support Officer at the campus you are going to be studying at and they can help with your application.
Our Pass Travel Scheme
‘Our Pass’ is a free bus travel scheme for 16-18 year olds who live and travel within the Greater Manchester area. Visit www.ourpass.co.uk for more information on the scheme and to apply.
‘Our Pass’ replaces bursary financial assistance for bus travel if you’re a student within the Greater Manchester area.
Please note: if you use an ‘Our Pass’ for journeys to and from college, you will not be eligible for a travel contribution from the bursary.
An ‘Our Pass’ will cost £10 and this fee will be reimbursed by the college if you are eligible for the bursary, live more than 1 miles from the college, and use an ‘Our Pass’ for your college journeys.
If you live outside the Greater Manchester area, or have to use alternative transport methods, you may be eligible for financial support for travel. Please contact Learner Services to discuss this with a Financial Support Officer.
External Support
Care to Learn
If you’re a young parent (16-19), you may be able to get help with childcare costs (up to £160 – £180 per child per week).
Please call into Learner Services and discuss your childcare support needs with the Finance Support Officer at the campus you are going to be studying at and they can help with your application.
Train Travel
16-17 Saver Railcard
If you are 16 or 17 and use the train to travel to college, the 16-17 Saver Railcard gives you half price train fares, anytime of the day and any day of the week. It costs £30 for a year and can be used to purchase single, return or season tickets. To buy online, follow this link: 16-17 Saver | Half Price Travel | Railcards
Our Pass
‘Our Pass’ is a free bus travel scheme for 16-18 year olds who live and travel within the Greater Manchester area. Visit www.ourpass.co.uk for more information on the scheme and to apply.
An ‘Our Pass’ will cost £10 and this fee will be reimbursed by the college if you are eligible for the bursary, live more than 1 mile from the college, and use an ‘Our Pass’ for your college journeys.
If you live outside the Greater Manchester area, or have to use alternative transport methods, you may be eligible for financial support for travel. Please contact Learner Services to discuss this with a Financial Support Officer.
Scholars Permit
‘Once your Our Pass stops working (the 31st August after your 18th birthday) and you are in full time, further education and live in Greater Manchester, you may qualify for a Scholars Permit up to the end of the academic year when you turn 19. For a one off £5 cost, the pass allows the holder to pay the concessionary fare for bus journeys, or reduced fares on train and tram journeys between your home and college. You can get an application form from Learner Services or Main Reception at College, any Greater Manchester Travelshop, or by visiting www.tfgm.com
Bee Network
If you are over 18 and only travel on buses in Greater Manchester, the Bee Network Student Termly Bus Pass may be the most cost effective way of travelling to College. This pass lasts for three months and is roughly half the price of buying the weekly tickets. Visit the Bee Network website or check the app for more information.
System 1
If you use multiple modes of public transport or multiple bus operators, then a System 1 pass may be the best value for you. There are weekly, monthly, termly and annual season tickets for students. These tickets can be used for multiple journeys at any time and are valid anywhere in Greater Manchester, not just between home and college. These tickets can be purchased online from the relevant transport operator or at your local Paypoint outlet. Visit www.paypoint.co.uk for locations.
These cards can be used on virtually all public transport services in Greater Manchester, regardless of which company runs them. If you are aged 16 – 26 and in full time education, you will need to get a System One student membership card to buy student bus passes. These Travelcards can be purchased online at www.systemonetravelcards.co.uk or at your local paypoint outlet.
Visit www.paypoint.co.uk for locations.
Travel from High Peak to College on specific buses
The Mayor of the East Midlands has created a scheme where students who are 16 to 18 years old, live in the High Peak Borough and get a bus to a College in Greater Manchester (which include all our sites) can travel on any of these buses for free:
199 – Buxton to Stockport
358 – Hayfield to Stockport via Marple
394 – Glossop to Hazel Grove via Marple
Students need to have a Purple B-Line Card and show their student ID to the bus driver and their journey to College will be free of charge.
To apply for a B-Line please follow this link: b_line discount travel card – Derbyshire County Council