Education, training and employment - leaving care

The 16 to 19 bursary

You could get a bursary to help with education-related costs if you're aged 16 to 19 and are:

  • studying at school or college (not university) in England
  • on a training course, including unpaid work experience

A bursary is money that you, or your education or training provider, can use to pay for things like:

  • clothing, books and other equipment for your course
  • transport and lunch on days you study or train

Your education provider will decide how you get your bursary. You might be:

  • paid in full or in instalments
  • paid in cash or through a bank account
  • given a travel pass, free meals, books etc. instead of money

Some providers also offer one-off payments to cover:

  • study trips
  • travel for university interviews

Your provider could stop payments if you break their rules around:

  • attendance, or
  • how your bursary is used

You could get a bursary, depending on your circumstances and where you live.

You apply directly to either your:

  • school
  • college
  • training provider

Ask student services or your tutor to explain what you need to do.

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