Please see below a summary of support available.
HOW TO APPLY
New Student - to apply for a bus pass please contact the Access Fund Team
Please contact Access Fund Office via
The college will ensure:
- That actual financial need and eligibility are assessed at the point of application and awarded accordingly.
- Students only receive the support they need to participate in their studies.
- Students can apply for support at any point in the academic year 2026/27.
- Support is awarded upon students meeting eligibility stated within the application form.
- Limited funds are distributed to those students with greatest financial need.
- Students must apply for bursary support for each year of study support does not automatically roll forward.
- Support is awarded based on high levels of attendance and being up to date with work, studies and/or assessment, as per our attendance policy, it is important if there is a change to your circumstances that you inform the Access Fund Team immediately.
For all bursaries, please note students must:
- Identify at application what educational support may be required to engage in studies.
- If circumstances change in year, you must inform the Access Fund Office as soon as possible as there may be further support available.
- Evidence to accompany applications must be submitted within 42 days of Access Fund requesting this information, failure to do so may result in support being withdrawn.
- If evidence is not submitted, it would result in the application not being processed.
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16-19 Bursary Support
16 to 19 Discretionary Bursary
To be eligible for this bursary you must be:
- Enrolled on a full-time course for the 2026/27 academic year.
- Have a gross household income including benefits of less than £60,000 in the previous tax year 2025/26.
Travel
Travel for either a Go North East or Arriva bus pass.
Ticket refund if you are unable to use either of these services to college i.e. if the bus service in your area is for example Weardale Travel.
Out of hours support due to onward travel disruption/delays or no service) i.e. requirement to stay at college outside normal hours – through ticket reimbursement on production of ticket to prove travel.
Refunds will not be made for petrol costs.
If your household income is in excess of £60,000 a contribution from student of £75.00 is required towards costs for an annual pass.
Meals
- Up to £5 per day of study.
Allowance must not be used to purchase sweet treats or coffee from Costa/ Starbucks. You are allowed to use your meal allowance to buy limited products from Quick East i.e. sandwich and water.
Other
Contribution of costs towards
- kit, equipment, and uniform.
- stationery from our media store and relevant to the course being studied.
- support for examination preparation (e.g. study guides, additional stationary etc)
- educational visits and trips (only supported when directly linked to the course being studied)
- UCAS application
- specialist books/journals required for programme of study
How support is provided
Support will be provided based on your household income which is assessed to determine which tier is applicable.
Students whose household income falls in tier 1 will receive more support than those in tier 3.
Tier 1 - up to £32,000
Tier 2 - £32,001 to £60,000
Tier 3 - £60,001 to £99,999 (travel only - a £75.00 contribution by the student is required towards support)
Students on apprenticeship programmes are not eligible to apply for the 16 to 19 bursaries but they may be eligible support from external organisations please contact our Advice, Support and Careers Team who may be able to help.
Care2Learn
Students aged 16-19 may be eligible for support through the Government’s Care to Learn scheme.
The support you can receive will depend on your age and circumstances.
You’ll need to be a mother or father caring for your child or children, using an Ofsted-registered childcare provider.
For further information go to www.direct.gov.uk/caretolearn, or contact
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for further information and support in applying.Bursary for In Care or Care Leavers
To be eligible for this bursary you must be:
- in care
- care leavers
- receiving Income Support or Universal Credit because they are financially supporting themselves, or financially supporting themselves and someone who is dependent on them and living with them such as a child or partner
- receiving Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payments as well as Employment and Support Allowance or Universal Credit
In order to determine whether you are eligible for this support can you please provider a letter confirming you are in care or a care leaver.
Based on meeting eligibility criteria you may be eligible for travel support and contribution of costs towards
- kit, equipment, and uniform.
- stationery from our media store and relevant to the course being studied.
- support for examination preparation (e.g. study guides, additional stationary etc)
- educational visits and trips (only supported when directly linked to the course being studied)
- UCAS application
- specialist books/journals required for programme of study
How to apply
16 – 19 year old - new Student - to apply for support please click here (we are working on the link at present and will send this over in due course)
Returning student - contact the Bursary Support Fund Office -
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. -
19+ Bursary
19+ Bursary
To be eligible for this bursary you must:
- Must be aged 19 or above on the 31stAugust 2026 or over when you start your full-time course.
- your household income is below £32,000.
For students who are studying part time they may be eligible for support, this support could be limited to travel only depending on the times and programme being studied.
The fund is in place to ensure the College;
Travel
Ticket refunds only, payable for the days you are due to study, travel to and from college, reimbursed through BACS to your bank account on production of ticket.
Meals
No meal support is available for students aged 19+ this is clearly stated by North East Combined Authority from where the funding is received.
Other Support
Contribution of costs towards
- kit, equipment, and uniform.
- stationery from our media store and relevant to the course being studied.
- support for examination preparation (e.g. study guides, additional stationary etc)
- educational visits and trips (only supported when directly linked to the course being studied)
- UCAS application
- specialist books/journals required for programme of study
Childcare - Adults aged 20+
Students aged 20+ with a household income below £32,000 may be eligible for support from the college. Up to £100 per child per week, for a maximum of two children, is available.
Once complete, please return it to
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. -
Supported Travel
Supported Travel
Our supported travel scheme will help with costs towards travelling to college.
Support will be provided as follows:
- Household income less than £60,000 and you live 2 mile or more from college your travel will be fully funded (on production of evidence of household income). This support is linked and provided through the bursary scheme.
- Contribution of costs required - household income is greater than £60,000 but less than £99,999, a contribution of £75 must be made and evidence of household income provided
- Household income over £99,999 – not eligible for support
Travel support is in place for:
- Full-time Further Education Students Only
- Students aged 16 or over but under 19 at 31 August 2026
- Aged 19 or over on 31st August 2026 with an Education Health Care Plan
- Aged 19 or over on 31st August 2026 and continuing a study programme that you started aged 16 to 18 (19+ continuers)
- Enrolled on a full-time course as defined by New College Durham
- Live more than 2 miles from (College to your home address or home address to College)
Support is provided through:
- Arriva - app or travel card*
- GNE - app or travel card
*The college will issue all eligible students a bus pass in term 1. Note in term 2 and 3 we will be moving all students with an Arriva pass to a ticket refund. Refunds will be made 1 week in advance direct by BACS into your bank account.
You are not able to have both an Arriva and Go North East pass, so please check bus services before you apply.
Travel refund – on production of bus tickets – refunded via BACS into students bank.
Tickets must be submitted within two weeks of travel. No refunds will be given for any tickets purchased that are not linked to study for times/days outside of your timetable unless prior agreement has been made.
Once your application is approved you will receive further instructions.
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HE Hardship Bursary
Higher Education Hardship Bursary
HE students with a household income below £32,000 may be eligible for financial support.
- Applied for their full entitlement of student loan/relevant bursary and received their first instalment – evidence must be provided.
- Have a gross household income of less than £32,000 in the previous tax year 2025/26 – evidence must be provided.
If you qualify for this academic year there will be three payments made one per term. The value of the payment will be determined by the funding allocation provided to the college
To be eligible, you need to attend college regularly, stay up to date with your course work, and adhere to college conduct guidelines.
Please email
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with your name and address, programme of study and support you wish to apply for.
Terms of bursary support
The college will ensure:
- students only receive the support they need to participate in their studies.
- limited funds are distributed to those students with greatest financial need.
- support is awarded upon students meeting eligibility stated within the application form.
- students must apply for bursary support for each year of study support does not automatically roll forward.
- support is awarded based on high levels of attendance and being up to date with work, studies and/or assessment, as per the college attendance policy.
Students must;
- identify at application what support is needed to engage in studies.
- inform Bursary Support Fund Team immediately if there is a change in your circumstances.
- provide evidence of household income to accompany your application within 42 days of applying, failure to do so may result in support being withdrawn or your application not being processed.
Government Guidance
16 to 19 Bursary Fund guide: 2026 to 2027 - GOV.UK
document
Further Education Access Fund Policy 2026/27
(99 KB)
document
Higher Education Hardship Fund Policy 2026/27
(60 KB)