Supported travel and bursary

Find out if you are eligable for supported travel and bursary.

A bursary can cover the cost for:

• Travel for either a Go North East or Arriva bus pass.  We will support bus travel to college through 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.  We are not able to refund travel expenses for petrol.
• Top up free meal entitlement to £5 per day
• If you were not entitled to free meals at school, you can use your bursary fund for up to £5 per day of study
• Out of hours support for mileage (due to onward travel disruption/delays or no service) i.e. requirement to stay at college outside normal hours or travel to/from placement
• Kit, equipment, and uniform (a contribution) towards costs for computers and PCs where essential to support studies
• Stationery from our media store and only stationery relevant to the course being studied
• Support for examination preparation (e.g. study guides, additional stationary etc)
• Support for Industry Placements and work placements (purchase uniform, additional travel costs and lunch)
• Educational visits and trips (only supported when directly linked to the course being studied)
• UCAS application
• Specialist books/journals required for programme of study

Support is given in kind, no cash payments are made. 

Any support given does not need to be paid back unless a student subsequently leaves or withdraws from their programme then the college may seek to recover costs.

Please note if you have already applied for bursary support you do not need to apply again.

HOW TO APPLY!

To apply for travel and bursary support including meals please contact Access Fund Office via access.fund@newdur.ac.uk

• Bursary Support

  Bursary Support

  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be submitted within 42 days of Access Fund requesting this information, failure to do so may result in support being withdrawn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

  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 2025/26
  • 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.

  16 to 19 Discretionary Bursary

  To be eligible for this bursary you must be:

  • Enrolled on a full-time course for the 2025/26 academic year.
  • Have a gross household income including benefits of less than £60,000 in the previous tax year 2024/25.

  Support will be provided based on the following tiers.  Students whose household income falls in tier 1 will receive more support than those in tier 3.

  Tier 1 - is £16,190 gross per annum or less.

  Tier 2 - is greater than £16,190 and less than or equal to £32,000 gross per annum or less.

  Tier 3 - is greater than £32,000 but less than or equal to £60,000.

  Students on apprenticeship programmes, any waged training, or are employed 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.

  Vulnerable Bursary

  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

  Please note contact will be made via a 121 meeting with you to determine your actual need.

• 19+ Bursary

  19+ Bursary

  If you are aged 19 or over when you start your full-time course, and your household income is below £32,000, you may be eligible for support.

  Must be aged 19 or above on the 31^st August 2025 with a household income below £32,000, at the point you start your course.  If you meet this criteria you may be eligible for support.

  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 i.e. if you only study on an evening you would not require any lunch support.

  The fund is in place to ensure the College;

  • Supports students to engage and participate in their studies and allow for them to remain in education.  
  • Assesses a student’s actual financial need through checking students’ eligibility for support when applying for bursary support.
  • Limited funds are distributed effectively and efficiently to those students with the greatest financial need.

  It is important that you indicate on your application form the support that you may require to enable you to engage in your studies.   The College will conduct an assessment to determine the actual support that a student may need to engage in their education.  The following support is available through this scheme.  Support could include (but is not restricted to);

  • Support for meals for days you are studying at college
  • Travel refund on production of valid public transport ticket only for days that you are studying in college
  • Kit, equipment, and uniform relevant to the subject being studied
  • Contribution towards visits and trips
  • Specialist books/journals required for programme of study

  There is no automatic entitlement to bursary support, travel or childcare and each application will be assessed on a first come first served basis. Support will only be provided to those students with greatest financial need and while funds are available, early application is encouraged.

  To be eligible, you need to attend college regularly, stay up to date with your course work, and adhere to college conduct guidelines.

  pdf 19+ FE Bursary Application Form 2025 2026 (201 KB)

  Please email access.fund@newdur.ac.uk with any questions about your application. 

• 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).
  • 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 2024
  • Aged 19 or over on 31st August 2024 with an Education Health Care Plan
  • Aged 19 or over on 31st August 2024 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

   

  Travel refund – on production of bus tickets – refunded via BACS into students bank.

  Once your application is approved you will receive further instructions.

    pdf Travel Scheme Terms and Conditions 2025-26 (95 KB)

• HE Hardship Bursary

  HE Hardship Bursary

  HE students with a household income below £32,000 may be eligible for financial support.

  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 access.fund@newdur.ac.uk with your name and address, programme of study and support you wish to apply for. 

  pdf HE Hardship Fund 2025 26 (199 KB)

pdf Further Education Access Fund Policy 2025-26 (337 KB)
pdf Higher Education Hardship Fund Policy 2025-26 (140 KB)