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Financial Support for Students

We realise that studying at college may involve some extra expenses and that you may need to reach out for financial support.  The College holds Bursary funds for students, who meet the eligibility criteria, to provide financial support towards the costs related to attending college.

Bursary funds are limited, so priority is given to students with the greatest financial needs.

The funding available to you depends upon various factors such as age, course, household income and other government funding you are currently in receipt of.

If you are unsure and would like some assistance, then please contact Student Finance team, by emailing studentfinance@bpc.ac.uk and they will be able to answer any queries you may have. Please bear in mind that during the busy period, there may be a delay in responding.

We also offer multiple bursaries for particular groups of students, coming to the college.

You’ll be able to choose the relevant option when applying online.

For 16-18 year old students

If the student is still living at home and parents/guardians receive one of the recognised benefits with an income of less than £25K, they may meet the criteria for the Discretionary Bursary.

Whereas, if the student:

  • is currently in the care of the Local Authority or has recently left their care;
  • is receiving Universal Credit or Income Support as well as PIP or DLA in their own right;
  • themselves are receiving Universal Credit, because they are financially supporting either a partner or child.

Then they may meet the criteria for the Vulnerable Bursary.

For students over the age of 19

If the student is studying a Level 1 or Level 2 qualification then they may be eligible for the 19+ Discretionary Learner Support Fund and Aspire Grant (which can help with a percentage of the tuition fee).

If the student is studying a L3 qualification, and is not eligible for a fee waiver, then they may be eligible for the Advanced Learner Loan bursary.

Details of the criteria for each of the bursaries, can be found on the online application, together with the evidence which needs to be provided.  Please note that failure to provide all pages of the evidence will result in a delay in processing your application for student finance.

What can be covered by the Bursary?

Depending upon the student’s age and level of studies, we may be able to help with travel to the college, course equipment, and course costs, and help students achieve their goals and successfully complete their course.

If you are unsure and would like some assistance, then please contact Student Finance team, by emailing studentfinance@bpc.ac.uk and they will be able to answer any queries you may have. Please bear in mind that during the busy period, there may be a delay in responding.

Students returning to the college must re-apply for a bursary each year , but may not necessarily need to provide income evidence, but will be required to sign a Self-Declaration to confirm that there have been no changes in family income, if this is the case. Please check back in August to apply on this page. 

Students starting with the college this year can apply for one of the following bursaries, through the online application (to be posted here August 2025)

  • 16-18 Discretionary Bursary
  • 16-18 Vulnerable Bursary
  • 19+ Discretionary Learner Support Fund
  • Advanced Learner Loan Bursary
  • HE Bursary
  • Apprenticeship Travel
  • LAC Apprenticeship Bursary

Student Finance Policy 2024-25

If you are 19 years or older as at 31 August 2024, you may be eligible for a Course Fee Assessment. For more information on fee waivers, please contact the enrolment team on 01202 205611

If you are not eligible for our financial support and you still have further fees to pay, you can opt to pay our course fees in full at the time of enrolment, or if you prefer, you can choose to pay in interest free instalments.  In this event you would set up a Recurring Card Payment (RCP) plan when you enrol (subject to conditions), which will allow you to pay equal monthly payments. 

For more information or to set up your RCP, please contact the Fees team via email Fees@bpc.ac.uk or telephone on 01202 205949.  Alternatively, you can visit Pay The College, or pay at the time of enrolment. 

Dorset Community Foundation Bursaries

If a student is unsuccessful due to their household income being above the threshold, and they live in Dorset, they may be eligible to apply for funding. 

Two bursary funds managed by local charity Dorset Community Foundation supports young people aged between 16-25 who are looking to start or continue their professional and technical (job-related) courses.

The Superior STEM Bursary fund (for Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths courses) and the Dorset Community Foundation Bursary scheme focus on supporting particularly disadvantaged young people, who are studying one of the following courses:

Level 3 Everything Digital and IT
Access to HE Computing
T Level Maintenance, Installation and Repair for Engineering and Manufacturing
Level 1 Applied Science
Level 2 Science
T Level Science
T Level Health
Level 2 Marine Engineering

Applicants will have evidence of financial need.  More information is available by following the links below:

Please view our video here.

We have recently been made aware of the Family Action Grant which is available to student parents, who may need some extra financial help. Students who are over the age of 18, with dependent children can access grants up to £300 to achieve their goals. 

Grants are available for laptops, smartphones, travel to college, books and equipment that you need to complete their course. Please see attached link for further information.  Family Action

Student needs to be in receipt of one or more of the means-tested benefits listed below or be an Asylum Seeker in receipt of an ARC Card

  • Income based JSA
  • Income-related ESA
  • Income Support
  • Universal Credit
  • Housing Benefit
  • Working Tax Credit
  • Pension Credit
  • Council Tax Support     

 Applications will be dealt with through the Student Finance Team

If you are aged between 19-23 and undertaking your second Level 3 qualification or are 24+ and undertaking a Level 3 course, you can apply for the Advanced Learner Loan.

This loan will pay for your tuition fees, and you will not start paying it back until your income is over a certain amount (‘the threshold amount), please visit the gov.uk website: Advanced Learner Loan.  If you take out the Advanced Learner Loan and you are studying an Access to HE course, the loan repayments will be void if you go on to successfully complete a University degree.

For more information on eligibility and how to apply, please visit the gov.uk website.  If you are unsure and would like some assistance, then please contact Student Finance team, by emailing studentfinance@bpc.ac.uk and they will be able to answer any queries you may have. Please bear in mind that during the busy period, there may be a delay in responding. Learning and Funding letters will be sent out to the relevant students by the Welcome Team.

Help with childcare costs: If you are under the age of 20 at the start of your course, please refer to Care to Learn.

For students over the age of 20, please see section on the online application form.  To be eligible for childcare, you must have already met the criteria for the bursary.

Dorset Community Foundation Scheme

Get up to £1000 towards your course costs! Dorset Community Foundation Scheme.