Student Finance
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 starting with the college this year can apply for one of the following bursaries, through the online application 👉 Please apply here.
- 16-18 Discretionary Bursary
- 16-18 Vulnerable Bursary
- 19+ Discretionary Learner Support Fund
- Advanced Learner Loan Bursary
- HE Bursary
- Apprenticeship Travel
- LAC Apprenticeship Bursary
- Care to Learn (Childcare for students under the age of 20)
Progressing Students – Income Evidence Requirement
- Students who joined the College in the 2024/25 academic year and submitted income evidence to support their bursary application must reapply for a bursary each academic year. However, they may not need to resubmit income evidence if their financial circumstances have not changed. In such cases, they will be required to complete and sign a Self-Declaration Form confirming that there have been no changes to their household income.
Please note that you may be required to submit evidence of income during the academic year for auditing purposes.
Students who are progressing into the next academic year and did not provide income evidence with their bursary application in 2024/25 will be required to submit current income evidence that meets the eligibility criteria.
Full details of the required documentation are included in the bursary application form.
👉 Please apply here.
If you are 19 years or older as at 31 August 2025, you may be eligible for a Course Fee Assessment. For more information on fee waivers, please contact the enrolment team on 01202 205611.
Flexible Payment Options
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. Please be aware that the payment plan cannot exceed the term of the course.
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:
- DCF Bursary Scheme - Dorset Community Foundation
- Superior STEM Bursary Fund (dorsetcommunityfoundation.org)
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
For more information, please follow the link Family Action
Applications will be dealt with through the Student Finance Team
An Advanced Learner Loan helps with the cost of further education courses. If you’re aged 19 or over and studying an approved course at Level 3, 4, 5 or 6 at an approved college or training provider in England, you can apply for an Advanced Learner Loan. Please check whether your course is eligible by following the link: Advanced Learner Loan course eligibility
Eligibility for the loan doesn’t depend on your income, and there are no credit checks. Interest is charged from the date the first payment is made to the college or training provider.
The Advanced Learner Loan, plus any interest, has to be paid back, but not until you’ve finished or left your course, and your income is over the repayment threshold. Find out more about repayments (External link).
Help with childcare costs: If you are under the age of 20, then all Care to Learn applications are now being administered by the college, and the application can be found on the portal.
For students over the age of 20, please see the section on the online application form. Please be aware that you will need to meet the criteria for one of the Bursaries to be considered for help with Childcare.
Get up to £1000 towards your course costs! Dorset Community Foundation Scheme.
Here's a guide where you can find out more about applying for a Bursary