Student Finance
Bursary and free meals applications
You will find the online bursary application form at the bottom of this page.
Applications for September 2024 are now open. Please apply as soon as possible to be sure of having support in place at the start of term.
Registration and tuition fees
Aged under 19
If you are under 19 on the 31st August prior to the start of your course, then your tuition and registration fees will normally be free.
Aged 19+
When you are 19 or over on 31 August prior to the start of your course, you become liable for tuition, registration and exam fees. However, you may not actually have to pay fees as your course may be fully funded. Eligibility for a fee waiver will be determined by our Enrolment Team at the time of your enrolment.
If you are a home fees student, studying a government funded course, e.g. GCSEs, ESOL, Diplomas, Certificates, up to and including Level 3 you may be able to get your course free if you are in one of these groups:
1. You are employed and:
- Your own earned income is less than £25,000 per year (not including your partner's income)
2. You are unemployed and one or more of the following apply to you:
-
- Receive Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), including those receiving National Insurance credits only
- Receive Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Receive Universal Credit, and take home pay is less than £892 a month (for a single claimant) or £1437 a month (for joint claimants)
- Are released on temporary licence, and not funded by the Ministry of Justice.
- Not receiving any benefits, want to be employed, and you are applying for a course that is directly relevant to your employment prospects and the local labour market needs
3. You may also be fully funded if:
- You receive another state benefit (not included in the list above) and your take home pay is less than £892 a month (single claimant) or £1437 a month (joint claim), and you wish to progress to more sustainable employment
4. You fall into one of the below groups:
- You are aged 19-23 and studying at Entry or Level 1 in order to progress to a full Level 2 qualification, and you do not already hold a full Level 2 qualification
- You are aged 19-23 and studying for your first, full Level 2 qualification
- You are aged 19-23 years and studying for your first, full Level 3 qualification
- You are 19-24 and subject to an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP)
- You are 16-24 on a traineeship and do not have a full Level 3 qualification
- You are 19 or over and studying GCSE maths or English (or functional skills English or maths from Entry to Level 2) and you do not already have a pass grade (A*-C or 9-4)
Advanced Learner Loan
There may be a tuition fee loan available to you if you are 19 and over and wish to study at Level 3 or above.
The system operates in a similar way to Higher Education student loans. Repayments are due after the course is completed and you are earning £25,000 or over (For new students starting in 2023).
You can apply online via Student Finance England once you have received a learning and funding information letter from the college. The letter contains course reference numbers/tuition fee amounts and other information needed to make the application.
If you are unsure whether you will need to pay fees contact the finance advisers on 01603 773773 or financialadvice@ccn.ac.uk
If you are unsure whether you will need to pay fees contact the Finance Advisers on 01603 773773 or financialadvice@ccn.ac.uk.
Student Bursary and Learner Support Funds
16 19 Bursary Fund
You may be eligible for financial support from the 16-19 Bursary Fund if you are under 19 when you start your course, and your net household income is less than £40,000. For families with multiple siblings, the threshold will be increased by £1000 per additional child, up to a maximum of £48,000 per year.
The aim of the fund is to help cover some of the financial costs of coming to college such as travel, equipment, food allowance and essential study trips.
Payments from the 16-19 Bursary Fund are awarded on individual circumstances and actual financial need.
Vulnerable Young Person's Bursary
If you are under 19 and in one of the following categories, and you have a financial need, you may be eligible for up to £1200. These groups of students are unlikely to be receiving financial assistance from parents or carers. We will assess the student’s financial need to enable them to participate in learning, e.g. travel costs, study trips, lunches, equipment costs etc. If these costs are met from other sources of support, then we may not be able to award any money
- in care*
- a care leaver*
- estranged from your parents and receiving Income Support/Universal Credit in your own right
- receiving both Disability Living Allowance/Personal Independence Payment and Employment Support Allowance (or Universal Credit if it replaces DLA/PIP and ESA.)
* you may be a classed as 'in care' or 'a care leaver' if you are or have been looked after by the local authority under section 20 or 31 of the Children act 1989
Support from the 16-19 Bursary Fund and Vulnerable Young Person's Bursary is normally paid half-termly. This is, however, subject to satisfactory attendance. We expect 100% attendance from students.
19+ Bursary
If you are over 19 the College has a bursary that can provide support if you are on a low income.
If you are single and have a net household income of less than £19,360, you will be eligible to apply for the college bursary. If you are married or live with a partner, you will be eligible if your combined income is below £25,120.
We do not assess parental income for this bursary. Help with travel, child care, equipment, tuition and registration fees may be available. If you are studying on a level 3/4 course and are eligible for an Advanced Learner Loan to cover the tuition fees, then you will need to apply to the Advanced Learner Loan Bursary instead - see below.
Advanced Learner Loan Bursary
This hardship fund is designed to help Advanced Learner Loan students with costs, such as travel, equipment and childcare.
If you are single and have a net household income of less than £19,360, you will be eligible to apply for the college bursary. If you are married or live with a partner, you will be eligible if your combined income is below £25,120.
Proof of eligibility for the Advanced Learner Loan and details of household income will be required.
Free college meals - free school meals for college students
You will be eligible for free college meals if you are aged 16-19 or 19-24 with an EHCP, are studying on a further education course and you/your parents are in receipt of:
- Income Support
- Income Based Job Seekers Allowance
- Universal Credit with income under £7,400 pa
- Income Related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Guaranteed Element of State Pension Credit
- Child Tax Credit (not Working Tax Credit) with an annual gross income of no more than £16,190
- Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
If you are eligible for the scheme you will receive £5.00 for each day that you attend college.
The money will be loaded onto your student card. Cards can be swiped in campus cafes/restaurants. If you study off campus or your course involves placements - we will arrange to pay the money into your bank account.
Find out how to apply for Free College Meals
Find out more about free college meals here.
Help with childcare
Help with the cost of childcare may be available depending on your age and your household income.
- If you are 19 or under, you can apply to the Care to Learn scheme. Please see the Care to Learn website for more information.
- If you are 20 or over and on a low income, then you may be eligible for help from the 19+ Bursary.
If you would like more information about help with childcare costs contact the Advice Shop on 01603 773773 or adviceshop@ccn.ac.uk
Benefits
Please note that studying full-time can affect your benefit.
The regulations governing students and benefits are complicated, so please seek advice from Job Centre Plus, Citizens Advice or MAP Youth Services.
If you are under 20 and a Further Education student studying over 12 hours per week your parents may be able to claim Child Benefit, Child Tax Credit or the child element of Universal Credit.
Educational charities
The Advice Shop has a list of educational charities in Norfolk.
If you are under 25, and live in or around Norwich you may be eligible to apply to the Thomas Anguish's Educational Foundation or the Joanna Scott Foundation.
You may be able to find charities that can help by using this website: Turn2Us. In addition, the Student Advisers manage a small number of educational charities on behalf of the Norfolk Community Foundation.
Student travel discounts
For more information about travel passes please visit our Student Travel Offers page.
The best value tickets are the M tickets which can be uploaded onto your smart phone; however you do have the option of buying your bus pass from the First Travel Centre on Castle Meadow if you prefer.
Travel Assistance from Norfolk County Council
- If you are a Norfolk resident, you may be eligible for assistance if you are:
- aged under 19,
- studying at least 14 hours per week
- living more than three miles from the college (and travelling on a core route for Paston College
From September 2024, a yearly contribution of either £612 or £459 will be expected depending on household income. This contribution can be paid in termly or half-termly instalments.
If you are aged 19-25 and have an EHCP (Education Health Care Plan) you may also be eligible for a free travel pass.
Find more details of Norfolk's subsidised post-16 travel scheme here or call 0344 800 8020
Travel Assistance from Suffolk County Council
If you are a Suffolk resident, you may be eligible for assistance if you:
- Live over 3 miles from your nearest suitable provision (college or sixth form)*
- Are studying a full time course (min. 12 hours a week )
- Started your course before your 19th birthday
- Are studying a course that is only available at a facility that is not your nearest.
Find more details of Suffolk's subsidised post-16 travel scheme here or call 0345 606 6173.
Contact the Finance Advisers
For more information contact Mantas or Rachel on 01603 773322 or email financialadvice@ccn.ac.uk
