Advanced Learner Loans Bursary Fund

Eligibility

To be eligible for Advanced Learner Loan Bursary Fund, students must be:

• considered Home fee status
• studying on a Foundation Diploma in Art and Design course which starts in September 2022
• aged 19 or over on 31 August 2022.

About

The Advanced Learner Loan Bursary Fund is provided by the Government, via the Education & Skills Funding Agency (ESFA). By following general rules set by the ESFA, we are able to consider applicants under the following three categories:

Advanced Learner Loans Bursary Fund: Hardship Bursary

The Hardship Bursary provides support to help students with the cost of travel, equipment relates costs (digital devices only), books, course related trips and specialist clothing specific to and required for the Foundation Diploma in Art and Design course.

To be eligible for the Advanced Learner Loans Bursary Fund, students must:

• be enrolled on the Foundation Diploma in Art and Design at UAL starting in September 2022 and
• be in receipt of the Advanced Learner Loan from Student Finance and
• be considered a Home student for tuition fee purposes and
• be aged 19 years of age or older on August 31, 2022 and
• have a confirmed household income equal to or below £25,000 per annum (gross income).

The Hardship Bursary can also provide one-off support for unexpected circumstances or domestic emergencies resulting in financial hardship e.g., costs incurred due to bereavement of immediate family, priority debt (not applicable to parent/guardian/carer’s debt or debt incurred before the start of the course), change in household income resulting in hardship. You will provide evidence to support unexpected circumstances.

For the assessment process, you will be classed as a dependent student if you're under 25 on the first day of the academic year for which you're applying for support and are financially dependent on one or both of your parents (even if you don't live with them).

You will only be considered an independent student if at the start of your course, you are

• aged 25 or older or
• you have a child or
• you have no living parents or
• you are or have been married or in a civil partnership or
• you have supported yourself for three years prior to the start of your course or
• you are estranged from your parents. Estranged means you are under 25 and have not have any contact with either of your parents for a significant period of time (at least 12 months), and that this is unlikely to change.

Advanced Learner Loans Bursary Fund: Residential Bursary

The Residential Bursary provides a contribution of up to £12,000 towards rental costs for the academic year for learners in receipt of the Advanced Learner Loans where they need to live away from home and if they qualify for the Hardship Bursary and/or 20+ Childcare Bursary.

The Residential Bursary is made payable directly to the landlord or accommodation provider in two equal instalments. The first instalment will be made upon completion of your application, signed acceptance form and return of your signed ‘Accommodation Sponsor Form’.

Additional costs related to the deposit, guarantor scheme, moving or utility fees, council tax charges, administrative or contractual fees or damage/repair charges incurred, are not supported by the Residential Bursary Fund.

Advanced Learner Loans Bursary Fund: Childcare for Learners Aged 20+

The Childcare Bursary is to help support students aged 20 or older at the start of the course, with confirmed dependents, who have and may incur childcare costs whilst enrolled on the course. The Childcare Bursary can award up to 99% of your childcare costs to the maximum of £175 per week, per child if you reside in London or up to £165 per week, per child, if you reside outside of London.

The Advanced Learner Loans Bursary Fund will only provide funding to pay for childcare with a childminder, provider or childminder agency who is registered with Ofsted. The fund cannot provide support for informal childcare, such as that provided by a relative or make a financial contribution to the costs of a crèche. The student must be the main carer of the child and the child must live in the United Kingdom.

In order to qualify for the childcare bursary, students must meet the eligibility criteria for the hardship bursary detailed above.

Receiving payment

Successful applicants must be enrolled on the course before receiving payment.

Payment will be made in two instalments if the application is successful.