Worried about the cost of being a student? We have four bursaries and other financial support to help you!

Our Student Finance Advisers are on hand throughout the year to help with fees, funding and further financial support.

Before, during and after your course, our Advice Centre (0800 371 434) is available to help you explore the funding options available to you.

From travel, course fee and accommodation bursaries to childcare costs, our Student Financial Advisers are here to help you overcome any financial obstacles you may face while studying at Reading College.

This page helps explain each of the ways we can help, for a more detailed look at each option, please contact our Advice Centre on 0800 371 434.

Awards will be made subject to fund availability, so early application is recommended.

Fees for students 16-18

There is no tuition or exam fee for governement-funded courses for students under 18. Please remember there may be other, smaller fees for the course and some equipment may be required. The college runs bursary schemes to suppport students with these costs. 

Travel bursary schemes

Up to £700 towards your travel for students with a household income of less than £30,000 a year and your travel is not funded from an alternative source. Awards depend on where you travel from:

• Post codes up to 5 miles from college - £285 per year (preloaded on to Reading Buses Smartcard)
• Post codes in the wider Reading area, for example Wokingham and Bracknell - £15 per week (paid half termly)
• Post codes further away, for example Newbury and Slough - £20 per week (paid half termly).

How to apply: download the application form or Contact our Advice Centre on 0800 371 434.

Course costs bursary

• Support with essential college costs such as college equipment, materials, uniform or safety clothing, trips, books and exams.
• Get either 50% or 75% towards your costs depending on household income or benefits. For students with a household income of less than £20,817 a year.

How to apply: download the application form or Contact our Advice Centre on 0800 371 434.

Accommodation bursary

A grant that pays a contribution towards accommodation where Reading College is the closest learning provider offering the chosen/required course or the costs of travel makes it too expensive to attend. For students with a household income of less than £20,817 a year.

How to apply: download the application form or Contact our Advice Centre on 0800 371 434.

Guaranteed bursary

A grant of £1,200 per year for the most vulnerable students – those in care or leaving care or young people on Income Support.

How to apply: download the application form or Contact our Advice Centre on 0800 371 434.

Travel scheme for all 16-18 year old students

Get subsidised travel on Reading Buses! Slightly different to the bursary because this is available to all Reading College students aged 16-18, no matter what your household income is.

How to apply: Contact our Advice Centre on 0800 371 434.

Care to Learn

Childcare for students aged 19 and under

• The Care to Learn scheme is funding towards childcare costs for young parents aged between 16 and 19 years old at the start of their course. The scheme currently pays £160 per week whilst you study, providing you are using an Ofsted registered childcare provider, and it may also help with additional travel expenses. You should apply as soon you know that you are going to study.
• Further information on Care to Learn is available at www.direct.gov.uk/caretolearn, or by phoning the Learner Support Service helpline: 0800 121 8989.
• Note: the Care to Learn scheme is currently being reviewed by the Government. There may be changes to the scheme for 2011/12, and it may no longer exist after the 2011/12 academic year. If you are starting a two year course this may mean that you are only able to receive Care to Learn funding in the first year. We will update our website with further information as and when it is available.

How to apply: Care to Learn is a national scheme and applications are not made directly to college. To get an application pack, contact Care to Learn on 0800 121 8989. If you need any help completing the form, speak to our Advice Centre on 0800 371 434.

Educational Maintenance Allowance (EMA) update!

• EMA is now closed to new applicants.
• You’ll receive payments while you study in 2011/12 if:

- you first applied for EMA in 2009/10 (you’ll receive the same weekly payment)
- you first applied for EMA in 2010/11 and you receive the maximum EMA payment of £30 (reduced to £20 a week in 2011/12).

• Please visit www.direct.gov.uk/ema for more information.

Further info about how to apply for any of these options

Application forms should be submitted as early as possible by hand and with any required evidence. You may find it useful to get help completing the forms from Student Services. Students will be notified of the outcome within four weeks of receipt.