How much is the 16 to 19 Bursary Fund worth?

There are two parts. The vulnerable bursary pays up to 1,200 pounds a year to students in defined vulnerable groups on study programmes of 30 weeks or more — the amount is based on what you actually need, so it is not automatically the full 1,200 pounds. The discretionary bursary has no fixed national amount: your school or college sets its own criteria and pays towards real costs like travel, meals, books, equipment, uniforms or kit, and trips. Both are paid on top of any benefits your household gets, and applying is always free.

Who counts as vulnerable for the 1,200 pound bursary?

Four defined groups, per the GOV.UK 16 to 19 Bursary Fund guide: young people in care; care leavers; students getting Income Support (or Universal Credit in place of Income Support) in their own name; and students getting Employment and Support Allowance or Universal Credit AND Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payment in their own name. The benefits must be in the student own name — a parent claiming does not count for the vulnerable bursary, though it often helps with the discretionary one.

How do I apply for a 16 to 19 bursary?

Through your school, college or training provider — never through GOV.UK and never through any website charging a fee. Ask student services or the bursary office for the application form, usually in the first weeks of term. You will need evidence: benefit award letters, proof of being in care or a care leaver from your local authority, or household income proof for discretionary bursaries. Funds are limited and many providers allocate them first come, first served — so ask early.

How is the bursary paid — and can the college attach conditions?

Payment is up to the provider: it can be cash into a bank account, in-kind support like a travel pass, free meals, books or equipment, or a mix. Providers are allowed to make payments conditional on attendance, behaviour or meeting agreed standards — missing classes without good reason can pause payments. Ask for the policy in writing when you apply so the conditions are clear from day one.

What about Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?

The 16 to 19 Bursary Fund is England-only. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland kept the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) instead: a weekly payment for 16 to 19 year olds from lower-income households who stay in education — 30 pounds a week in Scotland and Northern Ireland, 40 pounds a week in Wales — usually paid fortnightly and conditional on attendance. Income limits and application routes are set by each nation, so check mygov.scot, Student Finance Wales or nidirect for the current thresholds. Colleges in all three nations also run their own discretionary hardship funds.

16 to 19 Bursary: up to £1,200 a year

Two bursaries, one fund — which one is yours?

The 16 to 19 Bursary Fund (England) is government money handed to schools, colleges and training providers to keep young people in education when costs would otherwise push them out. It splits in two:

Bursary	Who & how much
Vulnerable bursary	Up to £1,200 a year on study programmes of 30+ weeks, for the four defined groups below. Based on what you actually need — providers must not just hand everyone the full £1,200, and shorter or part-time programmes get less.
Discretionary bursary	No fixed national amount — your school or college sets its own income criteria and pays towards real costs: travel, meals, books, equipment, uniforms or kit, and trips. Many providers align it with free school meals eligibility.

The four vulnerable groups (per the GOV.UK guide):

In care — looked after by a local authority;
Care leavers;
Getting Income Support — or Universal Credit in place of Income Support — in your own name;
Getting Employment and Support Allowance or Universal Credit and Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payment, all in your own name.

The own-name rule, plainly A parent claiming UC does not put you in a vulnerable group — the benefits must be in the student’s own name. But a low household income is exactly what the discretionary bursary is for, so a no on the £1,200 is never the end of the conversation. Ask what the college’s own criteria are.

Aged 19 or over? The fund covers ages 16 to 18 (on 31 August before the academic year). Two exceptions can still get the discretionary bursary: 19+ continuers finishing a course they started aged 16–18, and students aged 19+ with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP). The £1,200 vulnerable bursary itself is not available at 19+.

How to apply — the college, not GOV.UK

Ask student services or the bursary office at your school, college or training provider for the bursary application form — ideally in the first weeks of term, or as soon as money gets tight. There is no national application.
Bring evidence. Benefit award letters in the student’s name, confirmation of care status from the local authority, or household income proof (payslips, UC statements) for the discretionary bursary. The provider has to evidence what it pays and why.
Expect conditions. Payments can be cash, in-kind (a travel pass, free meals, equipment) or a mix — and providers are allowed to make them conditional on attendance and behaviour. Missed classes can pause payments, so get the policy in writing.
Turned down or the fund is “empty”? Ask for the decision in writing, ask when the fund reopens, and ask about hardship or travel schemes the college runs separately. Circumstances changed mid-year? You can apply mid-year too.

Funds run out — and nobody chases you Discretionary bursary pots are cash-limited and at many colleges go first come, first served — students who ask in September are funded; students who struggle silently until January can find the pot empty. Nobody checks whether you need it. Ask this week. And never pay any website or “adviser” to apply — it is a free form from your own college.

Do this now

Email or visit the bursary office this week — funds run out. One line is enough: “I’d like to apply for the 16 to 19 bursary — please send me the form and tell me what evidence you need.”

In care, a care leaver, or on qualifying benefits in your own name? Say so in that first message — that is the up-to-£1,200 vulnerable bursary, and your GOV.UK overview backs you up.

Scotland, Wales & NI — the weekly EMA instead

The 16 to 19 Bursary Fund is England-only. The other three nations kept the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) — a weekly payment for 16–19 year olds from lower-income households who stay in school or college, usually paid fortnightly and conditional on attendance:

Scotland — £30 a week, applied for through your council or college (income thresholds are set each year — check mygov.scot).
Wales — £40 a week, the UK’s highest rate, via Student Finance Wales.
Northern Ireland — £30 a week, via nidirect.

Colleges in all three nations also run their own discretionary support and hardship funds on top of EMA — same advice: ask student services early.

Stack the rest of the family money Staying in further education usually means Child Benefit keeps being paid to your parent while you remain in approved full-time education — worth checking it never got stopped at 16. Eligible students can still get free school meals in sixth form or college, post-16 school transport help exists in some council areas, and younger siblings on free school meals get free holiday clubs with meals.

Source verification Primary source: GOV.UK — 16 to 19 Bursary Fund overview + the DfE institutional guide (2025 to 2026 edition verified this session; a 2026 to 2027 edition is published on GOV.UK). Devolved EMA rates: Scottish council EMA pages, Student Finance Wales, Department for the Economy NI. Specific URL: gov.uk/1619-bursary-fund. Last verified 12 June 2026. Confidence: High for the £1,200 vulnerable bursary, the four defined groups, the own-name rule, the apply-through-your-provider route and the 19+ continuer/EHCP exceptions (DfE guide). EMA weekly rates £30 (Scotland), £40 (Wales), £30 (NI) verified against official devolved pages this session. Kept qualitative: Discretionary bursary amounts and criteria — set locally by each provider, no national figure exists. EMA household income thresholds — set per nation per year. Child Benefit weekly amount — see the Child Benefit guide for current figures. Scope: Bursary Fund: England only. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland: EMA schemes, each with their own thresholds and application routes.

16 to 19 bursary — common questions

How much can I get?

The vulnerable bursary pays up to £1,200 a year (study programmes of 30+ weeks) for the four defined groups — assessed on what you actually need, not automatically the full amount. The discretionary bursary has no fixed national figure: your college sets the criteria and pays towards travel, meals, books, equipment and trips.

Who counts as “vulnerable”?

In care; a care leaver; getting Income Support (or UC in place of it) in your own name; or getting ESA or UC plus DLA or PIP in your own name. Benefits in a parent’s name do not qualify for this part — but they help strongly with the discretionary bursary.

Where do I apply?

Through your school, college or training provider — student services or the bursary office. There is no national application on GOV.UK, and no website should ever charge you. Apply early in the term: funds are limited.

Can they stop my payments?

Providers can make bursary payments conditional on attendance and behaviour, and can pay in kind (travel pass, meals, equipment) instead of cash. Ask for the conditions in writing when you apply.

I’m in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland — what do I get?

EMA: £30 a week in Scotland and Northern Ireland, £40 a week in Wales, for 16–19s from lower-income households, conditional on attendance. Apply via mygov.scot/your council, Student Finance Wales or nidirect — and ask your college about its own hardship fund too.

Sources: The £1,200 vulnerable bursary, the four defined groups, the own-name rule, payment-in-kind and attendance conditions, and the 19+ continuer/EHCP exceptions · GOV.UK — 16 to 19 Bursary Fund and the DfE 16 to 19 Bursary Fund guide (verified this session). Scotland EMA £30/week · mygov.scot and council EMA pages. Wales EMA £40/week · Student Finance Wales. Northern Ireland EMA £30/week · nidirect / Department for the Economy. Discretionary amounts and EMA income thresholds are set locally/annually — check the linked official pages for current figures. SortedUK is general information, not financial advice. Last reviewed: 12 June 2026.

At college or sixth form? There’s a bursary fund — if you ask before it runs out.

Two bursaries, one fund — which one is yours?

How to apply — the college, not GOV.UK

Scotland, Wales & NI — the weekly EMA instead

16 to 19 bursary — common questions

The money is sitting at your college. Walk in and ask for the form.