Peterborough College can offer financial support to any student from low-income households who face the greatest barriers to continuing in education or training. There are a number of funds you can apply for depending on your personal circumstance.
The College has separate funding criteria for the following:
If you fall into one of the following groups you may be eligible to apply for the Vulnerable Bursary:
If you fall into one or more of these groups above you can apply for a Vulnerable Bursary of up to 1,200 for help with transport to and from college, uniform and equipment and any mandatory trips.
Eligible and continuing students who live in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority, that turn 19 during their course will be able to access a Vulnerable Bursary fund to support them with continuing their studies. Please contact the information team for details.
Care Leavers residing in CPCA Local Authority post codes are could also eligible for a care leaver fund between the ages of 19 and 22, of up to £1500 (Based on financial need).
If you are under the age of 19 at the start of your course and have a household income of less than £35,000 per year, you may be eligible for support with the following:
If you are 19 or over at the start of your course and have a household income of less than £35,000 per year, you may be eligible for support with the following:
From the start of the 2026 to 2027 academic year, the government are expanding Free College Meals eligibility to all children from households in receipt of Universal Credit regardless of household earnings. Free school meals are available to pupils in receipt of, or whose parents are in receipt of, one or more of the following benefits:
A pupil is only eligible to receive a free school meal where both:
Students aged 19 – 24 are only eligible to receive a free meal if they meet the eligibility criteria above and have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP)
Childcare
If you have children and require childcare to enable you to complete your study, and if your household income is £35,000 or below, you could qualify for help towards your childcare costs of up to £180 per week, per child. Childcare is not paid during college holiday periods; this is only paid during term-time and during the hours the student is at college. If you are in receipt of any early years funding, these hours must be used before any contributions for childcare are made by the college. Nominated childcare providers must be OFSTED registered.
Yes, students on apprenticeship programmes, or any waged training, because those students are classified as employed.
There is no deadline date to apply, but the sooner you apply the better. Applications can be submitted at any time during the academic year. Students may also make more than one application if their situation changes.
Yes. A new application needs to be submitted to the Learner Support Fund for each academic year that you study at the college. This is because situations and benefit amounts are likely to change year on year.
No. Receiving assistance from the Learner Support Fund will not affect the amount or entitlement to any Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) benefits you receive. The bursary fund is in place to support the costs of education and remove financial barriers so that all students have the opportunity to study the course of their choosing.
Last updated: 14/07/2026
We have made some changes to our financial support and bursary arrangements for the 2026/27 academic year.
Please read the updated information carefully before applying, particularly if you received financial support or Free College Meals last year.
In previous years, households with an income above the former £25,000 threshold were required to contribute £150 towards some supported costs.
This contribution has been removed and will not be required during the 2026/27 academic year.
The overall household-income threshold for discretionary financial support is £35,000 a year or less.
Eligible students will receive a meal allowance of £7 for each day they are required to attend college.
The eligibility requirements for Free College Meals have changed for the 2026/27 academic year.
Students from households receiving Universal Credit may now be eligible for Free College Meals regardless of household earnings. An application must still be submitted and eligibility must be verified before Free College Meals can be awarded.
Students may also be eligible if they, or their parent or carer, receive support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.
Students aged 19 to 24 are only eligible for Free College Meals if they meet the qualifying benefit requirements and have an Education, Health and Care Plan.
Receiving other financial support from the College does not automatically mean that a student will be eligible for Free College Meals.
Previous receipt of Free School Meals will no longer provide protected eligibility when a student moves from school into further education.
If you received Free School Meals at school, you must still submit a new application and meet the eligibility requirements for the 2026/27 academic year.
Previous Free School Meal vouchers, school letters or confirmation of earlier entitlement will not be accepted as evidence of current eligibility.
If you are applying for Free College Meals based on Universal Credit, you must provide the Universal Credit evidence requested in the application.
Payslips or self-assessment documents without evidence of a qualifying benefit will not establish eligibility for Free College Meals. However, these documents may still be required when assessing your household income for other types of financial support.
The application form will explain which documents you need to provide. Supplying the correct evidence will help us assess your application without unnecessary delays.
Yes. You must submit a new application for every academic year you study at Peterborough College.
Your circumstances, benefit entitlement and the support available may change from one academic year to the next. Receiving support previously does not guarantee that you will receive the same support again.
There is no fixed application deadline and applications can be submitted throughout the academic year.
However, funding is limited, so we recommend applying as soon as possible. You should provide all the requested evidence when you apply.
You can also contact us if your circumstances change after your application has been assessed.
Once you have submitted your application:
Submitting an application does not guarantee that financial support will be awarded. Decisions are based on eligibility, individual circumstances and the funding available.
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