Financial Support
Finances shouldn’t curtail your aspirations.
Studying at Newham College is a great investment in your future and we offer a wide variety of courses to meet your aspirations, whether you’re aiming to progress into employment, an apprenticeship or university.
Whatever your ambition, finances shouldn’t get in the way. Depending on your age, circumstances and household income, we have a range of financial support options available to help you while you’re studying. Find out what support you may be eligible for.
Age 16-18
Tuition is free for home students under 18 on a full-time course. However additional financial support is available for young people to support them whilst they study.
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Students aged 16-18 can apply for a bursary if your household income is less than £30,000 a year or your family is in receipt of certain benefits. Bursaries cover a number of course-related expenses including:
- Books, equipment and uniform essential to complete your course
- Educational trips and visits as approved by the college
- Travel, if you live more than 3 miles away from the college and it is not covered by TFL’s Zip Travelcard scheme
- Free college meals
- Any other course-related expenses as approved by the college
The 16-18 Bursary is aimed at students aged 16-18, aged 19 if you are continuing on to the second year of a Level 3 course, or aged 19-24 if you have an EHCP. The Enhanced Bursary is for 16-18 year olds who are either in care (or has been in care) or in receipt of benefits in their own name.
You can apply for one of these bursaries via the dedicated bursary portal. You will need to upload evidence of your financial income to check your eligibility.
For more guidance about our bursaries:
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Young parents aged under 20 at the start of their course may be entitled to help with childcare costs of up to £175 per week whilst studying. The childcare provider must be registered with Ofsted.
You can find out more about Care to Learn, including eligibility and how to apply, at gov.uk/care-to-learn.
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Travel: The Zip 16+ Oyster photocard entitles you to free and discounted travel on bus, Tube, DLR, London Overground, TfL Rail and most National Rail services in London.
Free meals: The college offers free breakfast to all students who arrive before 8:45am and free lunch to all 16-18 year olds.
Discounts: TOTUM (formerly NUS extra) is the #1 student discount card and app giving you access to huge offers on food and essentials, tech, streaming and home delivery. Plus fashion, beauty and a whole lot more.
Age 19+
The Government has made it a requirement for colleges across the UK to collect more fees from learners, meaning some courses which were previously free are no longer so.
If you are aged over 18, then you may be eligible for funding to pay your fees and other course-related costs.
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Advanced Learner Loans are available to students aged 19 and over who are enrolling on eligible courses at Level 3 and above. These loans cover the cost of tuition so you will not have to pay all the tuition fees upfront.
It is easy to apply – loan eligibility does not depend on your income and there are no credit checks.
You are expected to start repaying your loan in the April after you have completed or left your course. However you’ll only start making repayments when you start earning more than £25,725 a year. Repayments will stop if your annual income falls below this.
If you apply for an Advanced Learner Loan to help with the costs of an Access to Higher Education course at Newham and then move on to and complete a Higher Education course, the outstanding balance owed on the loan gets written off.
You can find out more about Advanced Learner Loans, including eligibility and how to apply, at gov.uk/advanced-learner-loan.
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Students aged 19 and over can apply for a bursary if your household income is less than £30,000 a year or your family is in receipt of certain benefits. Bursaries cover a number of course-related expenses including:
- Books, equipment and uniform essential to complete your course
- Educational trips and visits as approved by the college
- Travel, if you live more than 3 miles away from the college and it is not covered by TFL’s 18+ Travelcard scheme
- Childcare expenses for the time you are in college if you use an Ofsted-registered childcare provider
- In exceptional circumstances, course and/or exam fees if you are on a funded qualification
- Any other course-related expenses as approved by the college
If you have successfully applied for an Advanced Learner Loan, you may also be eligible for the Advanced Learning Loan Bursary. This financial support is in addition to the loan amount received.
If you are studying a funded qualification, you may apply for the Discretionary Learner Support Bursary instead. Please note that you cannot make a claim on this bursary if you are undertaking courses that are eligible for an Advanced Learner Loan or a Higher Education course.
You can apply for either one of these bursaries via the dedicated bursary portal. You will need to upload evidence of your financial income to check your eligibility where applicable.
For more guidance about our bursaries:
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Established by Newham College in 2012, The Learning Revolution Trust supports disadvantaged students in east London by removing the financial and social barriers to education.
The Trust provides financial support to students who are facing exceptionally challenging personal circumstances and who are not eligible for other funds.
Please contact info@newham.ac.uk in the first instance. The admissions team will conduct an interview and analyse your welfare needs. This session will also explore options and opportunities for financial support and how to access these.
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Turn2us helps people in financial need gain access to welfare benefits, charitable grants and other financial help – online, by phone and face-to-face through partner organisations.
To find out if Turn2us can help you, speak to a member of staff at Admissions at either East Ham or Stratford, call on 020 8257 4000 or email info@newham.ac.uk.
You can find out more about Turn2us and how you can get support at turn2us.org.uk or call the helpline at 0808 802 2000.
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f you are 18 and over, you can get discounted travel on the 18+ Student Oyster photocard, including savings of 30% on adult-rate Travelcards and Bus & Tram Pass season tickets.
TOTUM (formerly NUS extra) is the #1 student discount card and app giving you access to huge offers on food and essentials, tech, streaming and home delivery. Plus fashion, beauty and a whole lot more.