16–19 Bursary Fund: 2025-26

What the 16-19 student bursary is for

The 16-19 Financial Support (Bursary) Fund provides financial support to help students overcome specific financial barriers to participation they face so they can remain in education.

To be able to apply for the 16-19 Bursary (2025-26), students must be aged between 16 and 19 as of 31st August 2025.

Students over the age of 19 who are eligible for the discretionary bursary, however, can still receive funding under any of the following circumstances:

• they have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP)
• they are continuing a study programme they began aged 16-18 at St Mary’s College.

There are two types of support available:

Discretionary Bursary

The Discretionary bursary may be awarded at the discretion of St Mary’s College Sixth Form to students to help with any of the following, subject to them meeting the eligibility criteria:

• Travel costs
• Basic stationery, such as pens, pencils, paper, files and folders.
• Essential books, equipment or specialist clothing required as essential for a study programme
• Field trips and other visits required as part a course
• Attending university open days or university-based academic experiences such as summer schools
• Attending interviews
• Supporting work/industry placements
• Other course-related costs

For students to qualify for Discretionary Bursary funding, they must demonstrate that their household income falls below the threshold of £36,000 per annum.

Students who are in receipt of Free School Meals within the academic year of their bursary application are automatically eligible to request funding from the Discretionary Bursary. To apply for Free School Meals, parents should go through the Hull City Council website portal. If eligible, the council will notify the school and this will be logged on the student’s school record.

Vulnerable Student Bursary

Students who are within a defined vulnerable group and who have financial need can apply for this bursary. St Mary’s Sixth Form College will carry out an assessment of actual need, and awards may be made up to a maximum of £1,200 per year to any one student.

For students to qualify for Vulnerable Bursary funding, they should meet any one of the following criteria:

• Be in Local Authority care/or a care leaver*, including unaccompanied children seeking refuge/asylum.
• Be personally in receipt of Personal Independence Payments (PIP) or Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
• Be personally in receipt of Universal Credit (UC) or Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) due to living alone
• Students who are aged 19-25 continuing a study programme they began aged 16-18 at St Mary’s Sixth Form College, or who have an EHCP, and still in receipt of legacy benefits (including Income Support)

A full copy of our 16-19 Student Financial Support (Bursary) Policy (2024-25) is available upon request.

Click below for copies of the claim forms:

Bursary Fund Application Form SM6 2024-25

Exceptional Funding Claim form