If you’re aged between 16 and 18 and either a British
student, a refugee, or an asylum seeker in receipt of Asylum Seeker
Support (ASS), your tuition is free!
You might need to pay a small fee towards any materials you use
on your course, but the course itself won’t cost you anything.
As a student, you may be able to access a range of financial
benefits and discounts to help you out while you are at
College.
Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA)
What you get: an allowance of up to £30 a
week.
What you need: You need to be aged 16 – 18 and
from a low-income family. You will need to keep up to date with
your coursework, behave well and attend all your lessons (with
exception of authorised absences). If you are living independently
and receiving income support, you are entitled to EMA, please call
0800 121 8989 for more information.
Details: The allowance will be paid directly
into your bank account. If you stay on target for your goals which
will be set out by the College, you can also be eligible for
bonuses of £100. For more information and how to apply, go to
http://ema.direct.gov.uk/
Learner Support Fund (LSF)
What you get (permitting you meet the criteria
and funds are available): Financial help towards costs such as
travel, materials and field trips. This is especially suitable for
those who are not eligible for EMA (see above).
What you need: You need to be aged 16 or
over.
16 + Oyster Card
What you get: Travel at half the adult rate on the tube, the DLR
and trams, and free travel on buses.
What you need: You need to be 16 to 17 and live in a London
Borough.
Details: For more information, see this https://oyster.tfl.gov.uk/oyster/
Care to Learn
What you get: You may receive up to £175 a
week.
What you need: You need to be a parent aged
under 20. You can claim this benefit as long as the other parent is
not available to provide childcare (e.g. if they are working) and
they are not claiming Childcare Tax Credit.
Details: For more information, see the Direct
Gov website at: http://direct.gov.uk/
If you are a young parent, please keep in mind that the College
has two nurseries which provide places for students’ children aged
2-5. The nurseries are at the Centre for Business, Arts and
Technology on Camden Road (N7) and the Centre for Lifelong Learning
in Finsbury Park (N4).
Student Card
What you get: A wide range of discounts
in shops and leisure centres, including HMV, Topshop and Odeon
cinemas. Using your student card could save you hundreds of
pounds!
What you need: Buy it for £10 from the Student
Union.
Details: For more information, visit
http://www.nus.org.uk/en/NUS-Extra/