Financial support is available to students aged 19 or over (as of 31st August in the year you start your course) studying at NKC Dartford College.
Our financial support is designed to help students from lower-income households with the costs of attending college. Please note that all bursary schemes are subject to Government funding levels, are awarded on a first come, first served basis, and may be withdrawn at any time.
What is the 19+ Bursary Fund?
NKC Dartford College offers a range of bursary schemes to support eligible students with course-related and travel costs.
Bursary awards are tailored to each individual student and depend on:
- Your course
- Your home location
- The number of days you attend college
The bursary is intended as a contribution only and may not cover all costs.
Support may include:
- Essential course-related trips (UK-based)
- Books, equipment, or uniform required for your course
- Travel costs (depending on distance and timetable)
- Childcare costs (for students aged 20+, see below)
- Registration fees (for Advanced Learner Loan applicants only)
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Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for the 19+ Bursary Fund, you must:
- Be enrolled on a full-time, Government-funded course at NKC Dartford College
- Have a household income below £28,000 (please refer to the full bursary policy for details)
Students who are not eligible for Government funding for their course are not eligible to apply, with the exception of those taking out an Advanced Learner Loan for a full Level 3 course.
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How to Apply
To apply for the 19+ Bursary:
- Read the full bursary policy
- Complete the online bursary application form here
- Provide full evidence of household income
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Required Evidence
- You must provide documentation dated within the last 3 months, such as:
- P60 or last 3 payslips (employment income)
- P45 or updated contract (if circumstances have changed)
- Self-employment accounts (gross/net profit)
- Benefit award notices
- Universal Credit statements (full 3 months)
- Council Tax or Housing Benefit documentation
If you have no income, you will need to complete a Declaration of Earnings Form that the Student Bursary team will provide.
All documents must include all pages and be submitted as a PDF or provided to the college for scanning. Applications will not be processed without full evidence.
Please note: All evidence must be dated within the last 3 months, and all pages of any award notice must be provided.
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When do I apply?
Please apply by 1st June for continuing NKC Dartford College students and 1st August for new students. Late applications will still be assessed but any fees due at enrolment will need to be paid, and if a bursary award is made after enrolment, then a refund may be made towards the fees paid which are covered by the bursary.
Appeals
If you are not satisfied with the outcome of your bursary application, you have the right to request a review. We aim to ensure all applications are assessed fairly and transparently.
Once you have applied for a bursary, if you receive notification that an award cannot be made and you wish to appeal this decision, then an appeal must be made in writing to the Student Bursary Coordinator, within 2 weeks, we will review your application and make a decision. If you are unhappy with the outcome of your appeal, you should follow the college’s complaints procedure here.
Help with Travel Expenses
Students who live 1.5 or more miles away from the College may be eligible for funding to contribute to travel costs while they are at college.
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Am I eligible?
Depending on where you live and how you are travelling to college, you may receive a monthly travel allowance.
A travel payment may be awarded to students depending on where they live and the number of timetabled days. Funding is at the discretion of the College and will take into account the discounts available to students and if the student already has support in place from the local authority. It will only be a contribution to assist with travel and may mean the student is awarded funding for monthly ticket options for example. The contribution will not exceed the cheapest option for travel to the College. Awards for travel will be paid directly into the student’s bank account via a BACS payment, in monthly instalments in arrears.
All travel payments are subject to the student’s attendance being 90% or over in all subjects. Attendance below 90% will incur a reduction to the travel for the month the student has not travelled in.
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Getting to College
If you need guidance on how to get to NKC Dartford College visit our getting to college page.
What Childcare Support is Available?
The cost of childcare does not need to be a barrier to your learning. Through Government-run schemes, support is available.
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Eligibility
Available to 19+ students who have been approved for an Advanced Learner Loan only.
Students who are aged 20 or over as of 31st August may be awarded assistance with childcare costs for the time they are at college (term-time and timetabled days).
Your childcare provider must be Ofsted registered with an Ofsted rating of grade 3/good or above. Childcare costs may be provided for one pre-school child only (depending on available funds). Payment for childcare will be made directly to your childcare provider and both the student, and the childcare provider will be required to sign a Childcare Agreement with the College.
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How To Apply
Applications should be submitted with essential documentary evidence:
- A completed Financial Support Application form with all required documentary evidence of household income
- Birth Certificate or Passport or Adoption papers for relevant children
Completed Agreement signed by childcare provider and student
NKC Dartford college has an onsite nursery that accept the children of students with either 19+ Bursary or Care to Learn funding, as well as non-funded students (depending on spaces available and the child's age).
What is the Advanced Learner Loan?
The Advanced Learner Loan is a Government-funded loan to help those learners pay for the cost of studying A-Levels, an Access to Higher Education Diploma, or any general and vocational and technical qualifications at Level 3 to 6 (excluding any higher education programme).
If you're aged 19 or over and thinking about further education, you may qualify for an Advanced Learner Loan.
More information on this is available on the Government website.
For the full details of the 19+ bursary policies, click here.
Need support?
If you have any questions or need further assistance, please contact the Student Bursary Team at:
Email:
Or call the college reception at 01322 629400 and ask to speak to the Student Bursary Team