University-level – Financial support available

Bursay funding

Barnsley College offer the Student Opportunity Fund Bursary to Students while studying at a Higher Educational level. Limited funding is available for Students per semester to support with educational resources while studying which may otherwise be a financial burden on essential cost of living bills. 

Eligibility
Students that live in a household with a gross income of £42,000 per year or Students that have entered Higher Education from a care status. Students whom require additional learning support costs will also be considered. 

How to apply
Once enrolled onto a course, Students can apply for the bursary via PaymyStudent

Students are asked to supply proof of household income based answers completed in the application process.

*Please be aware household income relates to any partner or parents in the household as well as yourself. We are unfortunately unable to accept student income solely. 

Next Steps/Important timelines of application process

Financial hardship

At Barnsley College University Centre, we have a Student Opportunity Fund which offers financial support to students who find themselves in genuine, unavoidable financial difficulty and need support with exceptional costs.

Each case for financial hardship support is different depending on individual circumstances. In the past, the fund has supported students who have experienced sudden financial difficulty with situations such as, rent arrears, priority debts, sudden loss of income, amongst other financial situations.

If you feel you may require this support and would like further information, you can email hestudentsupport@barnsley.ac.uk or visit Student Services who are located in room AG03 on the ground floor of the Old Mill Lane campus.

You will need to complete an online application form via the Pay My Student platform. Once submitted, along with the required evidence (see below) to prove financial hardship, an assessment will be made by a panel of staff to ensure a fair assessment and decision.

If an award is made from this fund, then students do not have to pay this back. Please be aware that the assessment process can take up to 10 working days.

For further information please contact us via email: hestudentsupport@barnsley.ac.uk

To make an application please visit Barnsley College Student Portal. For support on your application, you can use the How to apply for financial support application guide and video demonstration, which will take you through how to register and making an application. 

Evidence of financial hardship

You must provide evidence of financial hardship via the provision of:

1. Bank statements (from the last three months for all of the accounts you hold)
2. Priority debt letters
3. Any other information deemed relevant to the request may be asked for to enable a full assessment

“Oh my word. Thank you so much! This is amazing and relieves a great deal of worry. Again, thanks very much and please pass this on to the decision making team.”

Feedback from a university-level student who received a contribution towards their rental arrears.

“Thank you so much for your email. I am forever grateful for your help. This will massively help me!!!”

Feedback from a university-level student who received a contribution towards priority debts and a supermarket voucher to purchase food and essentials.

“Many thanks. It’s made a huge difference for me having to support myself and my family.”

Feedback from a university-level student who received a one-off bursary from the fund to help towards study programme essentials.