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If you鈥檙e aged 19 or over, on a further education course and facing financial hardship, you could get Learner Support.

Learner Support can help pay for things you need to attend your course or study that are not covered by your course fees.

The money could help with, for example:

• travel costs
• accommodation
• materials and equipment
• a laptop and wifi
• childcare with an Ofsted-registered childcare provider

You apply to your learning provider (for example your college) for Learner Support. How much you get depends on your circumstances.

Your learning provider decides how much you get and how it鈥檚 paid to you. It depends on their scheme and your circumstances.

The money could be:

• a loan
• a grant you do not have to pay back
• paid to someone else, for example an Ofsted-registered childcare provider

Contact your learning provider to check if they offer Learner Support and if you鈥檙e eligible for it.

To get Learner Support you must be:

• 19 or over (you must be 20 or over to get funding for childcare costs)
• studying for a qualification at level 3 or below
• in financial hardship - your learning provider might ask for proof that you鈥檙e on a low income

If you鈥檙e 19 and want help with childcare costs, you can apply for Care to Learn instead. You can still apply for Learner Support for help with other costs, like travel.

Eligibility for other types of funding

You can apply for Learner Support even if you get some other types of funding, for example:

• Care to Learn
• Disability Living Allowance

Who cannot apply

You cannot get Learner Support if:

• you鈥檙e getting student finance for higher education
• you鈥檙e on a Community Learning course
• the same costs are already covered by the Advanced Learner Loan Bursary Fund

You can get both the Advanced Learner Loan Bursary Fund and Learner Support if the money is used for different costs.

Apply directly to your learning provider (for example, a college) - they each have their own application process.

Speak to your student support services to:

• get help applying
• find out what鈥檚 available

Appeal a decision

If you鈥檙e not happy with the decision about your Learner Support, contact your learning provider to appeal it.