Vulnerable student bursary
A bursary of up to £1,200 a year is available to students in defined vulnerable groups: those in care; care leavers; those receiving Income Support or Universal Credit because they are financially supporting themselves (or themselves and a dependant living with them); and those receiving Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payment together with Employment and Support Allowance or Universal Credit, all in their own right (16 to 19 Bursary Fund guide 2026 to 2027, section 4).
It is not automatic. You must assess each student's actual participation costs and claim only what they need, up to £1,200 for a programme of 30 weeks or more, where the student has costs to that amount. A student in a vulnerable group who has no financial need does not need a bursary, and there is no guarantee of funding (sections 4, 4.6 and 7). Students aged 19 or over are not eligible for this defined bursary (section 3.1).
Claim windows for the vulnerable group bursary, 2026 to 2027
Most institutions claim the vulnerable group bursary through DfE Sign-in in one of three windows. Maintained special schools (including community and foundation special schools) do not claim directly: their local authority submits the claim for them. Local authorities also claim for eligible students they have placed in independent provision; the independent institution assesses eligibility and need and sends the local authority the evidence, and DfE pays the local authority (sections 9.1 and 9.4). DfE revised the window dates on 4 August 2026 and says they are indicative and may change, with further communications before each window. Claims that miss a window's closing date must wait for the next window; claims that miss the third window are not accepted (section 9).
- First window: 7 September to 11 November 2026, paid in February 2027 (March for academies). DfE expects most claims in this window.
- Second window: 4 January to 10 February 2027, paid in April 2027 (May for academies).
- Third and final window: 17 May to 30 June 2027, for late claims, paid in September 2027 (October for academies).
- Before claiming, you must have seen and verified evidence that the student is in a defined vulnerable group and has an actual financial need. Payment depends on your signed DfE funding contract.
Discretionary bursary & free meals
Providers award discretionary bursaries to help with the costs of participation, using local eligibility criteria within DfE rules (16 to 19 Bursary Fund guide 2026 to 2027, section 5).
From the start of the 2026 to 2027 academic year, all students from households receiving Universal Credit are entitled to a free meal in further education. Students also qualify if they, or their parents, receive support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999. Households receiving income-related Employment and Support Allowance or the guarantee element of Pension Credit may also qualify. The student, or a responsible adult, must apply to the institution where they are enrolled (Free meals in further education funded institutions guide: 2026 to 2027 academic year).
Who can get a bursary: age and type of programme
For 2026 to 2027, a student must be aged 16 or over but under 19 on 31 August 2026 for either bursary. A student aged 19 or over can get only the discretionary bursary, and only if they have an EHC plan or are continuing the same study programme they started aged 16 to 18 (16 to 19 Bursary Fund guide 2026 to 2027, section 3.1).
Apprentices, and anyone in other waged training, are employed rather than in education, so they cannot get help from the 16 to 19 Bursary Fund. Students under 19 on higher education qualifications are not eligible either (sections 3.1 and 3.2).
Indicative summary only. Always confirm against the official source documents before making funding or compliance decisions.
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