Financial Support

Vulnerable Bursary 

Young people in the defined vulnerable groups are eligible for a bursary of up to £1,200 a year, which equates to approximately £30 per week during term time.

The defined vulnerable groups are students who are: 

• In care 
• Care leavers 
• Receiving Income Support or Universal Credit (UC) because they are financially supporting themselves or financially supporting themselves and someone who is dependent on them and living with them such as a child or partner
• Receiving Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payments in their own right as well as Employment and Support Allowance or Universal Credit in their own right

Discretionary Bursary 

The fund is used to assist students who may be benefit from financial assistance to complete their course. Any such contributions will only be made towards costs incurred for attending College. (The 16-19 bursary does not provide childcare funding - please refer to the Care to Learn website for under-20 childcare funding.) The bursary fund is limited and allocations will be based on financial need.

Financial assistance will mainly be in the form of weekly credits on students’ ID cards for the purchase of meals and resources in College. Further assistance may be available for items such as; participation in trips and visits, UCAS application and the purchase of other resources required for College activities. Allocations will not be made until a student is enrolled and fully engages with their studies.

Free College Meals 

Eligibility for free meals is based on an assessment of household income. If you or your parents/carers are in receipt of one or more of the following benefits, you may be eligible for free meals:

• Income Support 
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance 
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) 
• Support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 
• The guaranteed element of State Pension Credit 
• Child Tax Credit (provided you are not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190, as assessed by His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs) 
• Working Tax Credit run-on - paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit 
• Universal Credit - if you apply on or after 1 April 2018 your household income must be less than £7,400 a year (after tax and not including any benefits you get)

Here is the link to our 2024/25 16-19 Bursary & Free Meals Application Form:

2024/25 16-19 Bursary & Free Meals Application Form

College Travel Subsidy

Rochdale Sixth Form College offer a discretionary subsidised travel scheme for students living outside of the Greater Manchester area.

For more information on the College Travel Subsidy, please contact: bursary@rochdalesfc.ac.uk

Our Pass

The bus pass that gives 16-18 year olds the freedom to travel, work and learn. It has been designed to support young people at a crucial point in their lives.

Our Pass is a bus pass for 16-18 year olds. For a one-off £10 administration fee, it unlocks free bus travel right across Greater Manchester – meaning that young people could unlock potential savings of over £500.

Create an account to order your card online at

Our Pass website

You can apply from 1 May and can use your card automatically from 1 September. You will need the following:

• An email address 
• A passport-style photo to upload, which will be printed on your card 
• Proof that you live in Greater Manchester 
• Proof of your date of birth 
• A valid payment card (for the £10 administration charge)

Our Pass is a UK first, and is in a pilot phase that started in September 2019.