The Fair Access Fund 

Our Global Majority Access Support Fund is in place to ensure all support needs are met for students to transition successfully into higher education. Global Majority is a collective term coined by Rosemary Cambell-Stephens MBE, to refer to ‘people who are Black, Asian, Brown, dual-heritage, indigenous to the global south, or have been racialised as “ethnic minorities”’ (Campbell-Stephens 2020). These groups make up more than 80% of the world population.

This fund is for bespoke access support and can work in conjunction with the low-income household or care-experienced student’s bursary if eligibility is confirmed. Please note: the average access fund award is £200 to support with purchases of equipment, travel or access to therapeutic support on top of college provision and is a one-off payment. Although we cannot commit to amounts before the start of term, we expect the bursary amount to be within this region. Bursary schedules and amounts will be confirmed post-enrolment. Students will be required to detail what support they need in their application.

To be eligible for the care leaver/care experienced bursary, the student will need to have spent at least 13 weeks of the last 5 years in local authority care, prior to the start of their course. This could include living with foster parents, living at home with parents/guardians under the supervision of social services, living in a residential children’s home, or living in another residential setting like a school or secure unit. Evidence should detail the dates of the care experience, the local authority details, the person handling the case, and their contact information.

To be eligible as estranged from their parents/guardians, the student should have had no contact with their parents/guardians for at least 12 months before the start of their course and be unlikely to have a relationship with them again. Evidence can be provided via a maintenance loan application proving estrangement.

If you are eligible for a care leaver, care experienced or estranged student bursary, you will receive three payments across the academic years you study. Historically, these bursaries have been £1,500 across the academic year. Although we cannot commit to amounts before the start of term, we expect the bursary amount to be within this region. Bursary schedules and amounts will be confirmed post-enrolment.

To be eligible to access the Disabled Students Access Fund, students must have a declared disability and have applied or be in the process of applying (where eligible) for Disabled Student Allowance (DSA).  Evidence of diagnosis or application to the DSA is required to be uploaded on the application form. Student Services may advise on eligibility and the impact of the declared disability on financial need.

Please note the Disabled Students Access Fund can work in conjunction with the low-income household or care experienced student’s bursary if eligibility is confirmed.  Please note: the average access fund award is £200 to support with purchasing equipment, travel or access to therapeutic support on top of college provision and is a one-off payment. Although we cannot commit to amounts before the start of term, we expect the bursary amount to be within this region. Bursary schedules and amounts will be confirmed post-enrolment.

A mature student is 21 years old and above at the start of their course.

The Mature Students Access Fund can work in conjunction with the low-income household or care-experienced student’s bursary if eligibility is confirmed. Please note: the average access fund award is £200 to support with equipment, travel or access to alternative support on top of college provision and is a one-off payment. Although we cannot commit to amounts before the start of term, we expect the bursary amount to be within this region. Bursary schedules and amounts will be confirmed post-enrolment.