Financial Support for Degree-level

Student Loans

We understand that some people are understandably worried about getting a loan. But a student loan is different from other forms of finance because, unlike other loans, it's what you earn that dictates what you repay, not what you've borrowed.

You only make repayments when you're earning £25K a year or more. Any less and your repayments stop automatically so if you lose your job, for example, you won't have to worry about meeting your student loan repayments even if you've been paying them for the previous five years.

It won't ever affect your credit rating or stop you accessing other forms of finance. In fact, it's more like an investment in your future earning potential where the dividends will always outstrip the amount you have to repay.

For an independent view on student finance, we recommend watching Martin Lewis's Student Loans Decoded featured below.

Tuition fee loan

Student loans are available to cover the full cost of your tuition fees. You don’t have to pay anything upfront[1] and there’s nothing to pay back until you’re qualified and earning at least £25,000 a year before tax[3].
 

Maintenance loan

If you’re studying a full-time course you can apply for a maintenance loan to help with living costs.

Maintenance loans depend on your household income:

• Under 25 and living with parents/guardians? You can get a maintenance loan up to £8,610.
• Over 25 or living away from home? You could get up to the maximum maintenance loan of £10,227.

Nothing to repay until you’re earning £25,000 a year

The great thing about both tuition fee and maintenance loans is that you don’t need to pay anything back until you’re earning at least £25,000 a year.

The table below gives you an idea of what your monthly repayments could be:

There are different repayment plans depending on when you started your degree course and whether it was at undergraduate or postgraduate level. If you are not sure which plan applies to you, or if you want to access further details about your repayments especially if you have more than one plan, you can find out more on GOV.UK.

Government Support

For parents

If you’re a parent studying a full-time degree-level course you could access the Parents’ Learning Allowance, worth up to £2,024 a year[1]. The allowance is dependent on your household income and usually paid in three instalments. There is also the Childcare Grant, which covers up to 85% of your childcare costs - up to £199.62 a week for 1 child and up to £342.24 a week for 2 or more children.
 

For those supporting an adult partner or relative

For full-time degree-level students who support an adult dependant, the Adult Dependants’ Grant could give you up to £3,545 additional funding each year[1]. An adult dependant is usually your husband, wife, partner or civil partner, but could also be a relative, such as a parent or grandparent. It cannot be an adult child.

If you’re under 25, the adult dependant cannot be your partner unless you’re married or in a civil partnership.
 

Members of the Armed Forces

If you’re a member of the Armed Forces you may be eligible to claim funding for your course through the MoD’s Enhanced Learning Credits Scheme (ELS).
 

If you have a disability

Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) is available for any student with a learning difficulty, health problem or disability. This is in addition to any other finance you claim. The amount you receive isn’t income based: it’s based on your individual needs and intended to cover any extra study-related costs you incur due to your health condition.

The allowance is worth up to £27,783 per year.

Fore more information, visit our dedicated Disabled Student's Allowance (DSA) page.

Council Tax discount

Depending on your individual circumstances you may also be exempted from paying Council Tax or entitled to a Council Tax discount of 25%. This could represent a saving of £398.70 (25% of Blackpool Council valuation band A of £1594.81) based on two adults living together, one of whom is a student. For more information and to check your eligibility, please visit gov.uk/council-tax.

Information about Bursaries, Scholarships & Awards from 2025/26 - 2028/29

Bursaries, scholarships and awards from September 2025 onwards are subject to confirmation by Office for Students.
 

B&FC’s Career & Skills Development Fund 2025/26 (worth £250)

This fund is designed to support you to develop your employability skills and pursue your career goals. This is a means-tested non repayable bursary that you can apply for a one-off payment to the value of £250 to support career enhancing opportunities during any year of your HE study. Eligibility will be assessed using your household income which must be less than £30,810 per year.
 

B&FC’s HE Equipment Fund 2025/26 (worth £300)

This fund is designed to help you on your initial set up for your HE course, by supporting you with the costs of equipment associated with your study e.g. PC/laptop, books, software, internet at home, etc. It is a means-tested non-repayable bursary of £300 awarded as one payment in your first term of higher education study (levels 4-6). Eligibility will be assessed using your household income which must be less than £30,810 per year.
 

B&FC’s HE Equipment Plus Fund 2025/26 (worth £200)

This fund is designed to help you with the continuing costs of equipment associated with your higher education study, e.g. stationery, books, software, internet at home, etc. It is a means-tested non-repayable bursary of £200, awarded during second and third year of HE study (levels 5-6). Eligibility will be assessed using your household income which must be less than £30,810 per year.
 

B&FC Cares Scholarship 2025/26 (worth up to £3000 over 3 years)

This non-repayable scholarship is open to all students, apprentices (apprentices under the age of 25 must apply for the government Apprenticeship Care Leaver Bursary) and sponsored students. If you are a care leaver, carer or estranged student (student or apprentice without the support of a family network) you may be eligible for this scholarship. You will be asked to provide evidence of your status in support of your B&FC Cares Scholarship application. If eligible, you could receive £1,000 for each year you study, for up to three years. If you are studying part-time this will be paid pro rata.
 

B&FC’s DSA Student Contribution Award 2025/26 (worth £200)

The Government’s Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA) is intended to help you pay for extra costs related to your disability, learning difference, mental health conditions and/or health conditions which may impact on your studies for the duration of your course. If your confirmation of funding letter indicates the purchase of a computer/laptop, you may apply for B&FC’s DSA Student Contribution Award, and you could receive a one-off £200 award to cover your contribution to the cost.
 

Educational Psychology Assessment Fund 2025/26 (worth £300+)

B&FC will fully fund the cost of your Educational Psychologist (EP) Assessment whilst studying higher education at B&FC. The resulting Educational Psychologist Report plays a crucial role in supporting students with disabilities by providing a comprehensive assessment of their strengths and challenges and can recommend strategies to support their learning in the HE environment. Eligibility will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
 

B&FC’s HE Support Fund 2025/26

Blackpool and The Fylde College offers discretionary financial support for students who are experiencing financial difficulty and are unable to meet basic or unexpected additional costs from other sources of support. The fund can also offer support to students who have experienced a change in financial circumstances due to unforeseen events. Each situation will be assessed on a case-by-case basis, and financial support is awarded based on a full review of an individual’s financial circumstances.
 

What's Next?

Within 3 working days you will receive a letter via your college email stating whether your application on Pay My Student has been successful and what financial support you are entitled to.

The time taken to process applications may be longer during busy periods.
 

Need advice about what to apply for?

Contact our friendly and professional HE Student Finance Team.

Call: 01253 504224 / 01253 504526
Email: hebursary@blackpool.ac.uk

In person - Please visit the reception at the campus of your study and you will be directed to the appropriate team.
 

Need Help with Pay My Student?

Visit our PayMyStudent page for web-based guides and 'How to' videos.

Don't hesitate to get in touch, one of our friendly advisers will be happy to help.

Call: 01253 504425
Email: financesupport@blackpool.ac.uk
 

If you need help in person:

During the enrolment period at Bispham Campus (August / September) please go to the Career Team helpdesk.

If you study at Bispham Campus or the University Centre, come and find the Finance Support Team in Reception.

Please note:

Funding is restricted, based on need and eligibility, and cannot be guaranteed. This information is updated regularly but we cannot guarantee that the detail will remain accurate, as Government policy often requires changes to how we operate.

Terms and Conditions can be viewed on our Higher Education - Terms and Conditions page.

Read our Higher Education Tuition Fee Policy 24-25 for more information.

International Students

EU/EEA Citizens

If you are an EU/EEA citizen you will need to bring evidence of your settled / pre-settled status with you to enrol.

At enrolment you can provide us with your share code or evidence of the outcome of your application for the EU Settlement Scheme.

Non EU/EAA Citizens

You will need to bring your passport and current visa with you when you enrol.

Full details of fees and payment information for international students can be found in our International Student Fees Policy 2024-25.
 

Other Support

FREE breakfast

As a B&FC student, you’re entitled to a FREE healthy breakfast every morning while you’re at College.
 

Supplement your income

A part-time job could help you to supplement your income. Once you’ve enrolled you can check local vacancies via our online Job Shop.

We’re happy to advise you about how to find a suitable position, whether that’s to help make ends meet during your studies or when you’re graduating and ready to start or move forward in your career.

Disclaimer: Tuition fees may be subject to increases in subsequent years of your course.

[1] Eligibility applies – visit GOV.UK for more information.
[2] Please note: our course fees are subject to changes in government information and we reserve the right to update our fees accordingly.
[3] Applies to English and Welsh students only - for full terms and conditions about repaying your student loan, visit GOV.UK.

Contact Us

If you have any questions or concerns regarding your financial support application, please get in touch. Our friendly advisers are here to help.

Please visit the reception at the campus of your study and you will be directed to the appropriate team, otherwise contact us by:

Call: 01253 504425
Email: financesupport@blackpool.ac.uk

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