We aim to ensure that your time at college is as worry-free as possible. This includes financial help and support, whether you're aged 16-19 or an adult learner, your finances should not prevent you from accessing education.
For further information please see our fees policies under 'Fees and Financial Support Policies'.
pdf Click here to read the Student Financial Support Policy (305 KB) .
Financial Support
There is a range of financial support available depending on your level of study and circumstances. For more information or advice, please contact the Bursary team by emailing
At Richmond upon Thames College (RuTC), we can assist in making your study easy and affordable.
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16 - 19 Bursary
All students aged 16-19 (18 years old as of 31 August in the year that your course starts) whose parents are on specific benefits or low household income, can apply for a College bursary to help with the cost of travel and essential course costs. This is subject to high attendance, punctuality and commitment to your studies. You can apply for this during enrolment. You will need a bank account as the money is paid directly into this each week.
There are also bursaries available for 16-19 year old vulnerable learners who are:
• in care
• a care leaver
• living independently on income support
• severely disabled and getting both ESA and DLA. -
Support payments 19+ (adults)
All students aged 19 or over, who are finding it hard to pay the costs of studying at college may be able to access financial support through our Bursary team. For more information please contact Bursary on 020 8607 8000 or emailing
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Disabled Students’ Allowances (DSAs)
The DSA helps to pay for any extra costs or expenses that students incur if attending a Higher Education course e.g. disability or long-term health problem; mental health condition or specific learning difficulty. Please refer to the Higher Education page for further information.
Note: this allowance is only for students who are attending a Higher Education course.
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Childcare
If you are a parent aged under 20 years old at the start of your course Care to Learn (C2L) can help pay for your childcare while you’re learning. Applications should be made direct to Care to Learn. More information is available at www.direct.gov.uk/caretolearn or through the helpline on 0800 121 8989.
The College has limited funds available to provide childcare for students over 20 years old. The childcare provider must be Ofsted registered as informal childcare cannot be funded. For more information please contact Bursary on 020 8607 8000 or email
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Advanced Learner Loans
The government introduced student loans for learners aged 19 and over who are studying on eligible study programmes at Level 3 and above. Advanced Learner Loans cover the cost of tuition, so you don’t have to pay upfront. If you are studying for your first level 3 course you may not have to pay tuition fees.
How much you can get depends on the type of course you are studying, the course fees and the maximum loan available for the course. The minimum loan you can get is £300 and it's paid directly to the college or training provider. You don't have to take out a loan for the full amount of the course, as you can pay for some of it yourself.
Advanced Learner Loans are available from the Student Loans Company, like other student loans. It’s easy to apply, household income isn’t taken into account and there is no credit check, plus you won’t have to pay anything back until your income is over £27,295 a year. If you are using the Advanced Learner Loan to pay for an Access to HE course, once you have successfully completed your HE course, the Student Loans Company will write off the amount outstanding on the loan.
Find out more from the government website please here.
The College also has an Advanced Learner Loans Bursary Fund, a scheme to help support students who are eligible for an Advanced Learner Loan and need additional financial support.
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Free College Meals
You may be eligible for a free meal on the days you attend college if you are 16-19 years old (18 as at 31st August in the year that your course starts) and supported by someone receiving one of the following benefits:
• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• The guarantee element of State Pension Credit
• Child Tax Credit (provided they are not entitled to Working Tax Credit) and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190, as assessed by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs
• Working Tax Credit run-on – paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
• Universal Credit with net earnings of no more than £7,400 p/a. -
Free Bus Travel
Students on full-time courses, aged 16 to 18 as at 31st August (in the year that your course starts), who live in a London borough can apply for a 16+ Oyster photocard giving them free travel on buses, and discount travel on the Tube and DLR. Applications should be made online at the TFL website.
Full-time students aged over 18 can apply for an 18+ Student photocard providing 30% discount on travelcards and bus season tickets.For more information on Oyster cards and discounts visit: www.tfl.gov.uk/tickets
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Important Information
- All payments are dependent on available funds
- Your application will not be assessed without the required evidence
- We cannot be responsible for original documents
- Evidence must be provided by applicant together with their application
- Incomplete applications will not be processed
- Students must adhere to the college requirements for attendance and behaviour.
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Equal Opportunities
Richmond upon Thames College is an equal opportunities college. We encourage applications from any person irrespective of disability, gender, personal status, ethnic origin, religious belief, sexual orientation or age. Copies of the College's Equality and Diversity, Disability and Harassment policies are available from the Careers Team, Student Support and the college's Human Resources department.
Fees
At RuTC we can assist in making your study easy and affordable. You may be eligible for other financial support, depending on your circumstances. Our Bursary team can help with any queries you may have. You can contact them by calling 020 8607 8000 or emailing
More information is available here on the government website.
Please note: We no longer accept cash payments for fees and other charges.
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16 - 18
Tuition is free on full-time courses up to and including Level 3 vocational and A-Level programmes.
Some courses may have small costs for materials and kits.
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19+
Some of our courses are free to adults who are:
- Earning less than £21,500 per year
- Unemployed
- Need to learn English as a Second Language
- Aged 19-23 and taking their first Level 3 course
- Studying English or maths at or below Level 2 (GCSE)
- Learning basic computing.
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Advanced Learner Loans
Advanced Learner Loans are available for further education courses at Level 3 or higher education (including HNDs and HNCs).
More information is available here on the government website.
Disclaimer: Richmond upon Thames College issues this information as a general guide to its policies and facilities and reserves the right to modify or alter, without prior notice, any of the contents herein or otherwise advertised. The college reserves the right to discontinue courses at any time as a result of low student numbers or other circumstances beyond its control.