Financial Support
Based in The Hex, our Student Money Advisers will help you identify and access any support that may be available, whilst you're studying at College. You may be entitled to additional financial support for lunches, a Stagecoach bus pass, help towards educational trips, course materials, uniforms and childcare expenses, depending on your individual circumstances.
Find out more below, and don't hesitate to contact us to discuss your options further.
Learner Support Fund
A range of financial support from the Learner Support Fund is available to learners depending on your personal circumstances. You may be eligible for support if:
- You are studying a full-time course and/or substantial part-time course (30 hours or more).
- Your total household income is less than £38,000 or £45,000 for travel only, (combined earnings from employment and means-tested benefits like Universal Credits).
We encourage you to apply as soon as possible as funds are allocated on a first-come, first served basis and is subject to available funds, terms, conditions and eligibility.
For more information please visit our:
Frequently Asked Questions page.
Apprentices
For apprentices, you may be entitled to funding to support you during your apprenticeship. This could include help with your travel expense or if in financial difficulties due to being made redundant or lost their job. Learn more about Apprenticeship Funding
HE Students
For any Higher Education (HE) courses like HNC, HND, or Degree, please go to studentfinance.campaign.gov.uk to explore the funding options available.
LMC Pay My Student Portal
To apply for financial support from the Learner Support Fund, please complete an online application through the LMC Pay My Student . If you are a new student coming in to College in September, you need to register an account on the LMC Pay My Student before you can complete an online financial support application.
See how it’s done – watch our instructional video below:
What can the Learner Support Fund can help you with?
Bursary Eligibility Overview:
- £0 – £38k: Meals, equipment, trips, UCAS, childcare (conditions apply), and travel support.
- £38k – £45k: Travel support.
Please Note: All bursary applications are subject to individual assessment and available funding. Receipt of an application does not guarantee funding, and final awards are determined based on your specific circumstances. Please be advised that the bursary is intended to support your studies and cannot be used to pay for household costs or personal bills. Where applicable, all support is provided in-kind (e.g., direct payments to transport providers or canteen credits).
To process your application without delay, please have the relevant documentation ready to upload based on your income source:
- Universal Credit: Statements for the last 3 months. (Sign in here)
- Employed (no UC): Payslips for the last 3 months or your latest P60.
- Self-Employed (no UC): Latest SA302 tax assessment, accountant's statement, or 3 months' bank statements.
- Pension, PIP, DLA, ESA, JSA: Official proof of benefit/award letter or 3 months' bank statements.
- Asylum Seeker: ARC card and Home Office proof of status.
Important Notes:
- Universal Credit & Household Income: Universal Credit is a total household assessment. All household income must be declared to the DWP and will appear on your statement. As your statement provides a full picture of your household's financial situation, no further evidence of employment or self-employment is required.
- Automatic Benefits: Students aged 18 or under who live in households in receipt of Universal Credit are automatically entitled to free meals and work placement meals via the free school meal fund, regardless of income bracket.
- Travel Support: If you are in the £0–£45k bracket, you are eligible for a free bus pass (if on a Further Education course 3+ days/week, living 1.5 miles+ from college, and not on a free bus route) or bus ticket refunds (if attending less than 2 days/week).
- Automatic Travel: If you live in Galgate or further south, you are automatically entitled to a bus pass, regardless of your income.
- Appeals: If you believe your individual circumstances (such as additional care responsibilities or essential disability-related costs) warrant a review of your bracket placement, please contact the team to discuss an appeal.
Travel
Funded Stagecoach Annual Bus Pass
Available to learners who meet the financial criteria and:
- live 1.5+ miles from LMC and not in areas served by the Free Bus Service
- study a Full Time course at LMC
If you live in Galgate or further south and you’re on a Full Time course, you can apply for a free Stagecoach termly bus pass by completing an online LSF application form at the PayMyStudent portal. You won’t need to provide evidence of income or benefits if you’re applying for a bus pass only.
Discounted Annual Bus Pass
Discounted annual bus passes are available to buy from The Hex for ALL other LMC students.
Free College Bus Service
If you live in one of the areas served by the Free Bus Service, you will need to use this service.
Travel Expenses
We can also support your travel costs if you meet the financial criteria and:
- are a part-time student on a course 30 hours or more in total and
- live 1.5+ miles from LMC or your placement
Meals
Breakfast
- All learners are eligible for free breakfast of porridge, tea and toast between 8.30-8:55am in The Lounge.
Lunch
- Available to learners who meet the financial criteria or were in receipt of Free School Meals whilst in Secondary School.
- And studying a full time course
Free lunch can be accessed for each day the learner is timetabled to attend college.
Supported Internships & Lancaster Training Services (LTS – Offsite) and students on placement.
Lunch credit will be paid directly into the learner’s bank a week after they attended they class or placement. Contact the Student Money Team for more information.
Additional course expenses
Help with additional course expenses such as kit, uniform and essential trips are available to learners who meet the financial criteria AND are studying a Full Time course, or Part Time course that is 30 hours in total.
Please check with the Student Money Team which items are approved for financial help.
Childcare
Are you under 20 years old?
- Parents under the age of 20 on 31 August 2025 should complete an online application through Pay My Student.
Are you over 20 years old?
- Parents over the age of 20 on 31 August 2025 who meet the financial criteria and are on a course that is 30 hours or more in total can complete an online application for childcare support through Pay My Student.
One Childcare Application Form is required for each childcare provider that you use.
Your Ofsted registered childcare provider must accept the free 15 & 30-hour funding for 2 & 3-year olds. If your child qualifies for the free 15 hours, these must be used for the childcare required whilst attending college.
College will contribute towards the outstanding hours/sessions.
If you receive the childcare element of tax credits/Universal Credit, we are unable to fund your childcare.
Please speak to the Student Money Team If you need more information or guidance.
16-18 Vulnerable Bursary
Learners who are aged 16-18 years old on 31 August are entitled to Vulnerable Bursary if they are from the following categories:
- In care (classed as a child looked after by the local authority, including Unaccompanied Asylum Seekers)
- Care leaver (classed as Recently Left Local Authority Care)
- In receipt of Universal Credit or Income Support under their own name as they are financially supporting themselves
- In receipt of Employment Support Allowance or Universal Credit AND Disability Living Allowance/Personal Independence Payment
The 16-18 Vulnerable Bursary is funding up to a maximum of £1,200, available to help pay for College-related costs such as; kit, uniform, travel, lunches and essential trips. You'll be assessed on an individual needs basis during a meeting with a member of the Student Money Team.
Complete the online application form at the PayMyStudent portal.
Course tuition fees - Advanced Learner Loan
Learners aged 19+ may be entitled to study for free depending on their individual circumstances; please contact Student Services on 01524 521385 or email advice@lmc.ac.uk
Where funding is not available for specific Level 3 courses and where eligible, Adult learners can apply for an Advanced Learner Loan to help with your course tuition fees. Loan eligibility does not depend on your income and there are no credit checks. You will not have to pay anything back until you are earning over £25,000.
For more information, please refer to the Student Finance England page.
How do I apply?
If you receive a Learning & Funding Information letter from Admissions, you will need to take out an Advanced Learner Loan (ALL) to cover your course tuition fees. This letter contains details about your course that you will need when you fill out the ALL application form at Login to Student Finance England. If you did not receive a Learning & Funding Information letter from Admission, please contact them at 01524 521363 or email admissions@lmc.ac.uk
After submitting your ALL application, you’ll get a letter from Student Finance England confirming your loan – usually within 2 weeks.
You can also apply by post if you cannot apply online. Please refer to Advanced Learner Loan: How to apply - GOV.UK on how to apply by post.
Local charitable trusts provide financial lifeline for young students
Thanks to generous grants provided by the Banks Lyon Memorial Trust and the George Fox School Educational Charity, LMC students (16-25) can also apply for one-off payments towards essential educational costs, such as trips, PPE and kits. Contact the Student Money team for more information.
Support for Apprentices
As an apprentice at Lancaster & Morecambe College, you may be entitled to funding to support you during your Apprenticeship. This could include refunds for travel expenses, hardship funding, or the Apprenticeship Care Leavers' Bursary.
