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 the Student Money Team to discuss your options further.
Pay My Student
We've introduced a new online payment system called PayMy Student, which will allow you to apply to the Student Learner Fund, access and track your payments, and make the whole process much easier.
Before you begin the application process, you first need to register your details with Pay My Student and set up an account. This will enable you to login in at a later date to either complete you application or check your payments.
Travel expenses
Funding is available if your household income from earnings, before tax is £35,000 or less, or you are in receipt of a means tested benefit:
Funded Stagecoach termly bus pass
An LSF funded Stagecoach termly bus pass is available to learners who:
- live 1.5+ miles from LMC and
- 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 theonline 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 termly bus pass
Discounted termly bus passes are available to buy from The Hex for ALL other LMC students. If you live in one of the areas served by the Free Bus Service, you will need to use this service.
We can also support your travel costs if you meet the household income or means tested benefit criteria and:
- are on a Traineeship or you are a part-time student on a course 30 hours or more in total and
- live 1.5+ miles from LMC or your placement
Breakfast and lunches
All learners are eligible for free breakfast of porridge, tea and toast between 8.30-9.15am in The Lounge.
Learners are eligible for a free lunch if:
- Their household income from earning, before tax is £35,000 or less or in receipt of a means-tested benefit
- They’re 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 learners’ bank. Contact the Student Money Team if you will be attending placement.
Additional course expenses
Funding is available for course expenses such as kit, uniform and kit relevant to your course:
- household income from earnings, before tax, is £35,000 or less or in receipt of a means-tested benefit
- course is 30 hours or more in total
Please check with the Student Money Team which items are approved for financial help. You'll receive a full refund on approved items purchased for your course and must submit receipts.
Refunds will be paid once you have been approved for funding and submitted receipts signed by your tutor.
Claims for refunds must be submitted before 31 July 2025.
16-18 Vulnerable Bursary
Learners will be assessed for the 16-18 Vulnerable Bursary if they are aged between 16–18 on 31 August 2024, and state their Student Status as one of the following categories:
- In care (classed as a child looked after by the local authority)
- Care leaver (classed as a care leaver by the local authority)
- In receipt of Universal Credit, financially supporting yourself, living independently or within a family unit and any dependent/s.
- In receipt of DLA/PIP and UC/ESA
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 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.
Learner Support Fund
A range of financial support from the Learner Support Fund is available to learners depending on their personal circumstances; for example, if your household income from earnings, before tax, is £35,000 or less or in receipt of a means-tested benefit, or you meet the criteria for the 16-18 Vulnerable Bursary. Please complete an online application form at the PayMyStudent portal in all cases.
For any HE courses, eg HNC, HND or Degree, please apply for support via Student Finance England
Apprentices qualify for help with travel costs only, *a separate application form is required.
Childcare
Parents under the age of 20 on 31 August 2024 should apply directly at Care to Learn.
Parents over the age of 20 on 31 August 2024 can apply for childcare support if:
- your household income from earnings, before tax, is £35,000 or less or in receipt of a means-tested benefits
- your course is 30 hours or more in total
Note: There is a sliding scale of support dependent on income level
Complete both the online LSF Application Form and Childcare Application Form on the PayMyStudent portal.
One Childcare Application Form is required for each childcare provider that you use.
Session rates or a maximum £6.00/hour (if your provider charges an hourly rate) will be paid during term-time only, for your timetabled days. The maximum weekly contribution is £180/child.
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 regarding the sliding scale of support dependent on income.
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 free or discounted bus passes, refunds for travel expenses, hardship funding, or the Apprenticeship Care Leavers' Bursary.
Course tuition fees - Advanced Learner Loan
Learners aged 19+ may be entitled to study for free depending on their individual circumstances; please call or email the Student Services Team to discuss this further.
You can apply for an Advanced Learner Loan to help with the costs of a course at College. Loan eligibility does not depend on your income and there are no credit checks.
You’ll have to start repaying your loan when your income is over a certain amount (the ‘threshold’ amount). You’ll be charged interest from the day you get the first payment.
Student Finance England will ‘write off’ any outstanding Advanced Learner Loan balances you owe for an Access to HE course once you complete a HE course which is eligible for Student Finance.
How much you get depends on:
- the type of course
- your course fees
- the maximum loan available for your course
The minimum loan you can get is £300 and is paid directly to College.
You do not have to borrow the full cost of your course - you can pay for some of it yourself.
Whether you qualify for an Advanced Learner Loan depends on your:
- age (you must be 19 or older on the first day of your course)
- course
- nationality or residency status
Contact Student Services at College to check which courses are eligible for the loan or email advice@lmc.ac.uk
If you have been advised that you need to take out the Advanced Learner Loan, to cover your course tuition fees, you will need to have a “Learning & Funding Information” letter from the College in order to complete the Advanced Learner Loan application.
The letter will be issued by Admissions from July onwards, once your College course application has reached either course offer or course accepted stage. If you do not receive a letter, contact Admissions.
