Financial Support for Adult Learners | Blackpool and The Fylde College
Source: http://www.blackpool.ac.uk/financial-support-adults
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:10
Financial Support for Adult Learners | Blackpool and The Fylde College
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Financial Support for Adult Learners
Studying towards your dream career has never been more affordable.
Discover our Support
Upskill and Reskill your Career with Financial Support
Whilst there's plenty of financial support out there, we can help you access it. We're here if you need support filling in forms or to check you're getting everything you're entitled to.
A range of financial support is available from B&FC depending on your personal circumstances. This page has information on the following:
Financial support services provided by B&FC
Additional support for travel, meals, and childcare
Special assistance for unique financial challenges
Application process for financial assistance
Advanced Learner Loan details and benefits
Information for international students and funding eligibility
If your household earnings, before tax, is £35,000 or less, or you are in receipt of a means-tested benefit, you may be eligible for support. The types of support funds available are described below.
You must attend 90% of your course to maintain eligibility for your funding.
Most courses are FREE or have no upfront fees
FREE Healthy Breakfast
FREE or Discounted Blackpool Travel Pass
Help with Childcare Costs
Discounted Council Tax
Advanced Learner Loan
Financial Help to Support Your Studies
Travel
A free Blackpool Transport Bus / Tram pass is available to those living 1.5 miles away from their main campus of study.
If you live outside the Blackpool Transport area, you can apply for a travel bursary.
FREE Lunch
Students can access a free lunch eVoucher for each day you are timetabled to attend college.
This can be exchanged at college's internal food outlets when you are on campus.
If you are on a work placement, you can use your lunch eVoucher at any of the following stores - Sainsburys, Asda, Morrisons, Tesco, M&S Food, Waitrose, Aldi, and Farmfoods.
Equipment Provided
You can borrow a laptop free of charge from Bispham, UC and Fleetwood LRCs using the self service - iLockerz. They are one day loans whilst you are on campus only.
Many PCs are available at all campuses for student use.
About our Learning Resource Centres
Advanced Learner Loan Support Fund
If you have qualified to receive an Advanced Learner Loan, we can also provide additional funding under certain circumstances. You will need to have an approved loan before you can apply for Advanced Learner Loan financial support.
What is an Advanced Learner Loan?
Childcare
If you are a parent aged
20 or over
on 31 August 2025, please answer the relevant questions on the Pay My Student Portal.
The maximum weekly contribution is £180 per child, for term time, this applied to timetabled sessions only.
You must use an Ofsted registered childcare provider that accepts the free 15 and 30 hours funding for 2, 3 and 4 year olds. If your child qualifies for the free 15 hours these must be used for the childcare required when attending college.
B&FC will contribute towards the outstanding hours.
Childcare costs can only be paid from the start of the half term in which your application is approved.
Please note: If you are in receipt of the childcare elements of tax credits / universal credit, we are unable to fund your childcare.
Removing Barriers
If you are aged 19+, and require financial, or other support, to remove barriers associated with course related costs and expenses, we can provide help on a case-by-case basis.
You may need to attend a meeting with an Adviser to discuss your individual financial needs and you are welcome to bring someone with you.
Hardship Fund
In exceptional circumstances, B&FC can access funding for students who find themselves facing financial hardship. Each situation is considered on a case-by-case basis. Please speak to an Adviser to find out more.
Please note: You cannot currently apply for this fund using PayMyStudent.
How to Apply for Financial Support
Before you start your application using the PayMyStudent Portal:
Enrol for your course at B&FC
Ensure that you can access your college email
Have your Bank Account details ready
Register on Pay My Student (You may have to wait 24 hours after enrolment, so your email is recognised by the system)
Complete the relevant sections of the online form
Upload your evidence
Review your application - have you completed all the sections?
Sign the declaration
Click Submit
Within 3 working days you will receive a letter via your college email stating whether your application on PayMyStudent has been successful and what financial support you are entitled to.
The time taken to process applications may be longer during busy periods.
Need Help with PayMyStudent?
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 504177
Option 1
Email:
financesupport@blackpool.ac.uk
Please note: You will be unable to apply for a bursary via PayMyStudent until 24 hours after you have enrolled onto a course.
Visit PayMyStudent
If you need help in person:
During the enrolment period at Bispham Campus (August / September) please go to the Finance Support glass pod in reception.
If you study at Bispham Campus or the University Centre, come and find the Finance Support Team in Reception.
If you study at Seasiders Learning Centre, please speak to your Student Support Officer.
If you study at Bickerstaffe House or Gateway Campus, please visit reception and you will be directed to the appropriate team.
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.
Read our
Financial Support Appeals Policy and Procedure (FE Student and Apprentice) 2025-26
for more information.
My bus pass and laptop have been a great help. The Careers and Finance Team fully supported me, I just had to bring some bank details in with evidence of my earnings. Talk to them - they'll do everything they can to get what you what you need."
-
Darren, Professional Cookery
Advanced Learner Loan
If you are aged 19 and studying at Level 3, you can apply for an Advanced Learner Loan.
Most Level 2 and 3 courses are either free or have no upfront fees to pay...
If not, and you’re aged 19 or over studying an eligible level 3 course, you can apply for an Advanced Learner Loan - with nothing to pay upfront and no repayments until you’re earning at least £25,750 a year.
Check Your Eligibility
Nothing to pay upfront...
Getting the Adult Learner Loan doesn't depend on your household income and there's no credit check.
There's nothing to pay upfront and you don't have to pay anything back until you're earning over £25,750 a year (for 2025 course start dates).
Even then, you only pay back 9% of what you earn above this amount. After 40 years, your loan is written off entirely.
Roll your loans into one...
If you take out an Adult Learner Loan and later go on to do a degree, you can take out a separate student loan for this.
The two loans will then be rolled into one, meaning you only need to make one monthly repayment.
If your Adult Learner Loan is for an
Access to Higher Education
course and you go on to complete a degree, your Adult Learner Loan will get written off.
Read about the
Terms and Conditions of an Advanced Learner Loan
on GOV.UK.
Applying for the Advanced Learner Loan
You need to apply for your chosen course first.
You will later receive a learning and funding information letter which you will need for your Adult Learner Loan application.
If you don't receive this letter, please contact the Admissions Team.
Call:
01253 504322
Email:
admissions@blackpool.ac.uk
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/EEA 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
.
More for International Students
Support for Ukrainian Refugees
If you have entered the UK under the Ukraine Family Scheme or the Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme, you may be eligible for financial support in the form of a bus pass worth £400 per year, free meals each day at college, free breakfast at college, financial support for equipment for your course and further support to enable you to attend your course.
If you are not sure whether you qualify for this support, please contact our Seasiders Learning Centre and we will be able to advise you.
Call:
01253 504690
Email:
seasiderscourses@blackpool.ac.uk
Devolved Authorities and Funding
If you live in one of the areas listed below, you will not be eligible to receive funding on your Further Education course because the authority where you live has received the funding for residents of those areas.
The exception to this is where you are studying a course at Level 3, 4, 5 or 6 and you are taking out an Advanced Learner Loan to pay for your tuition fees.
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough | Greater London | Greater Manchester | Liverpool City Region | North of Tyne | Sheffield City Region | Tees Valley | West Midlands | West of England | West Yorkshire
Contact Us
If you have any questions or concerns regarding your financial support application and available options, please get in touch. Our friendly advisers are here to help.
Get in Touch
Need more information about available support?
Learning Support
We offer a range of learning support services to help you get the most from your studies and realise your career goals.
View available Learning Support
Student Support, Wellbeing & Inclusion
At B&FC we offer a comprehensive range of support services aimed at helping you reach your full potential.
Explore full range of Support Services
Careers Advice
Our friendly Careers Team is here to help you plan your future with confidence.
More on Careers Advice
Chat
Skip to main content
Financial Support for Adult Learners
Studying towards your dream career has never been more affordable.
Discover our Support
Upskill and Reskill your Career with Financial Support
Whilst there's plenty of financial support out there, we can help you access it. We're here if you need support filling in forms or to check you're getting everything you're entitled to.
A range of financial support is available from B&FC depending on your personal circumstances. This page has information on the following:
Financial support services provided by B&FC
Additional support for travel, meals, and childcare
Special assistance for unique financial challenges
Application process for financial assistance
Advanced Learner Loan details and benefits
Information for international students and funding eligibility
If your household earnings, before tax, is £35,000 or less, or you are in receipt of a means-tested benefit, you may be eligible for support. The types of support funds available are described below.
You must attend 90% of your course to maintain eligibility for your funding.
Most courses are FREE or have no upfront fees
FREE Healthy Breakfast
FREE or Discounted Blackpool Travel Pass
Help with Childcare Costs
Discounted Council Tax
Advanced Learner Loan
Financial Help to Support Your Studies
Travel
A free Blackpool Transport Bus / Tram pass is available to those living 1.5 miles away from their main campus of study.
If you live outside the Blackpool Transport area, you can apply for a travel bursary.
FREE Lunch
Students can access a free lunch eVoucher for each day you are timetabled to attend college.
This can be exchanged at college's internal food outlets when you are on campus.
If you are on a work placement, you can use your lunch eVoucher at any of the following stores - Sainsburys, Asda, Morrisons, Tesco, M&S Food, Waitrose, Aldi, and Farmfoods.
Equipment Provided
You can borrow a laptop free of charge from Bispham, UC and Fleetwood LRCs using the self service - iLockerz. They are one day loans whilst you are on campus only.
Many PCs are available at all campuses for student use.
About our Learning Resource Centres
Advanced Learner Loan Support Fund
If you have qualified to receive an Advanced Learner Loan, we can also provide additional funding under certain circumstances. You will need to have an approved loan before you can apply for Advanced Learner Loan financial support.
What is an Advanced Learner Loan?
Childcare
If you are a parent aged
20 or over
on 31 August 2025, please answer the relevant questions on the Pay My Student Portal.
The maximum weekly contribution is £180 per child, for term time, this applied to timetabled sessions only.
You must use an Ofsted registered childcare provider that accepts the free 15 and 30 hours funding for 2, 3 and 4 year olds. If your child qualifies for the free 15 hours these must be used for the childcare required when attending college.
B&FC will contribute towards the outstanding hours.
Childcare costs can only be paid from the start of the half term in which your application is approved.
Please note: If you are in receipt of the childcare elements of tax credits / universal credit, we are unable to fund your childcare.
Removing Barriers
If you are aged 19+, and require financial, or other support, to remove barriers associated with course related costs and expenses, we can provide help on a case-by-case basis.
You may need to attend a meeting with an Adviser to discuss your individual financial needs and you are welcome to bring someone with you.
Hardship Fund
In exceptional circumstances, B&FC can access funding for students who find themselves facing financial hardship. Each situation is considered on a case-by-case basis. Please speak to an Adviser to find out more.
Please note: You cannot currently apply for this fund using PayMyStudent.
How to Apply for Financial Support
Before you start your application using the PayMyStudent Portal:
Enrol for your course at B&FC
Ensure that you can access your college email
Have your Bank Account details ready
Register on Pay My Student (You may have to wait 24 hours after enrolment, so your email is recognised by the system)
Complete the relevant sections of the online form
Upload your evidence
Review your application - have you completed all the sections?
Sign the declaration
Click Submit
Within 3 working days you will receive a letter via your college email stating whether your application on PayMyStudent has been successful and what financial support you are entitled to.
The time taken to process applications may be longer during busy periods.
Need Help with PayMyStudent?
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 504177
Option 1
Email:
financesupport@blackpool.ac.uk
Please note: You will be unable to apply for a bursary via PayMyStudent until 24 hours after you have enrolled onto a course.
Visit PayMyStudent
If you need help in person:
During the enrolment period at Bispham Campus (August / September) please go to the Finance Support glass pod in reception.
If you study at Bispham Campus or the University Centre, come and find the Finance Support Team in Reception.
If you study at Seasiders Learning Centre, please speak to your Student Support Officer.
If you study at Bickerstaffe House or Gateway Campus, please visit reception and you will be directed to the appropriate team.
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.
Read our
Financial Support Appeals Policy and Procedure (FE Student and Apprentice) 2025-26
for more information.
My bus pass and laptop have been a great help. The Careers and Finance Team fully supported me, I just had to bring some bank details in with evidence of my earnings. Talk to them - they'll do everything they can to get what you what you need."
-
Darren, Professional Cookery
Advanced Learner Loan
If you are aged 19 and studying at Level 3, you can apply for an Advanced Learner Loan.
Most Level 2 and 3 courses are either free or have no upfront fees to pay...
If not, and you’re aged 19 or over studying an eligible level 3 course, you can apply for an Advanced Learner Loan - with nothing to pay upfront and no repayments until you’re earning at least £25,750 a year.
Check Your Eligibility
Nothing to pay upfront...
Getting the Adult Learner Loan doesn't depend on your household income and there's no credit check.
There's nothing to pay upfront and you don't have to pay anything back until you're earning over £25,750 a year (for 2025 course start dates).
Even then, you only pay back 9% of what you earn above this amount. After 40 years, your loan is written off entirely.
Roll your loans into one...
If you take out an Adult Learner Loan and later go on to do a degree, you can take out a separate student loan for this.
The two loans will then be rolled into one, meaning you only need to make one monthly repayment.
If your Adult Learner Loan is for an
Access to Higher Education
course and you go on to complete a degree, your Adult Learner Loan will get written off.
Read about the
Terms and Conditions of an Advanced Learner Loan
on GOV.UK.
Applying for the Advanced Learner Loan
You need to apply for your chosen course first.
You will later receive a learning and funding information letter which you will need for your Adult Learner Loan application.
If you don't receive this letter, please contact the Admissions Team.
Call:
01253 504322
Email:
admissions@blackpool.ac.uk
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/EEA 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
.
More for International Students
Support for Ukrainian Refugees
If you have entered the UK under the Ukraine Family Scheme or the Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme, you may be eligible for financial support in the form of a bus pass worth £400 per year, free meals each day at college, free breakfast at college, financial support for equipment for your course and further support to enable you to attend your course.
If you are not sure whether you qualify for this support, please contact our Seasiders Learning Centre and we will be able to advise you.
Call:
01253 504690
Email:
seasiderscourses@blackpool.ac.uk
Devolved Authorities and Funding
If you live in one of the areas listed below, you will not be eligible to receive funding on your Further Education course because the authority where you live has received the funding for residents of those areas.
The exception to this is where you are studying a course at Level 3, 4, 5 or 6 and you are taking out an Advanced Learner Loan to pay for your tuition fees.
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough | Greater London | Greater Manchester | Liverpool City Region | North of Tyne | Sheffield City Region | Tees Valley | West Midlands | West of England | West Yorkshire
Contact Us
If you have any questions or concerns regarding your financial support application and available options, please get in touch. Our friendly advisers are here to help.
Get in Touch
Need more information about available support?
Learning Support
We offer a range of learning support services to help you get the most from your studies and realise your career goals.
View available Learning Support
Student Support, Wellbeing & Inclusion
At B&FC we offer a comprehensive range of support services aimed at helping you reach your full potential.
Explore full range of Support Services
Careers Advice
Our friendly Careers Team is here to help you plan your future with confidence.
More on Careers Advice
Chat