There are two schemes currently offering support with accommodation costs for students: the Residential Bursary Fund (RBF) and the Residential Support Scheme (RSS).
Residential Bursary Fund
The Residential Bursary Fund (RBF) is intended to provide financial help towards the costs of accommodation for young people attending one of the designated institutions delivering specialist provision, where that provision requires the young person to be resident in order to participate because it is not available locally and/or because it requires students to be available at unsociable hours on a regular basis.
RBF is intended to be used to help young people with the costs of accommodation whilst they are learning; the funding aims to provide a contribution towards residential costs for those young people whom the institution identifies face the most significant financial barriers to participation. It is not intended to provide support to all young people on residentially delivered provision at an institution; nor is it intended to necessarily cover the full costs for each student.
Institutions may determine their own eligibility criteria and process for considering applications for RBF support. Priority must be given to young people who are unable to access relevant learning within daily travel from their home or where the costs of such travel are prohibitive.
Allocations for 2013/14
Details of the allocations for Residential Bursary Funds in 2013/14 were issued to institutions in March 2013. These will be published to the website in early October.
Administering RBF
The 16 to 19 Residential Bursary Fund Guide for 2013/14 provides information to institutions who administer the funding.
Advice for young people
The Residential Bursary Fund is administered by institutions. Young people should apply directly to their institution for support and/or for further information.
Residential Support Scheme
The Residential Support Scheme (RSS) provides financial support with accommodation costs for students (aged between 16 and 18) who need to live away from home to study because their course is not available locally. Most students applying to the Scheme will be about to study for their first full Level 2 or Level 3 qualification.
Students must meet the eligibility criteria (which includes an income assessment) in order to receive support from the Residential Support Scheme. If they are assessed as eligible, the amount of award they receive will be based on their actual accommodation costs up to a maximum award level.
The scheme is administered centrally by the Learner Support Service.
The Residential Support Scheme Guide for 2013/14, published in May 2013, provides further information about the scheme for institutions, including the full eligibility criteria.
How to obtain an application pack
Residential Support Scheme application packs for 2013/14 are available from early May 2013. Institutions can order a small supply of application packs from Prolog by calling 0845 602 2260 or emailing learnersupport@prolog.co.uk, quoting the relevant reference number:
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For 2013/14 application packs: EFA-RSS-2013/14
- For 2012/13 application packs: EFA-RSS-2012/13
Students can request an application pack from their institution or from the Learner Support Service helpline.
Contact details
Learner Support Service Helpline (for young parents)
Organisation type: Other
Telephone: 0800 121 8989
Learner Support Provider Helpline
Organisation type: Other
Telephone: 0845 600 7979
Education Funding Agency: Residential support team
Email: residentialsupport.EFA@education.gsi.gov.uk
