Student Bursary Award

Students requiring support to purchase food from the college, or those students eligible for free college meals, will receive funds paid directly to their student ID card. £4.50 will be credited to the students ID card, to be used at one of the Colleges food outlets each day. Any unspent funds will be cleared at the end of each day. Students attending placement will receive a daily meal allowance for each day they are on placement. The College also offers free breakfast for all students, free tea/coffee and toast is available in the Food Halls between 8-9am.

Students in receipt of, or whose parents are in receipt of, one or more of the following benefits are eligible for free college meals: 

• Universal Credit (provided you have an annual net earned income of no more than £7,400 as assessed by earnings from up to three of your most recent assessment periods)
• Income Support Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• The guarantee element of Pension Credit
• Child Tax Credit (provided you're not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190)
• Working Tax Credit run-on paid for four weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit 

Bus pass: Where there is a bus pass available for travel to College this will be purchased on the students behalf. Information about how to access the pass will be emailed to students college email account at the earliest opportunity once assessed as eligible to receive a bus pass award. In most cases bus passes will be digital and codes will be sent to be used with the relevant bus operator app.

Guidance For Activating D&G Bus Pass

Guidance For Activating SMART Bus Pass

Guidance For Activating Chaserider Bus Pass

Guidance for Activating ARRIVA Bus Pass

For bus or rail allowances (where a bus pass is not available): You are required to provide receipts for your travel for the first 5 days that you receive your allowance for. Receipts for your return travel for each day you are travelling to college should be emailed to studentfinanceteam@nscg.ac.uk within 5 days. Once you have provided receipts for this period you will not be asked to provide receipts again for the autumn term. You will be asked to provide copies of receipts again for the spring term which you will be reminded about at that time. You are expected to purchase tickets which illustrate the most efficient route from a cost perspective and that also best suits your attendance requirements at college.

Rail travel: Students travelling by train will receive a contribution to the cost of rail fare. Contributions are based on cost of individual travel route; amount awarded will be based on age and will assume railcard discounts have been accessed. The cost of a 16-17 or 18-25 railcard (where discounts can be accessed) will be funded for each year the student remains with the College.

You can buy a railcard at the links below:

For 16 and 17 year olds: 16 - 17 Saver

For 18 year olds: 16-25 Railcard 

The easiest way to purchase train tickets is via the Trainline app. When purchasing railcard discounted tickets on Trainline use the drop down menu to select the card that you have. You must have access to your railcard on your phone when you travel as train operators will check this as part of your travel.

All railcards provided must be renewed annually to be valid for use. Whilst you remain at college in your first phase of study with us up to age 19 - the College will reimburse this cost.

Mileage: A contribution towards mileage costs may be awarded for students unable to use public transport. The College will ask the student to provide an understanding of why public transport is not an option for them and will only be awarded in exceptional circumstances Students aged 20+ who drive their own vehicle to college will be awarded a contribution towards the actual mileage. As a guide students will be reimbursed at 45p per mile and contributions will be capped at a maximum 10 miles per day. 

Payments for rail and mileage contributions will be paid directly to the student as per the payment schedule.

Support with the costs of compulsory uniform will be awarded up to a maximum of £50. Compulsory uniform varies by course and support is usually provided on a refund basis. Once students have enrolled and received their bursary award receipts can be sent to the Student Finance Team for reimbursement. Where students are unable to purchase compulsory uniform items alternative arrangements may be possible.

A contribution to the costs of essential materials is awarded for specific courses In the Art and Creative Studies faculty. Support is usually provided on a refund basis up to a maximum of £75. Once students have enrolled and received their bursary award, receipts can be sent to the Student Finance Team for reimbursement. Where students are unable to purchase compulsory materials alternative arrangements may be possible.

Support with the costs of compulsory equipment will be awarded up to a maximum of £300 per academic year. Compulsory equipment varies by course and support is usually provided on a refund basis. Once students have enrolled and received their bursary award receipts can be sent to the Student Finance Team for reimbursement. Where students are unable to purchase compulsory equipment items alternative arrangements may be possible.

In most cases Hair and Beauty kits are purchased by the College on the student's behalf. 

You may be awarded some support for essential trips required for your course. Where this is the case, the College will meet these costs directly on your behalf.