Bursaries and Finance
We are committed to enabling equal opportunities to all students. If you feel cost is a barrier to studying at Huish please read the following information, or contact The Bursary Team.
Additional grant schemes operating in the UK can be found on The Educational Trusts’ Forum website.
Student Bursary Enquiry Times: 09.30-10.30 am and 12.30-1.30 pm daily during term time (excluding Wednesdays), based in the General Office behind Reception.
Contact the Bursary Team
- Discretionary Bursary 2025-26
- Huish Travel Contribution (HTC)
- Vulnerable Bursary
- Free College Meals
- Bishop Fox's Educational Foundation Grant Schemes
The Discretionary Bursary is a means tested bursary for students whose household income is below £60,000 net per annum.
You can register and apply for a Discretionary Bursary through the PayMyStudent portal. You will need to supply evidence of your income in your application.
Please read the information below and our full Discretionary Bursary Terms and Conditions before applying.
The award is dependent on you fulfilling the bursary eligibility criteria below:
- You must have been resident in the UK for 3 years prior to the start of your studies at Huish
- You must be aged 16 and over but under 19 at the start of your Study Programme
- You must be registered on a full-time Study Programme for September before 31st August
- Your household income must be below £60,000 net for the tax year ending in April 2025 ahead of commencing your Study Programme.
| Household Income Level (net) | Support Available from Discretionary Bursary |
| *£30,000 and under | 100% funding for course costs and travel plus college meals. |
| *£30,001 – *£50,000 | 100% bursary funding for course costs and travel. |
| *£50,001 – *£60,000 | 100% bursary funding for travel costs only |
Most of the bursary is for payments-in-kind (e.g. stationery, revision guides, calculators and other equipment) which is all available on the online shop and you can use your bursary, once approved, to checkout. Occasionally we may authorise the purchase of items not held in the Huish shop but you must check first with the bursary team before purchasing.
You will need one or more of the following pieces of financial evidence to apply for this bursary (2025/2026):
| Income Source | Evidence |
| Employment & Pensions | P60 dated April 2025 |
| Child Tax/Working Tax Credits | Universal Credit Award showing actual income or 2025/26 Tax Credit Notice Award (TC602 or TC603) |
| Universal Credit | 3 months recent Universal Credit statements. These can be a screenshot but must include the award and deductions |
| Other Benefits e.g. Carers Allowance, PIP, JSA or ESA | A letter from the Department of Works & Pensions dated on or after the 1st May 2025 showing receipt of benefits |
| Self- Employment |
Evidence of self-employment income for 2023/24 or 2024/25 alongside one of the following:
|
| Directorships | A Director/Company Secretary of a company will need a P60 and full audited accounts to identify any dividends paid in the 2023/24 tax year |
| Interest earned on shares, savings and investments | Most recent interest certificates |
The Huish Travel Contribution is a non-means tested award of up to 60% towards public transport costs of getting to and from college during term time. All students are eligible for this award provided they are not already in receipt of the Discretionary Bursary.
If you Travel with First Bus
We have negotiated and subsidised a preferential rate for our students – all you need to do is to purchase a termly ticket from the online shop, available at the start of every term:
- Somerset Ticket – usually £315, £160 with HTC already applied
- Taunton Ticket – usually £171, £90 with HTC already applied
No application is required for First Bus users as we expect all students to purchase the termly ticket – when you receive your login details at the start of term, login to the Huish online shop and purchase your ticket.
You will then be sent a code which you can enter into the First Bus app when you purchase the ticket you require – this will result in a zero balance owing (as you have already paid for the ticket in the Huish shop). You must use your college email address when registering on the First Bus app, otherwise the code will not work.
If you travel with Hatch Green, Stagecoach, or by rail
You will need to complete a Huish Travel Contribution application form by registering on PayMyStudent and selecting this option. Purchase your tickets as normal and then upload the tickets or receipts once a month to receive your subsidy into your bank account.
If you travel by rail, please purchase a 16-17 Saver railcard for up to 50% off rail prices or a 16-25 railcard for up to 1/3 off rail prices. You can claim back 60% of the cost of this railcard by submitting your receipt or railcard alongside your tickets.
We offer a free minibus shuttle service from Taunton train station to campus.
Huish Travel Contribution (HTC) Terms and ConditionsIf you meet any of the following criteria and have a financial need, you can apply for a bursary for vulnerable groups of up to £1,200 per year if registered on to a programme of study that lasts for 30 weeks or more; or a pro-rata amount if the course is less than 30 weeks.
Eligibility criteria for the Vulnerable Bursary are that you are one of the following:
- In care
- Care leavers
- In receipt of Universal Credit because you are financially supporting yourself or financially supporting yourself and someone who is dependent on you and living with you such as a child or partner
- In receipt of Employment Support Allowance (ESA) and Personal Independence Payments (PIP).
As with the discretionary bursary, most payments are made in-kind.
Please register on PayMyStudent and use the discretionary bursary option to apply.
In accordance with Government Education Funding Agency guidance you be awarded a free meal each day during term time if your family are in receipt of one or more of the below benefits.
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- The guaranteed element of State Pension Credit
- Universal Credit, with net earnings not exceeding the equivalent of £7,400 pa
- Child Tax Credit (provided they are not entitled to Working Tax Credit) and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190, as assessed by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs
This daily allowance allows you to purchase food from any of the food counters in college, any time of the day and will be pre-loaded on to your college ID card.
Your eligibility for free college meals will be assessed from your discretionary bursary application.
Bishop Fox’s Educational Foundation aims to promote the education (including social and physical training) of young people between the ages of 11-24 years.
All Huish students can apply for a grant from the foundation. Grants can help towards costs of trips, sportswear, books, equipment for an enrichment/hobby plus other expenses.
For more information visit www.bfef.org.uk.