📚 Financial Support for 16-19 Students in Further Education | 16至19岁学生可申请的继续教育阶段经济支持
Between the ages of 16 and 19, students in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland sit in an unusual financial position: they are no longer children for many benefit purposes, yet they are not yet university students with access to the main student finance system. Participation in education or training is compulsory until 18 in England, but the funding that supports it is fragmented across bursaries, college hardship funds, travel schemes and childcare grants. Understanding this patchwork early is not simply a budgeting exercise; it decides whether a student can afford to stay on a course at all. This guide maps the main sources of support available at 16-19, who qualifies, how much is typically awarded, and how to apply without missing a deadline.
在英格兰、威尔士、苏格兰和北爱尔兰，16至19岁的学生在财务上处于一个特殊位置：在许多福利制度中他们已不再被视为儿童，却又还不是可以申请主流学生贷款体系的大学生。在英格兰，18岁之前必须继续接受教育或培训，但支撑这一阶段的经济来源却分散在助学金、学院困难基金、交通补贴和育儿补助等不同渠道中。尽早了解这套拼图式体系不只是理财问题，它往往直接决定一名学生能否负担得起继续就读。本文将系统梳理16至19岁阶段可获得的主要经济支持、申请资格、通常金额以及如何在不错过截止日期的前提下完成申请。
1. Why 16-19 Financial Support Matters | 为什么16至19岁的经济支持至关重要
The raising of the participation age means that in England a young person must remain in education or training until at least their eighteenth birthday. That legal duty is only meaningful if the money exists to make participation possible. Travel costs, equipment, meals and lost part-time earnings all create pressure, and research consistently links financial hardship to lower retention and weaker exam outcomes at post-16 level.
法定参与年龄的提高意味着在英格兰，年轻人至少要到18岁生日前都必须留在教育或培训体系中。然而，这一法律义务只有在经济上可行时才有实际意义。交通费、学习设备、餐食以及因上课而损失的兼职收入都会形成压力，而多项研究一致表明，经济困难与16岁后阶段的留存率下降和考试成绩走弱直接相关。
Unlike university students, 16-19 learners cannot borrow a maintenance loan to cover living costs. Support comes instead from institution-administered bursaries, local authority travel schemes, charitable trusts and, in some cases, their parents' continuing benefits. The result is that two students on identical courses in different towns can receive very different levels of help.
与大学生不同，16至19岁的学习者无法通过生活费贷款来覆盖生活开支。他们的支持主要来自学校或学院管理的助学金、地方政府的交通计划、慈善信托基金，以及在某些情况下父母仍可领取的福利。结果是，在不同城镇就读完全相同课程的两名学生，实际获得的支持水平可能相差极大。
The key mindset shift is this: support at 16-19 is claimed, not awarded automatically. With a handful of exceptions, nobody will write to a student offering money. Applications must be initiated by the student or their family, usually within the first few weeks of the academic year.
这里最关键的观念转变是：16至19岁的经济支持是主动申请得到的，而不是自动发放的。除少数例外情况，没有人会主动通知学生来领钱。申请必须由学生本人或家庭发起，而且通常要在学年开始后的最初几周内完成。
2. The 16 to 19 Bursary Fund: Vulnerable Student Bursary | 16至19岁助学金：弱势学生助学金
The 16 to 19 Bursary Fund is the single most important national scheme in England. It has two distinct parts. The first, the Vulnerable Student Bursary, is a fixed entitlement of £1,200 per academic year for students who fall into one of a small number of defined categories. It is not means-tested in the usual sense; if a student meets a category, the institution must pay the bursary.
16至19岁助学金基金（16 to 19 Bursary Fund）是英格兰最重要的全国性计划，它由两个完全不同的部分组成。第一部分"弱势学生助学金"（Vulnerable Student Bursary）是一项固定权益：每学年1,200英镑，面向符合少数几类明确定义的学生。它并非传统意义上的收入审查型补助；只要学生符合某一类别，学校或学院就必须发放。
The qualifying categories are narrow and evidence-heavy. Providers will ask for letters from the local authority, benefit award notices or a care leaver declaration before releasing any money.
符合资格的类别范围较窄，但对证明材料要求严格。学校或学院在放款之前，通常会要求提供地方政府出具的证明信、福利发放通知或脱离照护身份声明。
- Students in local authority care, or who have recently left care (care leavers).
- Students receiving Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, or Universal Credit in their own name.
- Students receiving both Employment and Support Allowance and Personal Independence Payment (or Universal Credit and PIP).
- 正在接受地方政府照护的学生，或近期脱离照护的学生（care leavers）。
- 以自己的名义领取收入补助（Income Support）、收入型求职者津贴（JSA）或统一福利金（Universal Credit）的学生。
- 同时领取就业与支持津贴（ESA）和个人独立补助（PIP），或同时领取统一福利金与PIP的学生。
Payments are normally made in termly instalments and are intended to cover transport, meals, equipment and other participation costs. Students must reapply each academic year, and any change of course or provider means a fresh application. If a student believes they qualify but the college disagrees, they should ask for the written policy and appeal through the institution's internal process.
款项通常按学期分期发放，用于覆盖交通、餐食、设备及其他参与成本。学生每学年都必须重新申请，如果更换课程或学校，也需要重新提交申请。如果学生认为自己符合资格但学院不同意，应当索取书面政策文件，并通过学院内部程序提出申诉。
3. Discretionary Bursaries and College Hardship Funds | 酌情助学金与学院困难基金
The second part of the Bursary Fund is the Discretionary Bursary. Here the institution decides who receives money, how much, and in what form. Because there is no national rate, awards range from a few tens of pounds towards books to several hundred pounds covering a full travel season ticket. Colleges typically prioritise students whose household income falls below a published threshold, often around £25,000 to £30,000 per year.
助学金基金的第二部分是需要评审的"酌情助学金"（Discretionary Bursary）。由学校或学院自行决定发放对象、金额和形式。由于没有全国统一标准，金额可能从几十英镑的书籍补助到数百英镑的整季交通卡不等。学院通常会优先考虑家庭收入低于其公布门槛的学生，该门槛常见为每年约25,000至30,000英镑。
Support is frequently given in kind rather than cash. This is deliberate: a college can buy a bus pass or a set of chef's knives more cheaply than a student can, and in-kind awards are harder to divert to other spending. Students should therefore read carefully what is being offered before assuming the award is too small.
支持常以实物而非现金形式发放，这是有意为之：学院批量采购公交卡或厨师刀具的成本低于学生个人购买，而且实物补助更不容易被挪作他用。因此，学生在认定补助金额"太少"之前，应先仔细阅读实际提供的具体内容。
Separately, most colleges operate a hardship or emergency fund for students who hit a sudden crisis mid-year, such as a family breakdown, homelessness or an unexpected loss of income. These funds are usually small, discretionary and confidential, and are accessed through a named member of staff such as a pastoral tutor, student services adviser or safeguarding lead.
此外，大多数学院还设有困难或紧急基金，用于帮助在学年中途遭遇突发危机的学生，例如家庭破裂、无家可归或收入突然中断。这类基金通常额度不大、属于酌情发放且严格保密，需要通过指定工作人员申请，例如辅导导师、学生服务顾问或安全保护负责人。
4. Free Meals, Travel and Course Costs | 免费餐食、交通与课程费用
Free meals in further education are funded separately from the Bursary Fund. Institutions that opt into the scheme receive money to provide a free meal to eligible 16-19 students on each day they attend. Eligibility broadly mirrors free school meals: the household receives certain means-tested benefits, or annual household income is at or below the published threshold, commonly £7,400 after tax and not including benefit income.
继续教育阶段的免费餐食与助学金基金分开拨款。参与该计划的学校或学院会获得资金，为符合资格的16至19岁学生在每个上课日提供一份免费餐食。资格标准大体沿用免费校餐的规则：家庭领取某些需经收入审查的福利，或家庭年收入处于或低于公布门槛——常见为税后7,400英镑、且不计福利收入。
Travel is often the single largest cost a post-16 student faces. Local authority travel schemes usually stop when a student turns 16, so support shifts to college-subsidised passes, bursary-funded travel, or local transport authority young person's cards. Students should ask their college's finance office which routes and operators are covered, because not all journeys qualify.
交通往往是16岁后学生面临的最大单项开支。地方政府的交通补贴计划通常在学生满16岁时终止，支持因此转向学院补贴的交通卡、由助学金支付的交通费，或地方交通部门的青少年卡。学生应向学院财务办公室确认哪些线路和运营公司被覆盖，因为并非所有行程都在补助范围内。
Course-related costs include textbooks, uniforms, workshop materials, DBS checks, exam resit fees and compulsory trips. Policy varies widely between providers, and many colleges will waive or subsidise these costs for students receiving a bursary. It is worth asking specifically rather than assuming that a cost is unavoidable.
与课程相关的费用包括教材、制服、实训材料、无犯罪记录证明（DBS）检查费、补考费以及强制参加的校外活动。各校政策差异很大，许多学院会对领取助学金的学生减免或补贴这些费用。与其默认某项费用必须自付，不如专门去询问。
5. Care to Learn: Support for Young Parents | Care to Learn：面向年轻父母的支持
Care to Learn is a national scheme in England that helps young parents continue in education by paying for childcare while they study. To qualify, the parent must be under 20 at the start of the course, be studying a publicly funded course at a college or training provider in England, and use a registered childcare provider. The scheme is not means-tested.
Care to Learn 是英格兰的一项全国性计划，通过为年轻父母支付托儿费用，帮助他们继续接受教育。申请资格包括：在课程开始时未满20岁、在英格兰的学院或培训机构就读由公共资金资助的课程，并使用已注册的托儿服务提供者。该计划不进行收入审查。
The scheme pays up to £160 per week per child for childcare, rising to £175 per week in London. It also pays travel costs between home and the childcare provider and the learning provider, up to £20 per week, or £25 per week in London. Payments go directly to the childcare provider and the travel operator, not to the parent.
该计划为每个孩子每周支付最多160英镑的托儿费，在伦敦提高到每周175英镑。它还承担家庭、托儿机构和学习机构之间的交通费用，每周最多20英镑，伦敦为25英镑。款项直接支付给托儿服务提供者和交通运营方，而不是交给家长本人。
Two practical points matter. First, support ends when the young parent turns 20, so those who continue studying afterwards need to switch to the childcare element of Universal Credit. Second, applications should be submitted before the course starts, or as early as possible, because approval takes time and any gap in childcare can cost a student their place.
有两点实务细节很重要。第一，支持在年轻父母满20岁时结束，之后继续学习的人需要转向统一福利金中的托儿部分。第二，申请应在课程开始前或尽早在课程初期提交，因为审批需要时间，而托儿出现空档可能导致学生失去学位。
6. Advanced Learner Loans and Level 3+ Funding | 高级学习者贷款与三级以上课程资助
Most 16-18 year olds do not need a loan, because their study is fully funded by the government. The Advanced Learner Loan exists for learners aged 19 or over studying at Level 3 to Level 6 at an approved college or training provider in England, where that course is not already funded. The minimum loan is £300 and there is no upper age limit.
大多数16至18岁的学生不需要贷款，因为他们的学习由政府全额资助。高级学习者贷款（Advanced Learner Loan）面向19岁及以上、在英格兰经批准的学院或培训机构修读三级至六级课程、且该课程未获政府直接资助的学习者。最低贷款额为300英镑，没有年龄上限。
The money is paid to the provider to cover the course fee, not to the student. Repayment works like a student loan: repayments begin only when earnings exceed the threshold, currently £25,000 per year, at 9% of income above that line. One important detail is that if a learner takes an Advanced Learner Loan for an Access to Higher Education course and then completes a higher education course, the outstanding loan for the Access course is written off.
这笔钱支付给学校以抵扣课程费用，而不是发给学生本人。还款方式与助学贷款类似：只有年收入超过门槛（目前为25,000英镑）后才开始还款，按其以上收入的9%扣除。一个重要细节是：如果学习者用高级学习者贷款修读"高等教育衔接课程"（Access to HE），之后又完成了高等教育课程，那么衔接课程的贷款余额将被免除。
Students aged 16-18 should be cautious if a provider suggests taking out commercial finance for a course. Genuine publicly funded provision for this age group is normally free at the point of study, and commercial course loans from private companies carry very different terms from government-backed loans.
如果培训机构建议16至18岁的学生为课程申请商业贷款，学生应保持警惕。这一年龄段的正规公共资助课程通常在就读时是免费的，而私人公司的商业课程贷款与政府支持的贷款在条款上有本质区别。
7. Apprenticeships, Traineeships and Supported Internships | 学徒制、培训实习与支持性实习
An apprenticeship is a paid job with structured training, and for many 16-19 year olds it is the most financially secure route available. Apprentices must be employed under a contract and paid at least the apprentice rate of the National Minimum Wage, which rose to £7.55 per hour from April 2025. That rate applies to apprentices under 19, and to those in the first year of their apprenticeship regardless of age.
学徒制是一份带结构化培训的有薪工作，对许多16至19岁的年轻人来说，这是经济上最稳妥的路径。学徒必须签订雇佣合同，并至少按国家最低工资中的学徒标准获得报酬，该标准自2025年4月起提高到每小时7.55英镑。此标准适用于未满19岁的学徒，以及不论年龄、处于学徒期第一年的学徒。
After the first year, apprentices aged 19 or over move to the standard National Minimum Wage rate for their age. Crucially, employers must pay apprentices for the time they spend in off-the-job training, which by law is at least 20% of contracted hours. Training time is working time, and it must be paid.
第一年结束后，19岁及以上的学徒将适用其年龄对应的标准国家最低工资。关键一点是，雇主必须为学徒参加"脱岗培训"的时间支付工资，而法律规定该时间至少占合同工时的20%。培训时间属于工作时间，必须计薪。
Traineeships and supported internships offer other entry points. Traineeships are short, unpaid programmes combining work experience with English and maths, and they do not affect benefit entitlement in the same way as employment. Supported internships are study programmes for young people with an Education, Health and Care plan, combining a college course with a substantial work placement, and they often lead into paid employment.
培训实习（Traineeships）和支持性实习（Supported Internships）提供了其他入口。培训实习是短期无薪项目，将工作经验与英语、数学学习结合，其对待遇资格的影响与就业不同。支持性实习面向持有"教育、健康与照护计划"（EHC plan）的年轻人，将学院课程与较长时间的实习岗位结合，往往能通向有薪就业。
8. Scholarships, Trusts and Employer Sponsorship | 奖学金、信托基金与雇主资助
Beyond statutory funding, a wide range of charitable trusts and foundations make small grants to 16-19 students. These are typically for specific purposes: replacing a broken laptop, paying for a compulsory field trip, buying safety boots, or covering exam resit fees. The amounts are modest, often £100 to £500, but they are frequently unrestricted and do not need to be repaid.
除法定资助之外，还有大量慈善信托和基金会向16至19岁的学生提供小额资助。这些资助通常用于特定用途：更换损坏的笔记本电脑、支付强制性的野外考察费用、购买安全靴或承担补考费。金额通常不大，多在100至500英镑之间，但往往用途不受严格限制，且无需偿还。
Large national organisations such as the Prince's Trust, Buttle UK, the Family Fund and turn2us provide grant search tools and direct support. Colleges also often hold their own endowment funds, prizes and subject-specific awards that are quietly under-subscribed. Asking a head of department directly is
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