Our Student Services Team offers help and advice on applying for your course and financial support.
We are based on the ground floor of A block at Bridgend Campus, within the main teaching block at Pencoed and in the reception area of our Queens Road Campus.
We provide information regarding financial aid, applying through UCAS, plus advice and guidance about our curriculum areas. We work closely with our Cyfleoedd Team who can offer careers advice if you are not sure which course to choose or how to reach your career goals.
To contact us, email hello@bridgend.ac.uk, call 01656 302302 or use the live chat on our website.
Financial Support
Studying at college may involve extra costs for you. There may be books to buy, travel fares and additional childcare costs. However, there are a range of funds provided by the Welsh Government and the College to help you pay for them:
- The Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA)
- The Welsh Assembly Learning Grant (WGLG)
- The Financial Contingency Fund (FCF)
To be eligible for any funding you must:
- be an enrolled student at one of our College campuses
- be aged 16 or over
- normally reside in the UK or have lived in the UK for 3 years before the start of the course (or qualify as a ‘home student’ in some other way such as being an EU national or refugee)
Unfortunately, we are unable to offer support to asylum seekers.
Please note that all funding awarded is subject to attendance and can be withdrawn at any time if attendance falls below 90%. Any of the financial support criteria is subject to change.
Transport
Bus passes are provided to all students aged 16-18 who live 3 miles or more from their campus of study.
Passes are provided by the College on behalf of the following local authorities:
• Bridgend County Borough Council
• Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council
• Vale of Glamorgan County Borough Council
Applicants from other local authority areas will need to contact Student Services for specific advice.
Students aged 19+ may be eligible for either a bus pass on one of our contract routes or to claim expenses (for public transport only).
Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA)
EMA is a weekly payment to support 16-18 year olds with the costs of studying. Payments are made directly to your bank account every two weeks providing you have met the attendance requirements.
EMA will not affect any other benefit payments you or your family already receive.
You can apply for EMA if all of the following apply to you:
• You usually live in Wales
• You are aged 16-18
• You are studying at college for a minimum of 12 hours each week and your course is approved by the Department for Education and Skills
• You meet the nationality and residency requirements
• You live in a household with an income of either £20,817 or less OR £23,077 or less and there is more than one young person who qualifies for Child Benefit in the household
For more information or to apply visit: StudentFinanceWales.co.uk/EMA
Welsh Government Learning Grants (WGLG)
If you are 19 years or older and studying on a full-time course, you could get up to £1,500 or up to £750 for a part-time course, depending on your household income.
You can apply for a WGLG if all of the following apply to you:
• You are aged 19 or over on the first day of the academic year (1st September)
• You meet the nationality and residency requirements
• You live in Wales
• You live in a household with an income of £18,370 or less
• You are studying and/or progressing on an eligible further education course
• You are studying on a course which is more than 275 hours of study across the academic year
PLEASE NOTE: Any of the criteria outlined in the financial support section is subject to change.
For more information on EMA and WGLG or to download an application, please visit: StudentFinanceWales.co.uk/FE
Application packs are also available for collection from Student Services from April for the following academic year of study.
Financial Contingency Fund (FCF)
The FCF is open to all full-time students and is a limited fund. FCF can support students with some of the cost of childcare, lunch, course equipment, cost of travel or a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
Eligibility for FCF is dependant on your household income.
How can FCF help?
| Under 19 | Over 19 | |
| Travel Costs | yes | yes |
| Childcare Fees | Yes | yes |
| Course related costs (e.g. kit / equipment / books) | Yes | Only if not in receipt of WGLG |
| Meal Subsidy | Yes | No (except in special cases) |
Travel costs – FCF can help towards the cost of a bus pass or expenses, dependent on your age and where you travel from. Click here for for more information Student Transport
Childcare costs – you may receive a maximum allocation of £31 per day of attendance towards the costs of childcare fees, for one child only. You may use the Bridgend College Day Nursery, or a registered Childminder or Nursery.
Course related costs – FCF can help towards the cost of essential equipment for your course.
Meal Subsidy – if you’re 16-18, and either you or your Parents / Guardian are in receipt of eligible benefits you can receive a daily meal allowance to the value of £3.50 per day. Click here for eligibility https://www.bridgend.gov.uk/residents/schools-and-education/grants-for-pupils/
For more information or to apply for the FCF, please apply here
Reporting Absence
We expect all students to maintain at least 95% attendance, but we understand that there are times when you may be unwell.
It’s important that you let us know if you’re unwell or unable to come to college.
Please contact us and let us know before the start of the college day, your name, student ID number, reason for absence and when you expect to be back at college.
• bridgend.ac.uk/absence
• absence@bridgend.ac.uk
• 01656 302 302
Attendance will affect payments of any financial support you receive from the College (EMA, WGLG, FCF).
Bridgend College App
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Download our app by searching ‘Bridgend College’ on the App Store. It’s available on Android and Apple devices.
We are extremely proud to announce that Bridgend College has now officially become a Google Reference College, the first college in Wales to be given this esteemed title.
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