OCA has Learner Support Scheme funding set by the trustees each academic year, to be used to support access and progression in Higher Education. Funding is available to cover a number of purposes, and those which students can apply for are outlined below.
All applications are subject to available funds in order of date received. The Learner Support Team will advise of your options if the funds for the year are fully allocated when you apply.
• Unit Fee Bursaries
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Full details are included in section 1 of the Learner Support Scheme policy, but applicants will:-
- be studying within the UK;
- have an evidenced net household income under £25,000;
- meet any entry requirements of the chosen course;
- be unable to fund the course via savings, and will not be eligible for funding through other sources, such as Student Finance funding.
Students can apply on a unit by unit basis, and bursaries will be for 50% of the unit fee, subject to available funds.
For 2023/24, applications for Foundations study with low (Level 2 or below) or no previous qualifications may be able to access funding up to 80% of the course fee, as part of our commitment to widening access to degree study. This additional funding is subject to available funds. Please speak to the Learner Support Team if this is applicable.
You can contact the Learner Support Team for any help with this via the Learner Support Helpdesk.
• Student Support Bursaries
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Full details are available in section 2 of the Learner Support Scheme policy, but applicants will:
- have an evidenced net household income under £25,000;
- be able to apply once per unit.
Students applying for a unit fee bursary can include an application for a student support bursary on the same form. Students applying for a student support bursary only can apply on the Student Support Bursary form.
• One-off support for specified support purposes
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These bursaries can help with:-
- Up to £200 to cover the cost of the student’s contribution for a DSA-awarded computer;
- Up to £400 towards the cost of a post-16 diagnostic assessment for dyslexia where scores on the British Dyslexia Association Adult Checklist are 45 or above, or where a student has a childhood diagnostic assessment that requires updating for DSA eligibility;
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Full details are available in section 3 of the Learner Support Scheme policy, but applicants will have an evidenced net household income under £25,000.
Students applying for a unit fee bursary can include an application for the £200 DSA computer contribution on the same form. For students who are not applying for a unit fee bursary, this can be done on the Student Support Bursary form.
Making an application
Please read the Guidance Notes carefully before applying on the relevant forms. This will take you through how to complete the form, and what evidence / paperwork you need to include. The application form should be completed and returned to learnersupport@oca.ac.uk, or via the Learner Support Helpdesk, where the clerk will check your application.
Please include ‘Learner Support Scheme application’ in your email subject.
Supporting documents can be provided by email / Zendesk as above, or posted to:
Learner Support Scheme Clerk
Open College of the Arts
Michael Young Arts Centre
County Way
Barnsley
S70 2AG