Apply for support
PayMyStudent is the online system we use at City of Wolverhampton College to make applying for financial support simple and straightforward
Who can apply?
Any student enrolled on an eligible course* and the household income is £34,194 or below per year.
*Eligibility criteria applies – speak to staff in the Student Hub for more information.
19+ Financial Support
If you are aged 19 or over, you may need to pay course fees. However, depending on your circumstances, you could study for free.
To remove barriers for adult learners, we also offer support through the Learner Support Fund. This is means-tested and provided ‘in kind’ (for example, travel passes or vouchers).
As part of your application, you will be asked questions about your financial situation. These are used to assess need fairly and consistently, and are not intended to cause embarrassment or discrimination. Our policy includes a commitment to Equality and Diversity, ensuring all learners are treated with dignity and respect.
You must provide two pieces of financial evidence, such as:
Wage slips
Universal Credit statements
An employment contract showing your gross monthly or annual wages
One of these must be dated within three months of your course start date.
For example, if your course begins on 15 September 2025, one piece of evidence must be dated after 15 May 2025.
The full details
Learner Support can help with the extra costs of studying. The support you receive depends on your household income and where you live.
Learners living within the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA)
If your postcode is in the WMCA area, support may include:
Travel
Lunch
Educational visits
Essential equipment or uniform
Professional membership fees (if required for your course)
Laptop and internet access
Childcare with an Ofsted-registered provider (see ‘Childcare Support for Students’)
You must:
Live at a postcode within the WMCA area
Have a household income below £34,194*
Be aged 19 or over on 31 August 2025
Be enrolled on a WMCA-funded programme (not youth-funded)
Meet residency criteria in Section 3 of the guidance
* Please note: WMCA rules can change during the year, and our policy will be updated accordingly.
Learners living outside the WMCA area
If you live outside the WMCA area, support may include:
Travel
Educational visits
Essential equipment or uniform
Professional membership fees (if required for your course)
Laptop and internet access
Childcare with an Ofsted-registered provider (see ‘Childcare Support for Students’)
You must:
Have a household income below £34,194
Be aged 19 or over on 31 August 2025
Be enrolled on a DfE-funded programme (not youth-funded)
Meet residency requirements
If you were under 18 on 31 August in the year you enrol, please see the section ‘16–18 Financial Support’.
Financial evidence could include wage slips, Universal Credit statements or an employment contract showing your gross monthly or annual wages. One of these must be dated within three months of your course start date (for example, a course starting 15 September 2025 would need evidence dated after 15 May 2025).
If you need help spreading the cost of your course, you may be able to pay in instalments.
Courses costing less than £1,499
You can pay in 3 instalments:One-third of the fee as a deposit at enrolment
Two further payments of one-third each
Courses costing £1,500 or more
You can pay in 5 instalments:One-fifth of the fee as a deposit at enrolment
Four further payments of one-fifth each
You may be eligible for a free meal if:
- You have your 19th birthday during your study programme – you will remain eligible for a free meal until the end of the academic year in which that birthday occurs, or to the end of your study programme, whichever is sooner
- You are aged 19-25 and are subject to a Learning Difficulty Assessment (LDA), Education Health and Care Plan (EHC Plan) or ESF student.
- Pick up a financial support application form from the Student Hub.
- Complete the form and return it to the Student Hub along with proof of household income.
- Once received, your application will be assessed within five working days** and you will receive an email with details of your award.
** The response time may be longer during peak times in September
Download the NX Bus Ticket app and set up your account with a password.
Once your PayMyStudent application has been approved, your bus pass will automatically be uploaded to the app.
You will be advised on the initial payment and then subsequent monthly affordable payments will be set up by Direct Debit to be completed before the end of the course duration.
If you are having other financial difficulties contact the Student Hub team for advice.
Once the childcare application has been submitted to the Student Hub, the form will be assessed and if successful a Service Level Agreement will be sent to the childcare provider to sign and return. Once this has been done a letter confirming your childcare support will be sent to you via your email and the childcare provider.
The childcare provider will be advised for invoice the college monthly and they will be paid in the form of a BACS payment on a monthly basis.
**Please note that all the above are subject to change
Useful links
Careers guidance
Whether you are a school leaver or someone who is considering taking a change in direction with your career, speak to one of our Careers Guidance Team about your options.
Additional learning support
If you have a learning difficulty, disability or medical condition which means you need some extra help on your course, staff from the additional learning support team will assess your needs and discuss the options available to help you during time at college.
Advanced Learner Loan
Student loans have traditionally only been available to students studying degree level, but now there is also a scheme to help you access the financial support you might need to study for a qualification at Level 3 or above.