Fill in the 16 to 19 Bursary Fund for defined vulnerable groups claim form: guide for providers
Published 7 September 2026
Applies to England
© Crown copyright 2026
This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk.
Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.
This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/claim-care-to-learn-or-vulnerable-bursary-funding-guidance-for-providers/fill-in-the-16-to-19-bursary-fund-for-defined-vulnerable-groups-claim-form-guide-for-providers
Before you claim, you must:
- verify eligibility
- hold evidence that each student meets the vulnerable group criteria
- assess each student’s actual financial need
- claim funding for the full academic year
When you are ready, use the funding claim form to make your claim.
Student numbers - claiming funding
Enter the total:
- student numbers in each category
- funding required in each category
Include any zero bursary students within the relevant category totals.
Zero bursary students
If a student in a defined vulnerable group does not need financial help, or you already have enough funds to fully support them, they are considered a ‘zero bursary’ student.
You must still:
- include them in your total student numbers
- record them in the appropriate vulnerable group category
- make sure you do not record any funding amounts for these students
Vulnerable group categories
Students must fall into one of the following groups:
- in care
- care leavers
- receiving Income Support or Universal Credit (UC)
- receiving Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payment and Employment Support Allowance or UC
Enter the total:
- student numbers in each category
- funding required in each category
Funding amounts
Claim only the amount each student needs after your assessment.
Do not automatically claim £1,200 per student.
Total students per category
This shows the total number of students per category in the 2026 to 2027 academic year.
It also gives you the option to return to previous screens to amend your answers.
You do not need to make any entries on this page.
Total claim per category
This shows the total funding per category in the 2026 to 2027 academic year.
It also gives you the option to return to previous screens to amend your answers.
You do not need to make any entries on this page.
Declarations
When you have completed all data entries in the form, you must agree to the mandatory declarations.
Feedback
There are 3 optional feedback questions.
If you want to provide a response, there is a 3000 character limit, so be concise.
Check your answers and submit
Before submitting:
- check all answers carefully
- you can change answers using the change button
Then select ‘Submit’.
You can save a PDF summary if you want to, but it is not proof of submission.
Submission complete
This page confirms your submission and gives you a unique reference number.
It also provides a link back to the digital collection portal to either claim Care to Learn or change a submission.
We will send a confirmation email to the email address that you logged into DfE Sign-in with.
This includes a link to download a PDF of your submission, which is valid for 6 months from the date of your submission. You must download a copy as soon as possible and keep it in your audible records.
Make a note of your unique reference number. We will not include this information in your confirmation email.