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Get help with your transport costs

If you’re in further education, your local authority may be able to help with the cost of transport to your place of learning.

Whether you qualify for help depends on your age, and where you’re studying.

Your age

To get help with transport costs, you must be

• aged 16 to 18

or

• continuing on a course that you started before your 19th birthday

Where you’re studying

As well as being the right age, you must either be:

• in Year 12 or 13 at school
• at sixth form college
• at a further education college
  

What help is available

The help you can get depends on where in England you live, because each local authority gives help in different ways.

However, every local authority must ensure that students aren't prevented from going to college either because their fares are too high, or because there are no transport services to take them there. 

Local authorities must also ensure that college students are treated no less favourably than those studying at school sixth forms.

Find help in your local area

Each year, your local authority will publish a statement to show the support you can receive while you are studying. The statement contains information on the services, discounts and concessions which are available in your area.

To find out more about help available in your area from your local authority, follow the link below.

• Find out about transport for 16-19 year olds in your area (opens new window)

Other sources of help with transport costs

Learner Support Funds

Learner Support Funds are available in colleges and school sixth forms to help with learning costs. The funds are prioritised for those who face financial hardship.

Although it is the responsibility of colleges to allocate the funds, money is sometimes made available for transport costs.

To find out more, contact the student support officer at your place of study, or see ‘Learner Support Funds’.

• Learner Support Funds

Help if you’re studying away from home

If you need to attend a course beyond your local area, you may be able to get help with the cost of residential or lodging allowances and travel costs.

For more information, see ‘Help if you're studying away from home’.

• Help if you're studying away from home

If you live in London

If you live in London and are 16 or 17, you could qualify for free transport

• Free transport for 16 and 17 year olds in London: find out more (opens new window)