STUDENT FINANCE
Find out about finance and funding options, including Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA), Welsh Government Learning Grant (WGLG) and Financial Contingency Fund (FCF).
Download our Let’s Talk Money leaflet
What is the Financial Contingency Fund?
The fund is used to support students with the cost associated with studying at College.
Who is eligible?
Applications are assessed on individual circumstances. Students must study at least 275 hours.
What support might I get?
Childcare
£42 each college day for one child only
Food
£4.10 will be added onto your student ID card for each college day. Failure to bring your ID card will mean a student loses the entitlement for that day. Pontardawe and Swansea Construction Centre students will need to collect a week’s worth of lunch tickets from Reception on a Monday, to use at local food outlets for the week, which are external to the College. If a student loses their vouchers, they are unable to claim additional vouchers.
Transport
BusFor students studying at our Neath, Afan, Llandarcy, Swansea Construction Centre or Pontardawe campuses who live over three miles from College, you will be provided with a free bus pass. For students studying at our Brecon or Newtown campuses, and live over three miles but within Powys, you will be provided with a free bus pass if you are between 16-18. For students over 19, that live over three miles from Brecon or Newtown campus, we will refund up to £175 a term.
Train and Fuel Costs
A maximum of £175 per term for students who live over three miles from the campus they study at.
Course Equipment & Trips
50% reimbursement for equipment relevant to your course, this can include safety clothing, stationary, books and mandatory trips. (Eligible for review under exceptional circumstances).
Accommodation
Term time only, Monday-Friday for students who wish to study at a campus away from home and it is not reasonable to travel daily. If a course is offered on a campus closer to the student’s home address, accommodation will be refused.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
Full reimbursement for Disclosure and Barring Service checks for students over 25 years old or for students who are required to undergo a check for their course.
Receipts must be sent to studentsupport@nptcgroup.ac.uk in the same academic year to be reimbursed. Receipts submitted outside of the academic year of study will not be considered.
Emergency Payments
Emergency payments may be made when a student is found to be in hardship, this must be assessed by the Student and Business Services Officer or the Assistant Manager: Student Finance and Operational Services.
Appeals
Appeals against refusal of this fund must be directed to studentsupport@nptcgroup.ac.uk: FAO Assistant Manager: Student Finance and Operational Services.
Terms and Conditions
- You are not deemed to have been awarded the fund until you have been emailed confirmation of your award to your student email address.
- You will repay any amount sent to you as a result of inaccurate information supplied or if you leave the College early. You also understand that any attempt to obtain funds by deception will result in disciplinary action under the Student Code of Conduct and prosecution under the Fraud Act 2006.
- You understand that poor attendance or progress will lead to withdrawal of the award, and you will send back, all funds received. 90% attendance is required.
- You understand that the information provided in your application will be seen and processed by the Student Support and Finance team as well as internal and external auditors, including the Welsh Government. You consent to the information provided being checked against your student record for accuracy.
- Reimbursements may not be processed.
Students either purchase a bus ticket via the First Bus app or if they receive funding (EMA/WGLG or hardship fund), Student Support will provide a free code to enter onto the app, to get a termly bus pass for free. Student Support issue these at the start of the term.
For more information, contact studentsupport@nptcgroup.ac.uk
Service buses may need to be used in some instances if a college dedicated bus doesn’t pass where a student lives. The First Cymru bus passes work on all buses, whether college dedicated or not and also work on South Wales Transport buses (due to a local agreement in place between South Wales Transport and First Cymru).
Further information can be found in our Let’s Talk Money guide.
Transport Routes – Neath College, Afan College, Llandarcy Academy of Sport, Pontardawe College, Swansea Construction Centre, Maesteg Construction Centre.
There are dedicated college buses starting with the number 90, these buses only run once a day, taking students to the relevant campuses in the morning and picking students up late afternoon.
Dwr-Y-Felin Road, Neath, SA10 7RF
900 – Port Talbot Bus Station to Neath College (Roman Way: Neath Abbey Road, approx. 2 minutes walk to the College) – One way only.
901 – Margam to Neath College (Neath Abbey Road, by Green Bridge, Approx 2 minutes walk to the College) – One way only.
902 – Pontrhydyfen to Neath College (Neath Abbey Road, by Green Bridge, Approx 2 minutes walk to the College) – One way only.
903 – Abercraf to Neath College (Neath Abbey Road, by Green Bridge, Approx 2 minutes walk to the College) – Both ways.
905 – Cwmtwrch to Neath College (Neath Abbey Road, by Green Bridge, Approx 2 minutes walk to the College) – Both ways.
906 – Min-Yr-Awel to Neath College (Neath Abbey Road, by Green Bridge, Approx 2 minutes walk to the College) – Both ways.
907 – Coelbren to Neath College (Neath Abbey Road, by Green Bridge, Approx 2 minutes walk to the College) – Both ways.
908 – Croeserw to Neath College (Roman Way: Neath Abbey Road, Approx. 2 minutes walk to the College) – Both ways.
56 – Pontardawe College (stops at Jubilee, around the corner from the College) to Neath College (stops outside A/B block) – Both ways.
Bertha Road, Margam, SA13 2AL
909 – Neath College (Roman Way: Neath Abbey Road) to Afan College – Both ways.
Alloy Industrial Estate, Pontardawe, SA8 4EN
903 – Abercraf to Pontardawe College (Stops at Post Office on Stryd Fawr, 2 minutes walk to the College) – Both ways.
905 – Cwmtwrch to Pontardawe College (Stops at Post Office on Stryd Fawr, 2 minutes walk to the College) – Both ways.
56 – Neath College (outside A/B block) to Pontardawe College (stops at Jubilee, approx. 2 minutes walk to the College) – Both ways.
Llandarcy Park, Neath, SA10 6JD
Service Llandarcy – Roman Way: Neath Abbey Road to Llandarcy College – Leaves Neath at 9:00am to Llandarcy and picks up at Llandarcy at 4:10pm.
Swansea and Maesteg do not have College buses, public transport must be used. Please use the postcode checker on the First Cymru website to find the most accurate route from your home address.
Times are subject to change. First Cymru provides the service.
There is a mixture of college-only and public shared buses for our students to use. Some College only buses have links to public shared buses. Please click here to see a complete guide of buses that will take you to our Brecon and Newtown campuses.
Times are subject to change. Powys County Council and other sub-companies provide the service.
Limited car parking is available at all campuses free of charge.
Please take all reasonable care and attention to:
- Watch your speed.
- Do not park directly outside residents’ homes.
- Keep noise levels to a minimum.
- Please remember that the College always aims to be a good neighbour within the community.
- Note that incorrect parking on a public road may subject you to prosecution.
All drivers must comply with the driving and parking restrictions in operation in/around the campuses.
NPTC Group of Colleges does not accept responsibility for vehicles or their contents. All vehicles are parked at the owner’s risk.
