During your time as a student at CAVC, you may be eligible for financial support to help you come to college or study.
CAVC students aged between 16-18 years of age can access discounted travel on bus or train to help travel to and from college.
If you are enrolled on a full-time college course at CAVC and aged 16-18 you can apply for discounted travel on bus or trains. This discounted travel is available to you wherever you live and whatever your household income is.
Bus
Apply online for mytravelpass and use bus travel for £1 per journey or maximum £3 per day
To apply, go to: MyTravelPass
This pass is available for 16-21 year olds. You can apply once you are 16 years of age and the pass is free to all. We recommend you apply before you start at college, so you’re ready from the start of term.
This can be used on bus providers across the region including Cardiff Bus, Stagecoach, Newport Bus, First Cymru and Adventure Travel.
Train
Age 16-17? Apply for the 16-17 Saver to get 50% off train travel
The 16-17 Saver costs £35 and is available to use immediately. The pass is valid for 1 year from the date of purchase and can be used even if you turn 18 that year. Once purchased you can get 50% off train travel across the Transport for Wales network. We recommend you apply before you start at college, so you’re ready from the start of term.
To apply, go to: 16-17 Saver | Half Price Travel | Railcards
Age 18? Apply for the 18 Saver to get 50% off train travel
The 18 Saver costs £25 and is available to use immediately. The pass is valid for 1 year from the date of purchase and can be used even if you turn 19 that year. Once purchased you can get 50% off train travel across the Transport for Wales network. We recommend you apply before you start at college, so you’re ready from the start of term.
The 18 Saver railcard is available to purchase from TfW station ticket offices.
Find out more online by visiting the Transport for Wales website
Supported Student Travel is available to apply for if all below applies to you:
If you apply for Supported Student Travel, are eligible and awarded it, the college will purchase and issue you with a free travel pass each term. There is a small termly fee for some learners, depending on where you live:
| Where you live | Termly fee (for those awarded Supported Travel) |
| Zone 1: Live in Cardiff or the Vale of Glamorgan | Free pass – no termly fee |
| Zone 2 (neighbouring local authorities) Bridgend, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Caerphilly & Newport | £25 per term or £75 for academic year |
| Zone 3: Wider local authorities: incl. Monmouthshire, Torfaen, Blaenau Gwent, Merthyr Tydfil and wider authorities | Supported Travel not available via college. See Discounted Student Travel Schemes with travel providers or contact your local authority for support. If you live in Zone 3, are under 19 and a Year 2 or progressing learner who received FCF Travel support last academic year, please contact StudentFinanceTeam@cavc.ac.uk |
For Zone 2 learners, this fee can be paid termly by set dates or as a one-off annual payment in September. These payments are non-refundable.
You must apply and pay the fee before the pass will be processed. Bus passes can usually be issued within 2 working days, train passes can take up to 10-15 working days.
Applying for Supported Student Travel via the Financial Contingency Fund (FCF)
You must upload evidence to the application form when you apply, if you don’t your application cannot be processed. Applications received without the required evidence will not be considered for funding.
College funding to support learners in financial hardship is limited. Applying does not guarantee support and assessment can take up to 4-6 weeks from application. Applications for learners aged 16-18 will begin being assessed and confirmed from Monday 17th August. Support is awarded to eligible learners on a first come, first served basis, prioritising the most in need learners. Support is not guaranteed until you receive written confirmation.
Apply today for Supported Student Travel via the Financial Contingency Fund (FCF)
All CAVC learners can use our CAVC Rider.
This runs each day between our City Centre Campus, Cardiff International Sports Campus, Barry Campus and International Centre for Aerospace Training (ICAT).
To use the bus you just need to show your CAVC Student ID Badge to the driver.
Download CAVC Rider bus timetable for the 2026-27 academic year here
If you have a household income of less than £27,273 may be eligible to apply for the following financial support.
EMA is a weekly payment of £40 to support 16-18 year olds with the costs of studying. It is provided through Student Finance Wales. Payments are made every 2 weeks, as long as you meet the college’s attendance requirements.
You could be eligible if you study a full-time course at CAVC can answer yes to all of these:
For full eligibility criteria, visit the Student Finance Wales website here
For full details and eligibility criteria, visit the Student Finance Wales website here
Apply for EMA at Student Finance Wales here
Sign your 26/27 EMA Learning Agreement Now! here
Need help completing the form?
Contact our Student Finance Team on StudentFinanceTeam@cavc.ac.uk
You can also apply for support with other costs through the College’s Financial Contingency Fund (FCF). This fund, provided to the college by Medr, can cover costs including:
| Fund | Eligibility for students aged 16-18 |
| Free meals at college | 16-18 years of age, in line with Welsh Government criteria for Free School Meals. If you were eligible for Free School Meals in school you can apply to access this at college too. To find out more click here |
| Childcare | Household income of below £27,273. Funding provided for one child only and up to set amount. To find out more click here. |
Applying for financial support
You must upload evidence to the application form when you apply, if you don’t your application cannot be processed. Applications received without the required evidence will not be considered for funding.
College funding to support learners in financial hardship is limited. Applying does not guarantee support and assessment can take up to 4-6 weeks from application. Applications for learners aged 16-18 will begin being assessed and confirmed from Monday 17th August. Support is awarded to eligible learners on a first come, first served basis, prioritising the most in need learners. Support is not guaranteed until you receive written confirmation.
Apply today for Financial Support for meals or childcare via the Financial Contingency Fund (FCF)
Your privacy is important to us. The college is registered under the data protection act. Personal data will only be gathered and used for the purposes stated in the College’s registration under the Act. Due to the College’s Data Protection Policy, the College will not discuss this application with any persons other than you (the applicant) without your permission.
Got a question or need help completing the form?
Contact our Student Finance Team on StudentFinanceTeam@cavc.ac.uk
If you have a household income of less than £18,370 you are eligible to apply for the following financial support.
The Welsh Government Learning Grant (WGLG) is a grant for students aged 19 or over who are studying a Further Education course at College and have a household income of less than £18,370. If you are studying full-time you could receive payment of up to £1,919 per year, or, if studying part-time you could receive up to £959 per year.
For full eligibility criteria, visit the Student Finance Wales website here
Apply for WGLG at Student Finance Wales here
Sign your 26/27 WGLG Learning Agreement here
Need help completing the form?
Contact our Student Finance Team on StudentFinanceTeam@cavc.ac.uk
You can also apply for support with other costs through the College’s Financial Contingency Fund (FCF). This fund, provided to the college by the Welsh Government, can cover costs including:
| Fund | Eligibility for students aged 19+ |
| Free meals at college | Only awarded in exceptional circumstances to learners aged 19+ |
| Supported Travel | 19+ years of age, eligible for Welsh Government Learning Grant (WGLG) and living 2 or more miles from campus of study |
| Childcare, meals and travel | Household income of below £18,370. Funding provided for one child only and up to set amount. |
Applying for financial support
You must upload evidence to the application form when you apply, if you don’t your application cannot be processed. Applications received without the required evidence will not be considered for funding.
College funding to support learners in financial hardship is limited. Applying does not guarantee support and assessment can take up to 4-6 weeks from application. Applications for learners aged 19 and over will begin being assessed from Monday 28th September, apart from applications for Childcare, which are assessed on a first come, first serve basis in date order from the point of when applications open. Support is awarded to eligible learners on a first come, first served basis, prioritising the most in need learners. Support is not guaranteed until you receive written confirmation.
Apply today for Financial Support for meals or childcare via the Financial Contingency Fund (FCF)
Your privacy is important to us. The college is registered under the data protection act. Personal data will only be gathered and used for the purposes stated in the College’s registration under the Act. Due to the College’s Data Protection Policy, the College will not discuss this application with any persons other than you (the applicant) without your permission.
Got a question or need help completing the form?
Contact our Student Finance Team on StudentFinanceTeam@cavc.ac.uk
Learners who find themselves to be in financial hardship may be able to get support form other external agencies or organisations. Please click on the links below for more information:
The King’s Trust - The Prince’s Trust Development Awards can provide support with course fees, as well as help to purchase any essential kit or uniform you may need for your course. Please CLICK HERE to go to their contact page and make an enquiry today.
Turn2us - https://www.turn2us.org.uk/ - a national charity providing practical help to people who are struggling financially
Government website - https://gov.wales/discretionary-assistance-fund-daf - The Discretionary Assistance Fund provides two types of grant that you do not need to pay back.
Child Benefit – https://www.gov.uk/child-benefit - full time learners aged up to 20 are still eligible for Child Benefit, proof of student status will be required and can be requested by completing this form.
CAVC Wellbeing Team – if you need any support outside of what is outlined above, you can contact the college Wellbeing Team; they can advise of any external agencies who may be able to help you, as well as providing short-term emotional support and practical support such as foodbank vouchers or travel scratch cards – you can reach them by emailing learnerfeelsafeteam@cavc.ac.uk.
Family Action - With Family Action, students who are on a low income can access grants of up to £300 to achieve their goals.
Grants are available for laptops, smartphones, travel to college, books and equipment that you need for your course.
You may be able to apply for a grant if you:
are in receipt of means tested benefits OR are dependant on parents/carers who are in receipt of means tested benefits OR are an asylum seeker with an Application Registration Card (ARC) AND are studying on a course up to and including Level 3 in England OR up-to and including level 6 in Scotland. - Family Action: Supporting families at every age and stage of life
Family learning – School Essentials Grant (previously Pupil Development Grant) - The School Essentials Grant is available to help families on a low income, with children who attend a maintained primary or secondary school.
You can use the grant to buy things like:
school uniform, sports kit, uniform for enrichment activities, such as community sports school bags, and stationery
You cannot use this grant to buy IT equipment - https://www.cardiff.gov.uk/ENG/resident/Schools-and-learning/Financial-support/School-Essentials-Grant/Pages
Early Years Funding - The Cardiff Young People’s Fund is available to help young people continue their education, or to assist in their entry to a profession, trade or vocation.
You can apply for both the Cardiff Young People's Fund and the Craddock Wells Bursary.
No further applications will be accepted once all available funding has been allocated in a given financial year.
https://www.cardiff.gov.uk/ENG/resident/Schools-and-learning/Early-years-and-child-care/Early-Years-Funding/Pages/Early-Years-Funding