Funding & Finance

Tuition Fees are payable by adult students unless the following applies:

• You are studying your first Level 1 or 2 qualification and you are aged 19-23 years on the day you start the course not the day you enrol.
• This is your first level 3 qualification and you are aged 19-23 on the day that you start the course not the day you enrol.
• You are studying up to Level 2 and you are unemployed and in receipt of any of the following welfare benefits: Income Support, Job Seekers Allowance, Universal Credit, Employment Support Allowance, Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit, Pension Credit, Disability Living Allowance
• You are studying up to level 2 and you are employed (full or part time) and your annual gross salary is less than £15,736.50.

If you are aged 19 – 23 on Level 3 or 4 course and already hold a Level 3 qualification, you may be eligible for an Advanced Learning Loan to cover the cost of the Tuition Fees. Any exam/registration fees will not be covered by the loan.

If you are aged 24 and over on Level 3 or 4 course you may be eligible for an Advanced Learning Loan to cover the cost of the Tuition Fees. Any exam/registration fees will not be covered by the loan.

If you are in receipt of an Advanced Learning Loan, and you live in a low income household or receiving benefits, you can apply to the Advanced Learning Loan Bursary Fund for additional help with the costs of course related travel, childcare and other costs.

If you are aged 19 and over and are looking to study a Level 3 or above Further Education course, you may be able to apply for a low-interest 19+ Advanced Learner Loan to cover the cost of tuition fees for courses.

Advanced Learner Loans don’t depend on your income, there are no credit checks and you don’t need to repay anything until you’ve finished your course and are earning over £21,000 a year.

Many of the Adult and Part Time Courses available at College offer the 19+ Advanced Learner Loan option. To see if your course qualifies take a look at our Adult and Part -Time Course guide. All courses that have a green arrow indicate they are available on a 19+ Advanced Learner Loan option.

To be eligible to apply for the 19+ Advanced Learner Loan, you need to be:

• Aged 19 or over on the first day of your course (there’s no upper age limit)
• Starting your course on or after 1 August 2016
• Living in the UK on the first day of your course and have lived in the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man for three years immediately before this
• UK or EU National
• Studying at an approved College or training organisation in England
• Enrolling onto an eligible course at Level 3 and above which includes: full Level 3 and above qualifications which are approved for public funding. These include A-Levels, Access to HE Diplomas and other Diplomas and Certificates

Repayments Explained

• You do not pay any course fees upfront
• You will only have to start making repayments the April after you have completed your course and are earning over £21,000 a year (which is £404 a week or £1,750 a month). Until then you don’t need to pay back anything
• If your income drops below £21,000 – loan repayments stop
• Each month you pay back 9% of any income over £21,000. For example, if you earn £22,000 a year, your monthly repayment will be £7 a month
• You can make voluntary repayments at any time

For more information about 19+ Advanced Learner Loans and how to apply, visit Student Finance England and www.gov.uk.

Adult students on courses up to Level 2 from low income households or receiving benefits can apply to the Learner Support Fund for additional help with the costs of course related travel, childcare and other costs. It should be noted that these funds are limited and no awards can be guaranteed to students.

Help with childcare costs

If you need assistance with the cost of childcare while you are at College, you may be eligible for help by applying through the Learner Support Fund or the Advanced Learning Loan Bursary
Awards will be made to eligible students based on income levels in the household and using an Ofsted registered childcare provider to help with the costs whilst on the course.

Council tax exemption

Any full time student aged 18 and over can also apply for Council Tax Exemption from their Local Authority. Council Tax Exemption Certificates are available from the Enrolment Booths within Student Services.