Course Funding
Funding your education course could be easier and cheaper than you initially think. If you work and think that free courses are unavailable to you because you are employed, this may not be the case. There are a range of funding options available to those in employment:
Low Wage Entitlement – Do you earn £17,004 or less?
If you are employed but earn an annual gross salary of £17,004 or less, you may be eligible to study a variety of Level 1 and full Level 2 courses for free. The £17,004 is based on your own, individual income, not a combined household income so your partner’s income does not contribute towards this figure.
Plus, if you are currently on Furlough and your full salary is usually above this figure but your reduced, 80% salary takes you under the £17,004 threshold at the time of enrolment, this funding stream may also be open to you.
Access to this funding also depends upon on where you reside.
Not Currently Employed and Claiming a State Benefit
If you are not currently in employment and claiming a state benefit, you may be eligible to study a variety of Level 1 and full Level 2 courses for free. This is dependent upon the qualification you wish to study and the supplying of appropriate evidence of your benefit.
Access to this funding also depends on where you reside.
Advanced Learner Loans
If you are aged over 19 and wish to study an eligible Level 3 course, you could apply for an Advanced Learner Loan to cover the cost of the course tuition fees. Loans are available on a wide range of courses and you won’t have to pay anything back until you are earning over £26,575 per year.
Lifetime Skills Guarantee
September 2020 saw the Prime Minister announce the Lifetime Skills Guarantee, meaning from April 2021, any adult aged 24 and over, living in the Lancashire region, not yet holding a full level 3 qualification (or higher) will be able to study their first level 3 qualification with us, free of charge.
Part of the wider £2.5 billion National Skills Fund, which aims to support immediate economic recovery and future skills needs, by boosting the supply of skills that employers require, the Lifetime Skills Guarantee allows us to offer a range of courses to any adult meeting the above criteria.
For full details of all eligible courses, please visit our website by clicking here.
Instalments
If your chosen course costs £150 or more, you can choose to pay in instalments, by Direct Debit. To pay in this way, your payments must be a minimum of £25 per month and there must be at least three direct debit payments and a maximum of twelve.
Your first payment will be made when you enrol, with further payments made on the first day of the month.
Other Options
If you wish, you can pay by cash*, card or personal cheque. If your employer is paying your fees, we can organise for them to receive an invoice. When you enrol, please supply evidence of your employer agreeing to pay your fees.
*You can pay up to a maximum of £500 in cash.