Adult Finances
DO YOU WORK? DO YOU THINK FREE COURSES ARE UNAVAILABLE TO YOU BECAUSE YOU ARE EMPLOYED? THINK AGAIN!
LOW WAGE ENTITLEMENT
If you are employed and earning an annual gross salary of £18,525 or less you may be eligible to study a variety of Level 1 and full Level 2 courses, for FREE! This is based on your own income, so your partner’s income does not count towards this figure.
FINANCIAL SUPPORT PACKAGES
Depending upon your individual circumstances, our specialist team of advisers can help you to access a wide range of funding to pay for the cost of tuition, equipment, kit, travel expenses and even childcare.
Our advisers will work with you to determine all available funding, as rules and guidance can be complex and entitlement varies from person to person, as it is based upon individual circumstances.
ADVANCED LEARNER LOANS
If you are aged over 19 and wish to study a 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 will not have to pay anything back until you are earning over £27,295 a year (this is 21/22 funding information, which is likely to increase in 22/23).
INSTALMENTS
If your chosen course costs £150 or more, you can choose to pay in instalments by direct debit. To pay by instalments, your payments must be a minimum of £25 per month and there must be at least three direct debt 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 come to enrol, please bring evidence with you that your employer has agreed to pay.
*Cash is limited to a maximum of £500.
BURSARIES
The College has access to a number of bursary funds aimed at supporting learners with specific financial difficulties which may prevent them from taking part in learning. Eligibility for the funds will be based on household income, and recent evidence of this must be submitted with your application.
Bursary applications can be made online.
CHILDCARE
The Bursary Fund can help to subsidise childcare costs for eligible learners aged 20+. Eligibility for funding is dependent on household income. A maximum childcare amount of £175 per week per child is available.
To apply you must first complete a Bursary Application online. Once you have completed this, please fill in the Childcare Subsidy application.
WORK PLACEMENTS
If your programme of study requires a period of compulsory work experience you will need to apply for this separately by completing the Childcare Work Placement Form. Any assistance with this will be subject to available funds.