Financial information over 19s

Please contact the Helpzone on FREEPHONE 08000 380123 for the latest financial information.

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Tuition Fee Remission - Level 2 Entitlement

Tuition Fee Remission - Level 3 Entitlement

Tuition Fee Remission - Welfare Benefits

‘Full Cost’ Courses

Professional & Career Development Loan

Adult Learning Grant (ALG)

Learner Support Fund

Childcare

If you are over 19 years of age then you may be required to pay all, or part of any tuition fees and exam fees. In addition to other costs like materials and equipment, you should be aware of the costs before you start the course, such as childcare if you have a family, to avoid finding yourself in difficulty. There are several funds and subsidies for courses if you are aged over 19, especially if you are on means tested benefits. Please read the following pages if you feel that your finances may be a barrier to learning:

*Please be aware that some of our courses are “full cost” which means that remission and funding is not available for them. Please refer to the icons in our prospectus - ‘Adult Learning Guide’ to identify these courses.

Tuition Fee Remission - Level 2 Entitlement

If you are aged 19 or over and do not already hold any of the following qualifications or higher, you will be able to enrol on your first Full Level 2 qualification without paying Tuition fees:

5 full GCSEs (including VGCSEs) grades A* to C

10 short GCSEs grades A* to C

1 full intermediate GNVQ plus 1 full GCSE grades A* to C

2 AS levels (including VCEs) grades A - E

1 A/A2 level (including VCEs) grades A - E

1 Advanced GNVQ

1 NVQ Level 2 pass or higher

1 full VRQ Level 2 pass or higher

1 First Diploma

1 Intermediate Certificate

1 Progression Award

This entitlement covers tuition fees for the First Full Level 2 qualification only, it does not cover additional fees such as Exam, Materials or Books. It also does not cover any additional qualification Course fees that you may wish to study. If you are undertaking a part time course please check the prospectus for the relevant icons next to your chosen course.

Tuition Fee Remission: Level 3 Entitlement

If you are aged between 19 and 24 and do not already hold any of the following qualifications or higher, you may be able to enrol on your first Full Level 3 qualification without paying Tuition fees -

4 AS levels (including VCEs) grades A - E

2 A/A2 levels (including VCEs) grades A - E

1 Advanced GNVQ pass or higher

1 NVQ Level 3 pass or higher

1 full VRQ Level 3 pass or higher

1 Access to HE course

1 Advanced Certificate

1 National Certificate

This entitlement covers tuition fees for the First Full Level 3 qualification only, it does not cover additional fees such as Exam, Materials or Books. It also does not cover any additional qualification Course fees that you may wish to study. If you are undertaking a part time course please check the prospectus for the relevant icons next to your chosen course.

Tuition Fee Remission - Welfare Benefits

On many of our courses, the tuition fee is ‘waived’ if you are in receipt of one of the means-tested benefit listed below or if you are a named adult dependant of someone who is in receipt of one of these benefits and you are not earning. (Please check that the course you wish to enrol on qualifies for fee remission)

Jobseekers Allowance

You must produce evidence at enrolment that you are receiving the appropriate benefit. Please ensure that the evidence you bring shows the type of benefit, together with your name and address. The evidence must be the original and dated within 6 months of the start date for your course.

Please note that fee remission applies to tuition (course) fees, not to any examination or other fees.

Fee remission is available on many courses which lead to a qualification. Please see the part time ‘Adult Guide’ or contact a member of Helpzone staff for courses not included.

‘Full Cost’ Courses

However, some of our part time provision is listed as full cost. This means that all learners must pay for their course fees and cannot apply for remission or reduction using any of these schemes. However, an instalment payment plan may be available depending on the length of the course. Please contact the Helpzone or Enrolments for further information.

Professional & Career Development Loan

‘Professional and Career Development Loans are bank loans that can be used to help pay for work related learning. You can borrow between £300 and £10,000 to help support the cost of up to two years of learning (or three years if it includes one year’s relevant unpaid practical work).

The Young People’s Learning Agency will pay the interest on the loan while you are learning and for one month afterwards. The loan can be used to pay course fees or other costs such as travel and living expenses. You can also use the loan to supplement other forms of support such as grants or bursaries.

Because the Professional and Career Development Loan is a commercial loan product, they should only be considered as an option once all other student funding options have been investigated.

For further information on financial assistance to support your learning, please visit

www.direct.gov.uk/adultlearning

or contact Careers Advice on 0800 100 900.

Our learning provider registration number is: 2575

Adult Learning Grant (ALG)

In June 2011, the government announced that the Adult Learner Grant is no longer available to new students. However, if you would have been eligible for the adult learning grant there us help available from the College Bursary Fund to help with contributions towards course costs such as bookes, equipment and travel.

Please see below for further information on the College Bursary Fund

College Bursary Fund

College bursary funds are available to assist students who may have difficulties in completing their course because of financial considerations. College bursary funds can contribute towards any of the costs associated with your studies, including childcare, exam fees, course books and materials and in some cases, travel (for learners aged over 19 only) The fund cannot help with tuition fees.

Your application to the fund will be means tested and proof of household income will be required. Priority is given to certain groups including those studying for their first full Level 2 or full Level 3. You must also be studying for a minimum of 6 guided learning hours per week (except for applications for help with childcare costs)

For further guidance please refer to the guidelines below.

In certain circumstances the fund may provide assistance if you have previously achieved the equivalent level or a higher level of qualification. This is sibject to review and will only be considered once all priority group applications have been assessed.

New Deal participants (except New Deal for Lone Parent) are not eligible for Learner Support Funds.

Please click here to download the Bursary Guidelines

Please click here to download the Bursary Application form

Please allow 15 working days for you application to be processed. This is only applicable for completed applications with all relevant income information. Incomplete applications will be returned and will delay the application process.

Fraudulent Claims

This does not happen often, but we must protect ourselves against the possibility of fraudulent claims. We ask for detailed information and may invite applicants for interview so we can distribute funds fairly. If a claim is considered fraudulent we will ask for any money awarded to you to be repaid in full. If you fail to repay your award we may take court action.

Childcare Section

Care to Learn

If you are under 20 and want to start or return to learning, Care to Learn may be able to pay for your childcare and associated travel costs. Care To Learn will be able to pay for Childcare costs while you learn, a deposit or registration (up to £250) if one is charged, childcare fees you must pay during holidays in order to retain your child’s place, and necessary travel expenses to and from your child carer. There are no set or minimum number of hours. You can choose to complete a part time or full time course.

Claiming Care to Learn will not affect your own or your families' benefits or allowances. You do not have to be on benefits in order to have your childcare paid for.

How to Claim

You can claim Care to Learn funding if you are under 20 and:

start a course of learning or training in a school, college or as a trainee with a work based learning provider that receives some public funding;

are caring for your own child(ren) - fathers are also eligible if they are the main carer;

are living in England; and

use a registered childcare provider/childminder.

Applications can be made for courses that start at any time.

To apply go to www.dfes.gov.uk/caretolearn

or telephone 0845 6002809

College Bursary Fund (childcare specific)

Learners requiring childcare support but who do not meet the criteria for Care to Learn may qualify for support from the Bursary Fund. Your application to the fund will be means tested and proof of household income will be required.

The upper household income level for support is currently set at £20,817 gross. There is usually a very high demand for support from this fund for childcare and it is therefore advisable to apply early each academic year.

Not all applications will be successful, and priority is given to those studying for their first Level 2 or first Level 3 qualification.

Tom Thumb Nursery (on site provision)

The college nursery, Tom Thumb, exists to support college learners and therefore you are encouraged to use this facility. However, places are Tom Thumb are limited, so it is advisable to contact the nursery as soon as possible to arrange a place for your child.

To find out more, please visit our Tom Thumb Nursery page

Other nursery / childcare provision

Financial support from the Learner Support Fund for other nursery or childminder provision will be considered at a capped rate, in line with Tom Thumb’s fees. You will be required to pay the additional costs, including holiday retainer fees. All alternative provision must be OFSTED registered. A limited number of breakfast / after-school clubs will be considered for support.

Under this scheme, all students will be expected to make a contribution to the cost of their childcare.

Attachments:

CBF-application-form-19+	92 Kb
CBF-guidelines	51 Kb