If you are aged under 19, full time courses are free. If you’re aged 19 or over, depending on your circumstances, certain courses may be free. You may still have to pay for exam/registration or materials costs, but our Learner Support Fund might be able to help you with these costs.
If you have to pay for your Level 3 course, you can apply for an Advanced Learner Loan to help with the costs. Loan eligibility doesn’t depend on your income and there are no credit checks.
How much you get depends on:
- the type of course
- your course fees
- the maximum loan available for your course.
The minimum loan you can get is £300 and is paid directly to your college or training provider. You don’t have to borrow the full cost of your course – you can pay for some of it yourself.
You must be 19 or older on the first day of your course and your course must be a Level 3, 4, 5 or 6 qualification, e.g. A Levels, Level 3 or Level 4 Diploma, an HND, HNC or foundation degree.
Full details of eligibility and how to apply are available at https://www.gov.uk/advanced-learner-loan/overview
Some courses are ‘full-cost’ and these full-cost courses must be paid for by the students themselves; fees for full-cost courses vary and must be paid up front.
To find out more, telephone 0800 622006.
The Learner Support Fund helps those students who would otherwise be unable to participate in Further Education. Priority groups are learners who are economically or socially disadvantaged.
For adult learners who meet the criteria we can support childcare, equipment, trips, books and uniform. There is also a small amount of funding available to pay for exam and course fees. Support is subject to availability of funding.
FREE MEALS
If you are 19 or over and continuing on the same study programme (19+ continuers) you started before you turned 19, or you have an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP). Students are eligible for a free meal where they meet the criteria and satisfy the residency criteria set out in the EFA ‘Funding regulation’ guidance for the 2023-24 academic year.
For all enquiries about the Learner Support Fund contact [email protected] or freephone 0800 622006.
For all enquiries about adult course fees, freephone 0800 622006.
