If you’re aged 19 and over there may be a cost incurred in order to study your course. This is because the funding guidelines change for students aged 19-23, they change again once you’re over the age of 23.
We’ve put together some information to give you guidance on whether you should expect to pay for your course or not.
Course Fees Explained...
Paying for course fees is based on several factors including: your age, whether you’re in employment, and which course you’d like to study.
The information below is set out by course level. You should have an idea of which level of course you’ll be studying with us. Please click on the course level for more information on funding
Fee Assessment
When you enrol our enrolment team will complete a fee assessment with you. We'll let you know whether you are eligible to claim any funding. If you meet the funding requirements there will be no fee for the course.
ENGLISH AND MATHEMATICS
STUDY ELIGIBILITY
Adult learners can access adult English and Mathematics at either Functional Skills or GCSE level. This will be determined by existing qualification level held and current ability which will be determined by undertaking a diagnostic assessment.
Tuition Fees
All adult learners are entitled to free tuition when studying a Functional Skill or GCSE English or Mathematics qualification as long as they have not already achieved a pass at the same level (Functional Skill) or grade A*-C or 9-4 in GCSE.
ESOL COURSES
Fees & Supporting Information 2018-2019
Please note the course fees detailed below only apply to UK/EU residents. For International students an hourly rate will apply.
| ESOL Courses | ||
|---|---|---|
| LNG6590 | Day Full Time – 2 lessons, 4 hours a week | £400 |
| LEG6591 | Evening Part Time - Tuesday Evenings – 2 hours | £205 |
| LPE1000 & LPE1060 | Late starters to these courses (After Easter) | £3 per hour |
| International Fees | £8 per hour | |
Entry / Level 1 course
STUDY ELIGIBILITY
Places on Entry/Level 1 courses are subject to individual circumstances for adult learners and may not be available/suitable for all learners. Curriculum staff will make you aware of these limitations at Welcome Events.
Tuition fees
Students eligible to join Entry/Level 1 courses (not including ESOL – See separate ESOL Page) will be eligible for full funding if they do not already hold a full level 2 qualification. There will be a disclaimer to sign as part of the enrolment paperwork advising of your intent to ideally progress to a Level 2 course (where available) in the same subject area. Loughborough College can then use this to claim full funding on your behalf, making the course tuition fee free.
Unemployed and in receipt of benefits
Adult learners who are unemployed and in receipt of Job Seekers Allowance or Employment Support Allowance (Work Related Activity Group Only) will be eligible for full funding from the Education and Skills Funding Agency.
In addition, any adult learner in receipt of any other benefit, who is also unemployed, actively looking for work, and where this course will help them to get a job, is also eligible for full funding. There will be a disclaimer to sign as part of the enrolment paperwork. Loughborough College can then use this to claim full funding on your behalf, making the course tuition fee free.
New for 2018 - employed and in receipt of low wage
Adult learners who are employed but cannot contribute towards the cost of tuition fees may be eligible for full funding from the Education and Skills Funding Agency. To be eligible you would need to be earning less than £15,736.50 annual gross salary.
You would need to evidence this with a wage slip dated within 3 months of the enrolment start date or by providing us with a copy of a current employment contract which clearly states gross monthly/annual wages. The college will need to retain a copy of this evidence.
Level 2 course
Study eligibility
Places on Level 2 courses are subject to individual circumstances for adult learners and may not be available/suitable for all learners. Curriculum staff will make you aware of these limitations at Welcome Events.
Tuition fees
First Full Level 2. Adult learners aged 19-23 as at 31st August 2018 who will be completing a full qualification at Level 2 for the first time may be able to claim full funding from the Skills Funding Agency if they enrol on an eligible course. There will be a disclaimer to sign as part of the enrolment paperwork. Loughborough College can then use this to claim full funding on your behalf, making the course tuition fee free.
Unemployed and in receipt of benefits
Adult learners studying level 2 qualifications (even if it is not “full”) who are unemployed and in receipt of Job Seekers Allowance or Employment Support Allowance (Work Related Activity Group Only) may be eligible for full funding from the Education and Skills Funding Agency. In addition, any adult learner in receipt of any other benefit, who is also unemployed, actively looking for work, and where this course will help them to get a job, may also be eligible for full funding.
There will be a disclaimer to sign as part of the enrolment paperwork. Loughborough College can then use this to claim full funding on your behalf, making the courses tuition fee free.
New for 2018 - employed and in receipt of low wage
Adult learners who are employed but cannot contribute towards the cost of tuition fees may be eligible for full funding from the Education and Skills Funding Agency. To be eligible you would need to be earning less than £15,736.50 annual gross salary.
You would need to evidence this with a wage slip dated within 3 months of the enrolment start date or by providing us with a copy of a current employment contract which clearly states gross monthly/annual wages. The college will need to retain a copy of this evidence.
Level 3 course
Study eligibility
Places on Level 3 courses tend to be subject to more stringent entry criteria, but are more readily accessible to adult learners. Funding is slightly different at Level 3 as there are some differences based on age, which we will cover below.
tuition fees – 19-23 year old
19-23 YEARS OLD AND FIRST FULL LEVEL 3?
If you are aged 19-23 as at 31st August 2018 and this will be your First Full Level 3 qualification, then you may be able to claim full funding from the Education and Skills Funding Agency if you enrol on an eligible course.
There will be a disclaimer to sign as part of the enrolment paperwork. Loughborough College can then use this to claim full funding on your behalf, making the course tuition fee free.
19+ AND NOT YOUR FIRST FULL LEVEL 3?
From September 2016 the Government extended the Advanced Learner Loans to incorporate learners aged 19 and over studying eligible Further Education qualifications at Level 3.
Learners will be able to apply for an Advanced Learner Loan which will cover all or part of the tuition fee costs for the qualification they wish to study. Learners can choose to self-fund and pay these costs themselves should they not wish to apply for an Advanced Learner Loan.
LEVEL 4 & ABOVE
STUDY ELIGIBILITY
Places on Further Education courses at Level 4 and above tend to be subject to more stringent entry criteria, but are more readily accessible to adult learners.
From September 2016 the Government extended the Advanced Learner Loans to incorporate learners aged 19 and over studying eligible Further Education qualifications at Levels 4/5/6. Learners will be able to apply for an Advanced Learner Loan which will cover all or part of the tuition fee costs for the qualification they wish to study. Learners can choose to self-fund and pay these costs themselves should they not wish to apply for an Advanced Learner Loan.
BENEFITS
If you get any benefits including any of the following means tested benefits and are not working, you may be able to get free tuition;
Benefit
- Job Seekers Allowance
- Employment Support Allowance
- Working Families Tax Credit
- Council Tax Benefit
- Pension Tax Credit
- Income Support
- Housing Benefit
To get free tuition we will need to see your benefit documents or a CURRENT letter of eligibility (a UB40 is not acceptable) with your name on it.
IDENTIFICATION EVIDENCE
We are required to confirm positive identification of all students.
Therefore at enrolment you will be required to provide one of the following forms of identification;
- Passport (current)
- Visa (current) if applicable
- National Identification card
- ARC Card (Biometric card)
- Home Office decision/support letters
- National Insurance Card or letter
- Full/Provisional Driving Licence
- Birth Certificate
Course Fee Payment
PAYMENT OPTIONS
PAYING FEES YOURSELF
If you are required to pay for your course then you will have one of two options;
- Pay your course tuition fees in full when you enrol.
- Take an instalment option. This will mean paying 25% when you enrol, and then setting up a direct debit to pay three further instalments in the three months following enrolment.
Students accepting places on a course with fees due are liable for those fees until they are paid in full.
ADVANCED LEARNER LOAN
You must apply for an advanced learner loan before attending enrolment. You will receive confirmation from the loans company that you have submitted an application and if approved student finance England will write to you to confirm your loan amount. You must provide us with that confirmation paperwork.
PLEASE NOTE: If you have not submitted your loans application before attending enrolment you will be asked to pay a £100 refundable deposit to secure enrolment.
Employer paying
If your employer is paying your course fees you must provide evidence from them to confirm that they will be paying.
The employer needs to confirm your name, how much they will be paying and a name and address of who we can invoice.
The college will invoice the company for the amount specified once you have completed your enrolment.
