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Adult Funding Guidance

Further education
Adult funding guidance 2023/24

Study eligibility

Adult learners can access adult English and Mathematics at either Functional Skills or GCSE level. This will be determined by the existing qualification level held and current ability level, 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.

Fees & Supporting Information 2023-2024

Please note the course fees detailed below only apply to UK/EU residents. For International students an hourly rate will apply.

Courses
LNG6590 - Day Part Time - 2 lessons, 4 hours a week £400
LEG6591 - Evening Part Time - Tuesday Evenings - 2 hours £205
LPE1001 - Community Part Time - 2 lessons, 4 hours a week £385
International Fees Part Time - Tuesday Evenings - 2 hours £8 per hour

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 Applicant Events.

Tuition fees

Students eligible to join Entry/Level 1 courses (not including ESOL - See separate ESOL Page) will be eligible for full funding from the Education and Skills Funding Agency 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.

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 staf will make you aware of these limitations at Applicant Events.

Tuition fees

First Full Level 2. Adult learners aged 19-23 as at 31st August 2023 who will be completing a full qualifcation at Level 2 for the frst time may be able to claim full funding from the Education and 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 who are unemployed and in receipt of Job Seekers Allowance, Employment Support Allowance or Universal Credits will be eligible for full funding from the Education and Skills Funding Agency. In addition, any learners whose take home pay (disregarding Universal Credit payments and other benefts) is less than £617 a month (learner is sole adult in their beneft claim) or £988 a month (learner has a joint beneft claim with their partner), who wants to secure employment, is 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.

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 £20,319 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.

Study eligibility

19-23 years old and first full level 3?

If you are aged 19-23 as at 31st August 2023 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 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 3 free courses for jobs offer

As part of the Lifetime Skills Guarantee, from 1 April 2022 adults over 19 wishing to study an approved course, and who meet the definition of 'low wage' or 'unemployed', could be fully funded. This offer is also known as the free courses for jobs ofer. A full list of eligible courses on this scheme can be accessed here: www.gov.uk/guidance/free-courses-for-jobs

Unemployed and in receipt of benefits

Adult learners who are unemployed and in receipt of Job Seekers Allowance, Employment Support Allowance or Universal Credits will be eligible for full funding from the Education and Skills Funding Agency. In addition, any learners whose take home pay (disregarding Universal Credit payments and other benefts) is less than £617 a month (learner is sole adult in their beneft claim) or £988 a month (learner has a joint beneft claim with their partner), who wants to secure employment, is 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.

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 £20,319 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.

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.

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. Where there isn't the option to apply for an Advanced Learner Loan, learners can choose to self-fund and pay these costs themselves, or alternatively apply for a Higher Education Loan, see www.gov.uk/student-finance/who-qualifies for further information on this option.

Additional information

Payment options

If you are required to pay for your course then you will have one of two options;

  1. Pay your course tuition fees in full when you enrol.
  2. 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.

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;

  • Job Seekers Allowance
  • Employment Support Allowance
  • Working Families Tax Credit
  • Council Tax Benefit
  • Pension Tax Credit
  • Income Support
  • Housing Benefit
  • Universal Credit

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
  • EEA Share Code, evidencing current residential status in the UK