Free courses

You don’t normally have to pay course fees if the following applies to your age, employment status or choice of qualification.

AGE AS AT 31 AUGUST 2018	EMPLOYMENT STATUS	COURSES YOU CAN STUDY FOR FREE
16-18	Any	All level 1, 2 and 3 courses are free for 16-18s.
Any	Any	Entry level English and maths, GCSE English and maths and functional skills English & maths are free, as long as you have not already achieved grade C/grade 4 or above before you enrol.
19-24 Holding an Education Health Care Plan (EHCP)	Any	All courses until you reach the age of 25.
19-23	Any	You can study your FIRST level 1, level 2 or level 3 qualification for free, provided you have not already achieved a qualification at that level previously. (See Prior qualification chart for list of qualifications at each level )
19+	Unemployed, looking for work and in receipt of eligible benefits*	If you are unemployed and in receipt of eligible benefits, there is no cost for studying a level 1 or level 2 qualification, even if you already have a qualification at that level.

*Eligible benefits include Job Seekers’ Allowance (JSA), Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and Universal Credit. Wider benefits will also be considered on an individual basis.

Fees & funding

Under the following circumstances, you’ll be required to pay some or all of the course fees, although support may be available either through student loans or our student support team. Please enquire.

AGE AS AT 31 AUGUST 2018	EMPLOYMENT STATUS	COURSE TYPE & ELIGIBILITY
19-23 and 24+	Employed	Level 1 & level 2 qualifications: you may be entitled to up to 50% discount on level 1 and level 2 courses.
19-23	Any	Level 3 qualifications: you will need to pay full course fees if you already have a level 3 qualification. You can take out an advanced learner loan for the entire cost which is only paid back once you earn over £25,000 per year (If this is your first level 3 qualification, the course is free – see the table opposite).
24+	Any	Level 3 qualifications: full course fees apply whether you have a level 3 qualification already or not. You can take out an advanced learner loan to pay for the course. This means the government pays the cost of your course fees in the form of a loan. Your annual repayment will be 9% of any income of any income you earn over £25,000. An example of payments: You pay £15 monthly if you earned £27,000. https://www.gov.uk/advanced-learner-loan/ repayments (for payment reference )
19-23 and 24+	Any	Level 4 & 5 (Higher Education): full tuition fees are payable. However, you should be eligible for an advanced learner loan or HE Loan. This means the government pays the cost of your course fees in the form of a loan. An example of payments: You pay £15 monthly if you earned £27,000 in a year.

Information is correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication (March 2018) but may be subject to change. Please contact student services for up-to-date information on advanced learner loans and HE loans.

Guide to prior qualification levels

The table below should help you identify which level you are qualified to already. If you are unsure, please contact our student services team who will be happy to review your circumstances and offer advice.

PRIOR ATTAINMENT LEVEL	QUALIFICATION EQUIVALENT
Level 1	• GCSE grades D-G or 3-1 • Level 1 Award/Certificate/Diploma (e.g. BTEC/ CACHE/City & Guilds) • Level 1 Functional Skills • Level 1 NVQ • Level 1 Technical Awards
Level 2	• 5 or more GCSE grades A*- C or 9 - 4 • 1 A level or 2 AS levels • Level 2 BTEC or City & Guilds Certificates (15+ credits) • Level 2 or Higher Diploma (e.g. BTEC/City & Guilds) • Level 2 NVQ • Level 2 Technical Certificates
Level 3	• 2 A levels or 4 AS levels • Level 3 BTEC or City & Guilds Diploma • Level 3 NVQ • Level 3 Technical or Applied

Funding Guide

Free courses

Fees & funding

Guide to prior qualification levels

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