Tuition fees are free to everyone aged 16-18 (as of 31 August in the year in which the course starts), irrespective of the level of course to be studied.
If you are aged 19 or over, and studying a full-time level 1 or level 2 course, tuition fees are subject to funding allocation set by the Education and Skills Funding Agency and have yet to be agreed. For information fees for 2018/19 are £1,500 plus exam costs.
Costs for full-time level 3 courses and above will be considerably more, often running into several thousand pounds, but you can take out a loan for these courses. Click for more information about Advanced Learner Loans.
Fee Remission:
Jump to:
Level 2 Course Fee Remission
Level 3 Course Fee Remission
Part-Time and Leisure Learning
Further Information
Entry Level / Level 1 Fee Remission
16-18
No fee chargeable
19-23
No fee chargeable if:
- needed for progression for a first full level 2 qualification (Not for English, Maths or ESOL courses)
- Receiving Jobseeker’s allowance (JSA) including those receiving National Insurance Credits
- Receiving Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and are in the work-related activity group (WRAG)
- Receiving Universal Credit (contact student support for more information)
- If unemployed, want to become employed, and are in receipt of one of the following benefits: Income Support, Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit, Total Tax Credits^; and your earned income (disregarding benefits) is less than £338 a month (learner is sole adult in the benefit claim) or £541 a month (learner has a joint benefit claim with their partner)
- Employed and earn less than £16,009.50 annual gross salary.
Otherwise, the full fee is due.
24+
No fee is chargeable if:
- Receiving Jobseeker’s allowance (JSA) including those receiving National Insurance Credits
- Receiving Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and are in the work-related activity group (WRAG)
- Receiving Universal Credit (contact student support for more information)
- Unemployed and want to become employed and are in receipt of one of the following benefits: Income Support, Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit, Total Tax Credits^; and your earned income (disregarding benefits) is less than £338 a month (learner is sole adult in the benefit claim) or £541 a month (learner has a joint benefit claim with their partner)
- Employed and earn less than £16,009.50 annual gross salary.
Otherwise, the full fee is due. Remission is subject to eligible qualification.
^Total Tax Credits includes working tax credit and child tax credit and where the household income is less than £16,190 per annum
Level 2 Fee Remission
16-18
No fee chargeable
19-23
No fee chargeable if:
- Course is your first full level 2 qualification
- Receiving Jobseeker’s allowance (JSA) including those receiving National Insurance Credits
- Receiving Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and are in the work-related activity group (WRAG)
- Receiving Universal Credit (contact student support for more information)
- Unemployed and want to become employed and are in receipt of one of the following benefits: Income Support, Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit, Total Tax Credits^; and your earned income (disregarding benefits) is less than £338 a month (learner is sole adult in the benefit claim) or £541 a month (learner has a joint benefit claim with their partner)
- Maths / English fees do not apply if you do not already have A*-C at GCSE
- Employed and earn less than £16,009.50 annual gross salary.
Otherwise, the full fee is due.
24+
No fee chargeable if:
- Receiving Jobseeker’s allowance (JSA) including those receiving National Insurance Credits
- Receiving Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and are in the work-related activity group (WRAG)
- Receiving Universal Credit (contact student support for more information)
- Unemployed, want to become employed, and are in receipt of one of the following benefits: Income Support, Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit, Total Tax Credits^; and your earned income (disregarding benefits) is less than £338 a month (learner is sole adult in the benefit claim) or £541 a month (learner has a joint benefit claim with their partner)
- Maths / English fees do not apply if you do not already have A*-C at GCSE
- Employed and earn less than £16,009.50 annual gross salary.
Otherwise, the full fee is due. Remission is subject to eligible qualification
^Total Tax Credits includes working tax credit and child tax credit and where the household income is less than £16,190 per annum
Level 3 Fee Remission
16-18
No fee chargeable
19-23
No fee is chargeable for your first full level 3 qualification*, otherwise the full fee is due.
Advanced Learner Loans are available on some courses (contact Student Support for more information).
24+
Full fee is due for all cases.
Advanced Learner Loans are available on some courses (contact Student Support for more information).
Full Cost (Part Time) & Leisure Learning
Age 16-18
Not normally eligible
Age 19-23
Full fee is due.
Advanced Learner Loan is eligible for some part-time courses that are Level 3 and above (contact Student Support for more information).
Age 24+
Full fee is due.
Advanced Learner Loan is eligible for some part-time courses that are Level 3 and above (contact Student Support for more information).
^Total Tax Credits includes working tax credit and child tax credit and where the household income is less than £16,190 per annum
Contact Student Support for more information.
If your fee is more than £600, you can pay by instalments. You pay 1/3 up front at enrolment, and sign a Direct Debit mandate for the remainder. You then pay the remainder over 5 months commencing 31 October (Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb) in equal instalments.
Overseas students (who have lived in the UK for less than 3 years) have to pay considerably higher fees. There are no instalment options for overseas fees.
Download our current Tuition Fees policy for 2019/20 for more information.
You can apply for a bursary to help with the costs of attending college – click here for more information.
