Fees and Costs

Fees - Further Education Courses

Fees - Higher Education Courses

Fees

The current fee for full-time Foundation Degrees is £1310 per annum, plus a £50 registration fee payable on enrolment. FdA in Supporting Teaching & Learning is currently £655 per annum. All part-time fees are pro-rata. EU students are regarded as home students and will pay the above fees. Non-EU student course fees are currently £7,000 per annum. All fees stated are current 2010/2011 and will be subject to review for 2011/12.

Financial Support

Why spend your entire student loan on accommodation and survival away from home when Mid-Cheshire College can offer you a more economical and flexible alternative!

If you already live in Vale Royal or the surrounding area, then you will be aware that there are good road and rail links to the College, making it easy and inexpensive to get here from home. If on the other hand you are considering living away from home, you will find that accommodation and living expenses in the area, which is predominantly rural, are much cheaper than the equivalent in a city. Details of local letting agents are available from the Student Services team.

You should apply to your Local Education Authority on form PN1 for financial assistance. Your LEA will decide whether you are eligible for support for a maintenance loan, tuition fee loan or any other grants. PN1 forms are also available in Student Services or apply online at www.studentfinancedirect.co.uk

Maintenance Loan

If you are under 60, you may be eligible for a student loan if you meet the residency requirements. This is to help with living costs such as accommodation, food, clothes, travel etc. This loan is repayable at a very low interest rate once you are earning over £15,000 per year. Once you have enrolled and started on your course you need to come to Student Services to activate your loan which will then be paid into your bank account each term.

Tuition Fee Loan

Tuition fees can be covered by a low cost loan which you will only repay once you have left higher education and started earning more than £15,000 a year. Once granted, the Student Loans Company will pay your fees to the college.

Maintenance Grant

This is a non-repayable grant of up to £2835 per year. The amount you receive depends on your household income; those with a household income of less than £25,000 will receive the full grant, with a partial grant available to those with a household income of up to £60,000. Grants are paid into your bank account each term.

Other Grants

Various other grants are available such as a Childcare Grant, Parents' Learning Allowance, Adult Dependants' Grant and Disabled Students' Allowance. More details can be obtained from Student Services.

Access to Learning Fund

This is available through the College and provides help for students on low income who may need extra financial support for their course to stay in higher education. The College will decide whether you are able to get this help and if so, how much you can receive: this will depend on your own circumstances.

Fees - Part-Time Students

Fees and Remissions

2008/2009 part-time course fees are fully inclusive of tuition, examinations, assessment, registration fees and extra materials required for the course if applicable. If examination fees increase during the course you will be notified by your tutor.

Full-time courses, including New Horizons, Access to HE and some Full Level 2 and 3 will incur a course fee of £200 for each student over 19 years of age. If you qualify for remission of fees due to receiving an income-based benefit or do not have a Full Level 2 or 3 qualification you will pay a reduced fee of £20.00.

Please note: Fee remission is not available on materials, life models fees or equipment costs.

Tuition fees will not be charged where learners are able to supply appropriate evidence that they will comply with the requirements of the Learning & Skills Council (LSC) guidelines on fee waivers.

Vocational Courses

You will be eligible for 100% fee remission if you fall into one of the following categories:

• aged under 19 on 31^st August 2008
• full-time students on the second year of a course they started when they were under 19
• in receipt of income-based benefits, such as Council Tax Benefit, Housing Benefit, Income Support, income-based Job Seekers Allowance, Pension Guarantee Credit
• the unwaged dependant (aged 16 or over) of someone on income-based benefits
• in receipt of Working Tax Credit (not Child Credit), or their partner, and with a household income of less than £15,050 (this amount may be subject to change)
• those taking Adult Basic Skills
• Learners taking ESOL courses if in receipt of an income-based benefit
• an asylum seeker if in receipt of an income-based benefit and their dependants
• a senior citizen aged 60+ on 31^st August 2008 on Pension Guarantee Credit (not Savings Credit)
• someone who does not already have a Full Level 2 or Level 3 qualification and wishes to study a Full Level 2 or Level 3 course.

Non-Vocational Leisure and Interest Courses

If you are in receipt of, or are the unwaged dependant of someone on an income-based benefit, you will qualify for 100% remission on all leisure and interest courses; otherwise the full course fee applies.

Please note: Fee remission is not available on materials or equipment costs.

European Union (EU) countries

Students from European Union countries are regarded as home students, and will be subject to the same criteria listed above.

Evidence required in order to claim fee remission

If you are in receipt of income-tested benefits (or your dependants), you will need to bring one of the following:

• benefit book
• giro statement
• signed letter or statement from the Benefits Agency, Inland Revenue, Housing Office or Council Tax Office - this must indicate the benefit and the applicable dates (must be ‘live' on 1^st September 2008).
• Alternatively, a ‘Fee Remission Form' can be obtained from the College Reception and must be stamped by the relevant Benefits Office.

If you wish to apply for fee remission based on age, you will need to bring proof of age, such as driving licence or passport.

If you wish to apply for ‘Full Level 2 or Level 3 Entitlement' fee remission, you will need to sign a self-declaration form at enrolment.

Non-European Union (EU) students

Fees payable by non-EU students will be based on the guidelines set by the Learning and Skills Council for LSC funded courses.  These students will not be remitted from course fees, and will pay the full cost income. British Nationals who have not lived in the EU for 3 years prior to 31st August 2008 are regarded as overseas students, and will also pay the full cost income.

Under 16s

Unless specified, students under the age of 16 are not able to attend part-time classes.

Fee remission is not available to individuals under 16.

Methods of Payment

In person:

• Cash or cheque
• Credit and debit cards at Hartford Campus and Verdin Centre.
• Standing order – payment by instalments for course fees of over £200.  First payment on enrolment and two consecutive monthly payments thereafter, plus a £20 set-up fee.

By telephone:

• Payment must be by credit/debit card for the full course fee
• If you are a senior citizen who has previously been a student at the college you may enrol by telephone
• If you are entitled to any discounts, which require proof of entitlement, you must enrol in person.

Refunds

The College reserves the right to cancel courses because of insufficient numbers or for operational reasons.  If this happens fees will be refunded.  Except in the above circumstances, fees become non-refundable after the course has commenced, although you may cancel your enrolment prior to the start of the course.

Examination Fees

All full-time students and those in receipt of fee waivers will not have to pay examination fees for the first attempt at an examination.  However, you must pay if you enter but do not attend.

Finance and Welfare Advice

Information and advice is available in confidence on grants, finance, benefits and accommodation, from a trained member of staff.