Fees and Costs

Fees - Further Education Courses

Students aged 16-18 do not have to pay course or exam fees. There may be a charge for personal tools/ equipment and materials for your course and field trips. The College will provide help with some course-related costs for those experiencing financial difficulties.

Students aged 19+ on full-time courses pay a College registration and assessment fee of £250. If you are receiving any benefits please bring along your proof of entitlement to College when you are enrolling, you may qualify for the reduced payment of £25.

The £250 fee for adults 19+ is a yearly fee, therefore for a two-year course the fee would be £250 per annum.

Fees - Higher Education Courses

Fees

The fee for full-time Foundation Degrees is £5000 per annum. The fee for FdA Supporting Teaching & Learning is to be confirmed.  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.  

Fees - Part-Time Students

2011/2012 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 Access to HE and some Full Level 2 and 3 will incur a course fee of £250 for each student over 19 years of age. If you qualify for remission of fees, see list of categories listed under ‘Vocational Courses' you will pay a reduced fee of £25.

Please note: Fee remission is not available on materials, life models fees or equipment costs.
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Tuition fees will not be charged where learners are able to supply appropriate evidence that they will comply with the requirements of the Skills Funding Agency guidelines on fee waivers.

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

• Learners aged 16 - 18 on 31st August 2011
• Learners on two year courses aged 16-18 on 31st August in the year they started their course
• Learners aged 19 and over studying their first full level two qualification
• Learners aged 19 and over studying Entry or Level 1 qualifications as an intended progression on to their first full Level 2 qualification - i.e. as a step up from Basic Skills.
• Learners aged 19 but under 25 at the start of their course studying for their first full level 3 qualifications
• Learners aged 25 and over if studying a first full level 3 qualification, without having a full level 2 qualification
• Learners who are unemployed and in receipt of income-based Job Seeker's Allowance
• Learners who receive Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Learners taking Basic Skills learning aims excluding ESOL (but not for any other courses they might be on)
• ESOL learners on JSA or ESA in the Work Related Activity Group - this does not apply if delivered in the workplace

Non-Vocational Leisure and Interest Courses
If you are in receipt of income-based Job Seekers' Allowance (JSA) or income-related Employment and Support allowance (ESA), 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 you will need to bring one of the following:

• benefit book
• giro statement
• signed letter or statement from the Benefits Agency - this must indicate the benefit and the applicable dates (must be ‘live' on 1st September 2011).
• 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 ‘Full Level 2 or Level 3 Entitlement' fee remission, you will need to sign a self-declaration form at enrolment.

There are a limited number of places on the courses; they will be allocated on a first come first served basis.

Methods of Payment

Enrolment in person
Payment by cash, cheque, debit or credit card (except American Express and Electron) is accepted for all course fees

Payment by instalments is available for courses with fees in excess of £250 by Standing Order ONLY. No CASH or CHEQUE instalments to be taken. A £25 administration fee is added to the fee.

Standing order: One payment immediately by cash, cheque, debit or credit card, then two consecutive monthly payments by Standing Order on completion of a Standing Order Mandate.
When paying by instalments, an ‘Agreement to Pay by Instalments' form must be completed and signed by the enrolling Administrator.

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.