What will I pay?

Your personal circumstances will determine whether you are eligible for full or part funding for your course, or whether you will pay the full amount. If you have to pay the full cost, you may also qualify for an Advanced Learner Loan (eligible Level 3 courses), a Student Finance England Loan (eligible higher education courses) or to pay in instalments to help spread the cost.

Each course page will have a grid of the relevant costs for the following categories. To find out what you might pay, work out which fee category you fit into below and then find the corresponding category within the ‘Fees and costs’ section of your chosen course.

• 16-18 School Leavers
  • If you are aged 16, 17 or 18 and not currently in full-time education with another provider, your full-time course will be provided for free. 
  • If you are aged 19 to 24 years and have an active EHCP (Education Health and Care Plan) with high-cost Additional Learning Support needs and agreed local authority funding, your full-time course will be provided for free. 

• 19-23 Educational Entitlement

  If you are aged 19-23, adult Educational entitlement is available on eligible Government funded programmes where you meet at least one of the following criteria: 

  • You are aged 19 to 23 years at the start of your course, having previously only completed qualifications at or below Level 1, and you are intending to study a funded Entry Level or Level 1 programme as a step up to a Level 2
  • You are aged 19 to 23 years at the start of your course, and do not hold a full Level 2 qualification and are looking to study a funded eligible, full Level 2 programme
  • You are aged 19 to 23 years at the start of your course, having previously only completed qualifications at Level 2 and looking to study a funded eligible, first full Level 3 programme
  • You are aged 19 years and over (excluding apprentices), looking to study GCSE English or Maths, and do not have grades 4 - 9 or A*- C in these subjects already

• 19+ Part Funded Adult Learning Programmes

  If you are aged 19+, adult part fee concessions are available on eligible Government funded programmes where the individual meets the following criteria: 

  • All learners must be aged 19 or older on 31st August 2022
  • You are 19 years or over and looking to study a funded eligible, full Level 2 which meets the skills needs of the local labour market
  • You are 19 years or over and looking to study a funded eligible, full Level 2 and you already hold a full Level 2 qualification

• 19+ Fully Funded Adult Programmes

  If you are aged 19+, adult full fee concession is available on eligible Government funded programmes where you meet at least one of the following criteria: 

  • You are 19 years and over and studying up to and including Level 2 and have an annual gross salary totalling under £18,525. Evidence of income will be needed in the form of a wage slip dated within 3 months of the start of the course or a contract of employment that clearly states your gross income.
  • You are 19 years and over and studying up to and including Level 2 and are unemployed, in receipt of benefits. The follow types of benefit are permitted (evidence required):
    • In receipt of Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) including those receiving National Insurance credit only 
    • In receipt of Employment Support Allowance (ESA) and in Work Related Activity Group (WRAG) 
    • In receipt of Universal Credit and earn less than 16 times the national minimum wage per week or £345 per month or £552 a month (household claims) and Jobcentre Plus determine as being one of the following groups: All work-related requirements groups / work preparation group / work focused interview group 
    • In receipt of other state benefits earning less than 16 times the national minimum wage per week or £345 per month or £552 a month (household claims) and wants to be employed, or progress into more sustainable employment and the College is satisfied and learning is directly relevant to their employment prospects and local labour market needs. 
    • Released on temporary licence, studying outside of the prison environment and not being funded by the Ministry of Justice

  • You are aged 19 years and over (excluding apprentices), looking to study GCSE English or Maths, and do not have grades 4 - 9 or A*- C in these subjects already. 

• 24+ Fully Funded Adult Programmes – (National Skills Fund)

  Learners aged 19+ who already hold a Level 3 qualification and at the start of their programme are on an annual gross salary totalling under £18,525 or unemployed (in receipt of Benefits) and studying an eligible Level 3 qualification are entitled to a 100% fee remission as part of the Free Courses for Jobs offer. The learner must be enrolling on a qualification listed in the Education Skills Funding Agency’s (EFSA) National Skills Fund Qualification offer 2022/2023. View eligible courses via the links below! 

  National Skills Fund - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

  National Skills Funded Learning (bsdc.ac.uk)

• Full Cost

  Where an individual does not meet the eligibility criteria to receive a full or part concession, or the programme which they wish to study is not eligible to receive government funding, then the full cost of the programme must be covered by the individual.  

  Accepted payment methods include:  

  • Payment in full or via scheduled instalments (direct debit, debit/credit cards or cash) 
  • Employer/sponsor pays the full cost course fees 
  • Advanced Learner Loan (Indicated, eligible Level 3 programmes) 
  • Student finance England Loan (Indicated, eligible Higher Education programmes 

  All learners must meet residency criteria set by organisations responsible for providing funding and/or loans.   

If you require support with working out which fee category you would fit into, please contact one of our Financial Support Team. 

Further information regarding fee, changes and funding entailment can be found in the College annual fees policy. 

Further Education & Skills Fees Policy 

Higher Education Fees Policy