Getting financial support on tuition fees A guide for adult learners

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Introduction 3

Who is this booklet for? 3

Further Education or Higher Education? 4

Learning at work 5

Further Education (FE) funding 5

Learning at level 2-3 5

Learning at levels 3-4, at age 24+ 5

Learning above level 4 6

Loan repayments 6

Higher Education (HE) funding 7

Tuition fee loans 7

Part-time students 7

Loan repayments 7

Funding for apprenticeships 8

Professional and career development loans 9

Other types of funding 10

Useful contacts 11

Contents

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Those who wish to improve their career

prospects through study while

remaining in work often assume there

won’t be any financial assistance

because they are already employed.

This isn’t the case, but unravelling the variousfunding options is time-consuming and confusingfor both employees and employers.

This guide is designed to provide clearinformation on what funding is available ontuition fees only. It does not set out to coverother personal funding areas such as incomesupport or council tax exemption, but you willfind some basic information on additionalfunding at the back of this booklet.

Who is this booklet for?• Learners considering Further or Higher

Education study while remaining at work,where tuition fees are not being paid by their employer.

• Employers who are unable to assist withtuition fees, but who nonetheless wish toencourage and support employees’development.

Please note that the information in thisbooklet serves as guidance only. We stronglyrecommend that prospective learners contactboth the course provider and any potentialfunding agency before enrolling, to ensurefunding is available in their personalcircumstances.

Introduction

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Qualifications can be taken at any age

in order to continue or return to

education or training, however it can be

helpful to understand where these

qualifications fit.

Further Education (FE) and Higher Education (HE)funding are covered by different funding bodies,so it’s important to understand which categoryapplies to the courses under consideration.Further EducationIn the UK, Further Education bridges the gapbetween compulsory education up to age 16 anddegree-level courses.

It covers a wide variety of qualifications, fromentry level up to level 3 (eg literacy, numeracy or

basic computer courses, GCSEs, NationalVocational Qualifications (NVQs), BTECs, A-levelsand Access courses), and usually allows learnersto study full or part-time so they can fit theirlearning around work and other commitments.

Further Education is usually undertaken at afurther education or community college,although there are also work-based coursesavailable.

Higher EducationHigher Education offers a diverse range of coursesand qualifications, from Higher NationalDiplomas (HNDs) and foundation degrees to firstdegrees. Although many courses take place inuniversities, an increasing number are distancelearning or work-based courses where you learnon the job.

Further Education or Higher Education?

Level 8Doctorate

PhD

Level 7Master’s degreeMA, MSc, MPhil Graduate

apprenticeshipsLevel 6

University degreeBA, BSc

Level 5 Foundation degree

FdA, FdSc

HNDHigher

apprenticeshipsLevel 4 HNC

Level 3Level 3 extendeddiploma (national

diploma)

Level 3 diploma (national

diploma)

Advanced-levelapprenticeships

Access courses

Level 2GCSE

Grades A-CLevel 2 diploma(First diploma)

Intermediate -levelapprenticeships

Level 1GCSE

Grades D-GLevel 1 diploma

(Foundation diploma)

Entry Level 1 Key Stage 3Level 2 diploma(Foundation)

A LevelA 2

A 3

Qualification levels table

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There are a number of ways for learners

to get support to develop their skills with

colleges, universities or through their

own employer. For the learner to be

considered for public funding, both the

college or training organisations and the

specific course must be eligible; the

course provider will advise on this.

Further Education (FE) fundingLearning at level 2-3Any learner aged 19 or more who has not yetachieved a qualification at level 2 or 3 is eligiblefor public funding to achieve a qualification at that level.

This funding comes from the Skills FundingAgency’s Adult Skills Budget*, which supportsclassroom and workplace learning. Workplacelearning is defined as:• any learning aim mainly delivered within a

workplace and in connection with theemployed learner’s occupation or theiremployer’s business, and

• any learning in an apprenticeship framework.

Learners studying towards a level 2 vocationalcertificate or diploma, or a level 3 vocationaldiploma (national diploma), are currently eligiblefor full funding. Level 3 vocational certificates(national certificates) are publicly funded, but on aco-funded basis only.

Learners aged 19 and over, excluding apprentices,are eligible for full funding to take GCSE Englishand maths if they do not currently have thesequalifications at grades A* to C, no matter what

other qualifications they already hold. Note thatthis funding is for a full GCSE course, not for re-sitsto obtain an A* to C grade.

Learning at levels 3-4, at age 24+If the learner is 24 or over when they start, andlooking to learn at level 3 or 4 or as part of anadvanced-level or higher apprenticeship, theprovision is not supported by the Adult SkillsBudget. They may however be supported by 24+Advanced Learning Loans.

The government is introducing these loans from 1August 2013, to help people aged 24 or over carryout level 3 or 4 Further Education learning aims oradvanced-level or higher-level apprenticeships.

Loans can be used to fund the following types ofpublicly funded education, no matter how thestudy is carried out: • A programme of A-levels (including AS, A2 and

full A-levels).• Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) Access to

HE diplomas.• Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF)

certificates at levels 3 and 4.• Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF)

diplomas at l

Learning at work

Essentials: 24+ Advanced Learning Loans

• These are loans rather than grants, and the learner will

have to repay them. See page XX for more on repayments.

• The Student Loans Company* will be responsible for

assessing whether learners are eligible.

• The minimum loan is £300.

• Learners don’t have to borrow the full cost of their course.

• Getting a loan doesn’t depend on household income, and

there’s no credit check.

• The college or training organisation receives the money

directly, once they’ve confirmed that the learner has

attended the course for two weeks.

>>* For more information on the Skills Funding Agency or the Student Loans Company, please see the ‘useful contacts’ section on page XX.

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Short courses (sometimes known as units) andawards at level 3 and above are not eligible forfunding through a 24+ Advanced Learning Loan.

Learners can apply for a maximum of four 24+Advanced Learning Loans, but:• can only get one loan at a time• can’t apply for another loan to repeat thesame level of a course (eg a learner cannot get aloan to fund a level 3 certificate in French whenthey have previously had a loan to fund a level 3certificate in Italian).

Learning above level 4For the 2013/14 academic year onwards, 24+Advanced Learning Loans funding above level 4will be available only for higher apprenticeships atlevel 5 and 6. (The various qualification levels areshown on page X.)

Loan repaymentsRepayments on 24+ Advanced Learning Loans arelinked to income, and the learner will only startto make these when their income is more than£21,000 a year. If income drops below this level,the learner will stop repaying the loan.

If the course finishes before 2016, repaymentswon’t start until April 2016. Part-time studentssometimes start repayments while they’re stillstudying.

If the learner earns more than £21,000, they willstart making monthly repayments at nine percent of earnings above that level. For example, ifthey earn £25,000 they pay back nine per cent of£4,000 (£360) over the course of the year – thiswould be £30 per month. For more examples ofmonthly repayments, see table:

Learning at work continued

Learner’s annual income Monthly repayments

£21,000 and under No repayments

£25,000 £30

£30,000 £67

£40,000 £142

£50,000 £217

£60,000 £292

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Degrees, foundation degrees and higher

qualifications are funded through an HE

stream, even if you take the qualification

at a college of further education.

Tuition fee loansIf you’re a UK or EU full-time or part-timestudent, you can apply for a tuition fee loan.

The course needs to be recognised for fundingand undertaken at a UK institution, and needs tobe one of the following:• a first degree, eg BA, BSc or BEd• a foundation degree• a Certificate of Higher Education• a Diploma of Higher Education (DipHE)• a Higher National Certificate (HNC)• a Higher National Diploma (HND)• a Postgraduate Certificate of Education (PGCE)• a top up from an HNC, HND or foundation

degree to an honours degree• initial teacher training• further training of youth and community

workers

Part-time studentsPart-time students need to study their courses at arate of at least 25% of an equivalent full-timecourse in each academic year. This is known as‘course intensity’. Learners should check courseintensity with their university or college.

Loan repaymentsRepayments on tuition fee loans are linked toincome, and the learner will only start to makethese when their income is more than £21,000 ayear. If income drops below this level, the learnerwill stop repaying the loan.

Higher Education (HE) funding

For more information on the Student Loans Company, please see the ‘useful contacts’ section on page XX.

Essentials: tuition fee loans

• These are loans rather than grants, and the learner will

have to repay them. See page XX for more on

repayments.

• The Student Loans Company* will be responsible for

assessing whether learners are eligible.

• There is no age limit.

• The college or training organisation receives the

money directly.

>>

Full-time student Tuition fee loan

Full-time Up to £9,000

Full-time at a private university or college

£30

Part-time student Tuition fee loan

Part-time Up to £6,750

Part-time at a private university or college

Up to £4,500

(HE) funding continued

If the course finishes before 2016, repaymentswon’t start until April 2016. Part-time studentssometimes start repayments while they’re stillstudying.

If the learner earns more than £21,000, they willstart making monthly repayments at nine percent of earnings above that level. For example, ifthey earn £25,000 they pay back nine per cent of£4,000 (£360) over the course of the year – thiswould be £30 per month. For more examples ofmonthly repayments, see below:

Funding for apprenticeshipsFunding for apprenticeships is best discussed withthe employer and prospective learning provider,but funding comes from the NationalApprenticeship Service* – with the size of thecontribution dependent on the sector and the ageof the candidate. If the apprentice is:• aged 16–18, 100 per cent of the cost of the

training is funded• aged 19-24, up to 50 per cent is funded • aged 25 or over, any contribution will depend

on the sector and area in which the learneroperates.

The money is usually paid directly to theorganisation that provides and supports theapprenticeship; in most cases this will be alearning provider.

24+ Advanced Learning LoansThe government is introducing these loans from 1August 2013, to help people aged 24 or overcarry out level 3 or 4 further education learningaims or advanced-level or higher-levelapprenticeships.

However, for the 2013/14 academic yearonwards funding above level 4 will be availableonly for higher apprenticeships at level 5 and 6.(You can see the various qualification levels onpage X.)

If higher apprenticeships include qualificationsthat are eligible for HE student support, such asfoundation degrees, the learner will be able tomake a second (and separate) loan application forthat HE course, in addition to their apprenticeshiploan.

* For more information on the National Apprenticeship Service, please see the ‘useful contacts’ section on page XX.

Learner’s annual income Monthly repayments

£21,000 and under No repayments

£25,000 £30

£30,000 £67

£40,000 £142

£50,000 £217

£60,000 £292

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Professional and career development loansThese are bank loans set at a competitive interestrate, which learners aged 18 years or over can useto help pay for learning that leads to work or thatwill improve their employability.

The loans can be used to support any full-time,part-time or distance learning courses for up totwo years, as long as the course leads to a trade,occupation or profession.

Like any loan, learners must repay the moneythey borrow, but the Skills Funding Agency* willpay the interest on the loan while the learner is inlearning and for up to one month afterwards. Thelearner then repays the loan to the bank over anagreed period at a fixed rate of interest.

The loans are administered by banks; you payinterest on them, normally at a rate equivalent to5-6 per cent APR. They are available for between£300 and £10,000, and you can get them from arange of high street banks.

Note: these are conventional unsecured debts,and you should talk to your bank for moreinformation.

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This guide is focused on support for

paying tuition fees, but learners have

access to a variety of other funding

sources depending on their

circumstances:

Please note this is a general guide for learnersstarting their studies from 1 September 2013and is by no means a definitive list of the sourcesof funding available. It is only accurate at thetime of going to press. For further details pleasecontact the relevant organisations mentioned inthis publication.

Other types of funding

Type of fundingFurther Education Higher Education

Part-time Full-time Part-time Full-time

Tuition Fee Support • • • •Adults Dependent Grant •Child Benefit • • • •Childcare Support • • •Child Tax Credit • • • •Council Tax Exemption / Reduction • • • •Disabled Student Allowance • •Employer Support Allowance • • • •Help with health costs • • • •Housing Benefit • • • •Income Support • • •NHS Bursaries • •Parents’ Learning Allowance •Access to Learning Fund • •Professional and Career Development Loan • • • •Working Tax Credit • • • •

* For more information on the Skills Funding Agency, please see the ‘useful contacts’ section on page XX.

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For more about funding, the following

links and organisations may prove useful.

Education levels and types of study

OfqualComparing qualifications levelswww.ofqual.gov.uk/help-and-advice/comparing-qualifications/

Learning at work

The Campaign for LearningNational Learning at Work Daywww.learningatworkday.com The National Careers Servicehttp://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk The Lifelong Learning Accounthttp://direct.gov.uk/lifelonglearningaccount Skills for Life www.move-on.org.uk Student Loans Companyhttp://www.slc.co.uk/services.aspx Skills Funding Agency http://skillsfundingagency.bis.gov.uk/ National Apprenticeship Servicewww.apprenticeships.org.uk

Government education and learning

Government information on help if you're at school,planning to go on to further or higher education,looking for training or interested in a student orcareer development loan. www.gov.uk/further-education-courses/financial-helpwww.gov.uk/browse/education/student-finance

Telephone: 0845 300 50 90Textphone: 0845 604 44 34Monday to Friday, 8am-8pm Saturday and Sunday, 9am-5.30pm

Useful contacts

To learn more about our flexible, practical CPD proposition, or toarrange a meeting and find out what we can offer you, contactJo Stark at Solent Enterprise Centre.Tel: 02380 319869Mobile: 07714 296170Email: jo.stark@solent.ac.uk