Further Education normally refers to post-16 study and is usually provided by local colleges or schools. It could involve the learning of basic skills such as literacy and numeracy or work-related training which could lead onto higher education or university. There is funding available to help you make the most of further education opportunities.
If you’re aged 16 -18 you will not normally have to pay for tuition and you might also be eligible for an Education Maintenance Allowance. Some local authorities also provide their own support to learners.
You may be charged tuition fees if you are 19 or over and studying full time. Most further education college’s offer discounted tuition to learners from low income families, disabled learners or for learners on benefits.
The Welsh Assembly Government also provides an Assembly Learning Grant for eligible learners.
Career Development Loan
If you are 18 or over and you don’t qualify for any other support, you can apply for a career development loan as long as the learning gives you the skills required for an occupation, trade or profession. You can borrow between £300 and £8000 to support any course of learning that will help you in your career.
While you are learning the Government pays the interest and you don’t start repaying until you finish.
For more information call the CDL helpline on 0800 585 505
Part- Time Further Education
If you’re 19 or over and studying part-time you might be charged tuition fees. However, your college may be able to offer free or discounted tuition depending on your circumstances or if you experience financial difficulties during your studies.
If you study a part-time course more than 275 hours over the year you may also be eligible for an Assembly Learning Grant.
You might still qualify for Jobseekers Allowance if out of work and studying part time. Your course needs to be less than 16 hours per week and you need to show that you’re still available for work. Check this with your local Jobcentre Plus office.
Childcare Support
If you are in further or part time higher education and studying in Wales, you can apply for help from the Financial Contingency Fund. Similar arrangements apply in England through the Access to Learning Fund and Learner Support Funds schemes. Contact your college or university for further information.
If you are on a work-based learning course you can apply for help from your learning provider. If you are staying in school or are learning in the community, you should apply for help from the local council where you are studying.
For information about childcare availability visit the Childcare Link Website. Follow link at bottom of the page.
Transport Costs
If you need help with travel to and from your place of learning or as part of your course, you may qualify for free or subsidised transport. If you’re over 16 and staying at school, you’ll usually qualify if you live in the schools catchment area but need to travel more than a set distance to get there.
If you’re aged 16 – 19 and studying full time at a further education college, you’ll usually qualify for free transport. Those aged over 19 or studying part time may also qualify for free or subsidised travel.
Financial help
Grants & Loans
There is a wide range of financial help available to help with tuition fees and living expenses
these include:
- Tuition fee loan – assessed by your local authority
- Student Maintenance Loan – assessed by your local authority
- Assembly Learning Grant (Wales) – assessed by your local authority
- Maintenance Grant – Same as above for English students
- University & College Scholarships
Once accepted onto a full-time course contact your Local Education Authority’s Student Grants and Awards Department for a PN1 form (new students) or the PR1 form (existing students)
This form allows you to apply for financial support towards tuition fees, take out a student loan and apply for the Assembly Learning Grant (ALG). This process is calculated according to your personal means.
To obtain a PN1 form please contact your local LEA
Local Education Authority
Bridgend LEA: 01656 642637
Caerphilly LEA: 01443 864854
Cardiff LEA: 029 2087 2846
Vale of Glamorgan LEA: 01446 709539
Rhondda LEA: 01443 744000
Swansea LEA: 01792 636379
Neath Port Talbot LEA: 01639 763580
Education Maintenance Allowance
New students
You may be eligible to receive a £30 weekly EMA award if:
- You are above the compulsory school age
- You will be aged 16, 17 or 18 on or before the 31 August
- You normally live in Wales
- You are studying an eligible full time academic or vocational course.
- You must also meet the following criteria:
- Your household income is £20,817 or less
- If there are other young people in your household who are under 16 and are eligible for child benefit and your household income is less than £23,077
- If there are other young people in your household aged 16 – 20, in full time education and eligible for child benefit and your household income is less than £23,077
You can download an application form and guidance notes from the Student Finance Wales (SFW) website. Follow the link at bottom of the page or call 0845 602 8845. Your college or school can also supply an application pack.
Returning Students
If you are already receiving EMA, the SFW team will write to you regarding your EMA award for the next academic year.
The £10 and £20 weekly allowances and performance bonus were removed at the end of academic year 2010/11
However, if you received EMA allowance in 2010/11 you are transitionally protected until completion of your course providing you continue to meet the assessment criteria.
Other Financial Help available via your local Education Authority.
- Childcare Grant – available for students with dependent children and depends on your circumstances
- Parents Learning Allowance – help for course related costs for students who have dependent children
- Adult Dependants Grant – for students with a dependant adult
- Disabled Students Allowance (DSA) – Full-time and part-time students with disabilities
- Child Tax Credit from the Inland Revenue
Sponsorship
Some companies will sponsor an employee. This would normally cover tuition fees and, occasionally, living costs. Application would have to be made to the employer direct.
Charitable funding
Some charities (for example, educational trusts) have funds available for particular groups of students who are unable to undertake or continue a course due to lack of financial resources. Such funding cannot be relied on as there are often many applicants for a limited amount of money.
A student may have to apply to several such organisations to cover different aspects of the course. The applicants will have to meet the charity’s criteria and there are also strict deadlines for applications.
Bursaries
These are similar to scholarships and, again, vary from organisation to organisation. The armed forces and the NHS are two such providers.
Funding for essential skills
In most cases you won’t have to pay for Level 1 and 2 English and maths courses at Learndirect. You also might be able to take other courses with them for free.
While you’re studying you may be eligible for benefits like:
For further information on where to go for help click on the web links below.
workplacewellbeing.com assumes no responsibility for the content of linked websites.
