If you are a home student (see below) and are under 19 at the beginning of your course, you do not have to pay course or exam fees for the majority of courses (see exceptions below). However, if you have to re-sit any exams you will be required to pay the exam fee.
You may be required to pay a Resources Fee for items such as materials, visits, uniform, books or equipment. Check the ‘COSTS/EQUIPMENT’ section of the course information page. You will also be told about this when you come to college for your interview.
Exceptions
The following are examples of the types of courses which are not free to students who are under 19 years:
Please ring the Student Records and Funding team on 01293 442353 or email studentfinance@chigroup.ac.uk if you would like more information on the fees for a particular course.
Students (or their families) who are in receipt of eligible benefits or have a low income and are studying a course that leads to a government funded qualification, may be eligible for an award from our Learning Support Grant.
This grant can provide you with help with travel costs, equipment, books or resources, a contribution towards childcare costs, help to pay UCAS admin fees and a contribution towards enrichment activities linked to your course.
You can apply online (via online portal) for the Learning Support Grant. We have tried to make applying as simple as possible, but it will involve filling in online forms, providing evidence and telling us about your financial situation. We will then make an assessment based on your personal circumstances.
Applications for the coming academic year open in August. Students are encouraged to apply early.
If you have questions about the Learning Support Grant and Bursary please contact studentfinance@chigroup.ac.uk.
Young parents under 20 at the start of the course may be entitled for help with childcare costs up to £160 per week whilst studying. The childcare provider must be Ofsted registered. You may also get help with the additional travel costs you have to pay so you can take your child from home to the childcare provider.
Find out more about Care to Learn at: www.gov.uk/care-to-learn or by calling 0800 121 8989.
Home students are people who have lived in the UK or European Economic Area (EEA) for a minimum of three years for reasons other than education and have settled or pre-settled status. For more information about whether you qualify as a home student please contact our Student Records and Funding team at studentfinance@chigroup.ac.uk or on 01293 442353.
Please contact our Student Records and Funding team at studentfinance@chigroup.ac.uk or on 01293 442353 for more information about whether you would be liable for fees.
In line with government guidelines, if you are a home student and are 19-23 when you start your course, you will be asked to pay the published fees for your courses unless you fit into one of the following categories.
You may be required to pay a Resources Fee for items such as materials, visits, uniform, books or equipment. Check the ‘COSTS/EQUIPMENT’ section of the course information page. You will also be told about this when you come to college for your interview.
FEE WAIVER
Students aged 19-23 may be eligible for a waiver of course fees if they are studying their first government-designated full level 2 qualification. This waiver may also be available for students who are studying an Entry Level or Level 1 course with the intention of progressing to Level 2.
FEE WAIVER FOR LEVEL 2 AND BELOW
Students aged 19-23 who already have a full level 2 qualification and are either unemployed and in receipt of certain benefits, or who earn less than £20,319 annual gross salary, may be eligible for a waiver of tuition and/or exam fees.
FEES FOR LEVEL 2 COURSES AND BELOW
Students aged 19-23 who already have a full level 2 qualification, and who are not categorised as unemployed or low wage, will pay the published fees for courses at level 2 or below.
FEE WAIVER
Students aged 19-23 may be eligible for waiver of course fees if they are studying their first government-designated full level 3 qualification, such as A Levels, T Levels or Level 3 qualifications.
FEE WAIVER FOR CERTAIN LEVEL 3 COURSES
Students aged 19+ may be eligible for a waiver of course fees if they are studying a level 3 course which is on the government’s ‘National Skills Offer’ list. To find out whether your course is on the National Skills Offer list please contact our Student Records and Funding team at studentfinance@chigroup.ac.uk or on 01293 442353.
If you do not qualify for one of the waivers above, an Advanced Learner Loan can cover the cost of course fees and you don’t need to start repayments until you earn over £25,000. The Advanced Learner Loan is provided by the government and is not means tested, subject to any credit checks and does not take your current employment status into account.
Eligibility:Â You can usually apply for an Advanced Learner Loan if you are:
Apply: The first step is to check with the college that the course you are applying for is eligible for the Advanced Learner Loan. You can then apply for the course and the college will issue you with a Learning and Funding Information letter, along with your offer of a place. You’ll then need to register and apply online via gov.uk.
The loan: The loan will be deducted automatically through the tax system once you are earning over £25,000. The amount you repay will depend on how much you earn, for example:
You can also borrow a proportion of the course cost and pay for the rest yourself. The minimum loan amount is £300.
Note:Â
Young parents under 20 at the start of the course may be entitled for help with childcare costs up to £160 per week whilst studying. The childcare provider must be Ofsted registered. You may also get help with the additional travel costs you have to pay so you can take your child from home to the childcare provider.
Find out more about Care to Learn at www.gov.uk/care-to-learn or by calling 0800 121 8989.
Home students are people who have lived in the UK or European Economic Area (EEA) for a minimum of three years for reasons other than education and have settled or pre-settled status. For more information about whether you qualify as a home student please contact our Student Records and Funding team at studentfinance@chigroup.ac.uk or on 01293 442353.
Please contact our Student Records and Funding team at studentfinance@chigroup.ac.uk or on 01293 442353 for more information about whether you would be eligible for fees.
If you are a home student and are 24 or over when you start your course, the following categories will show if you have to contribute to your course fees in line with government guidelines.
You may be required to pay a Resources Fee for items such as materials, visits, uniform, books or equipment. Check the ‘COSTS/EQUIPMENT’ section of the course information page. You will also be told about this when you come to college for your interview.
FEE WAIVER FOR LEVEL 2 AND BELOW
Students aged 24+ who are unemployed and in receipt of certain benefits, or who earn less than £20,319 annual gross salary, may be eligible for a waiver of course fees.
FEES FOR LEVEL 2 COURSES AND BELOW
Students aged 24+ who are not categorised as unemployed or low wage, will pay the published fees for courses at level 2 or below.
FEE WAIVER FOR CERTAIN LEVEL 3 COURSES
Students aged 24+ may be eligible for a waiver of course fees if they are studying a level 3 course which is on the government’s ‘National Skills Offer’ list. To find out whether your course is on the National Skills Offer list please contact our Student Records and Funding team at studentfinance@chigroup.ac.uk or on 01293 442353
If you do not qualify for one of the waivers above, an Advanced Learner Loan can cover the cost of course fees and you don’t need to start repayments until you earn over £25,000. The Advanced Learner Loan is provided by the government and is not means tested, subject to any credit checks and does not take your current employment status into account.
Eligibility:Â You can usually apply for an Advanced Learner Loan if you are:
Apply: The first step is to check with the college that the course you are applying for is eligible for the Advanced Learner Loan. You can then apply for the course and the college will issue you with a Learning and Funding Information letter, along with your offer of a place. You’ll then need to register and apply online via gov.uk.
The loan: The loan will be deducted automatically through the tax system once you are earning over £25,000. The amount you repay will depend on how much you earn, for example:
You can also borrow a proportion of the course cost and pay for the rest yourself. The minimum loan amount is £300.
Note:Â
Home students are people who have lived in the UK or European Economic Area (EEA) for a minimum of three years for reasons other than education and have settled or pre-settled status. For more information about whether you qualify as a home student please contact our Student Records and Funding team at studentfinance@chigroup.ac.uk or on 01293 442353
Please contact our Student Records and Funding team at studentfinance@chigroup.ac.uk or on 01293 442353 for more information about whether you would be eligible for fees.
If your residency status makes you eligible for funding (see below) and you are 19+ when you start your ESOL course, you will receive the following support with your course fees.
FEE WAIVER FOR ESOL UP TO LEVEL 2
Students aged 19+ who are unemployed and in receipt of certain benefits, or who earn less than £20,319 annual gross salary, may be eligible for a waiver of course fees.
ESOL COURSES UP TO LEVEL 2
Students aged 19+ who are studying ESOL courses up to level 2 who are not categorised as unemployed or low wage, will pay the published fees for their course.
To be eligible for funding you must have either:
For more information about whether you qualify for funding please contact our Student Records and Funding team at studentfinance@chigroup.ac.uk or on 01293 442353
Please contact our Student Records and Funding team at studentfinance@chigroup.ac.uk or on 01293 442353 for more information about whether you would be eligible for fees.
If you are facing financial difficulties that mean you may have trouble paying for your transport to college, please contact Student Services for information on any assistance that may be available to you.
You can get a 16-17 saver if you are 16 or 17. It will give you 50% off most rail fares and can be purchased online at www.16-17saver.co.uk. The current cost is £30 for a year.
You can get a 16-25 Railcard if you are aged between 16 and 25, or you are a mature student. The railcard will give you 1/3 off a range of tickets as well as other discounts. Railcards can be purchased online at www.16-25railcard.co.uk or at any staffed Ticket Office. The current cost is £30 for a year.
If a course is cancelled by the college, you’ll receive a full refund of fees paid.
If you choose to leave your course within 28 days of it starting and the course is longer than a term, a refund may be made of the fees paid, minus a £50 administration charge and any payments made to examining or other bodies that cannot be reclaimed by the college. After 28 days of the course commencing, you will be liable for paying the full cost of the course. If you have an Advanced Leaner Loan they will stop their payments to us and the remainder of the fees will be payable directly by you.
If you are booked on a short course and cancel at least 14 working days before the course start date you will receive a refund of the course fee minus a £50 administration fee. If you cancel less than 14 days before the start of the course or leave the course after it has started, no refund will be given.
Where there are exceptional personal circumstances, an application for a refund may be made in writing to the Head of Financial Services.
