Students aged 19 and over

If a student is aged 19 or over on 31 August in the year they start a course they will be required to pay tuition fees. There are a range of financial support options available on the right hand side of this page. In addition there may be a fee remission on government funded courses such as full time in the following circumstances:

  • Learners aged between 19-23 who are studying for their first full Level 2 qualification
  • Learners aged between 19-23 who are studying for their first full Level 3 qualification
  • 19-23 year-old learners where they have an entitlement to a full Level 2 qualification, in that they have previously attained Level 1, but need a step up from basic skills in order to progress to a full Level 2.  This does not include learners enrolling on ESOL qualifications.
  • 19-23 year-old Level 4 ‘jumpers’ studying their first full Level 4 qualification without having attained a first full Level 3 qualification.
    Learners in receipt of Job Seekers Allowance (JSA), including their partner where there is a joint claim. This does not apply to learners aged 24+ studying a Level 3 course or above.
  • Learners in receipt of Employment Support Allowance (ESA) in the Work-Related Activity Group but not those learners aged 24+ studying a Level 3 course or above.
  • Learners who are unemployed and in receipt of a means-tested state benefit, and who are undertaking learning aims that will help them into work or remove a barrier to getting them into work.  They should be actively seeking or preparing for work.  This does not apply to learners aged 24+ studying a Level 3 course or above.
  • Learners studying aims that are Adult Basic Skills Certificates.
  • Learners studying aims that are Functional Skills in English and Mathematics, excluding Adult Basic Skills Certificates in ESOL, new stand-alone English and Mathematics QCF qualifications).
  • An individual who has not reached GCSE grade C/4 or above in English and Mathematics who are undertaking GCSE English and Mathematics.
  • An individual (Armed Forces personnel, not civilian) studying their first full Level 3 qualification who has left the British Armed Forces – this can be up to 10 years after leaving the Armed Forces – having completed basic training and four or more years of service, or who has been medically discharged due to an injury in active service.