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Fees & Financial Support - 16-18 Funding

16-18 Year Olds

Full Time home students aged 16-18 do not have to pay tuition fees. In addition, there is a range of financial help available - depending on your personal circumstances - to support you with your studies at Northbrook. In order to qualify for funding you must be aged between 16 and 18 (inclusive) and be attending a full time Further Education course funded by a Government Agency.

Travel Assistance

Educational Maintenance Allowance
This is a means tested grant of £10, £20 or £30 per week and is payable based on your attendance at College. Students with a household income of under £30,810 are eligible to apply. You could also receive £100 bonuses if you make good progress with your learning. Application forms should be available from your school or the EMA team directly.

16-18 Access Fund
The Access Fund is means tested and, in order to qualify, you must be in receipt of the EMA grant of £20 or £30 per week, or have special circumstances.  It is for help with course related costs.

Childcare
Care to Learn - If you are under 20 when you start learning and use registered childcare, you may be able to get assistance with childcare costs. Please call 0845 600 2809 for more information.

19+ Further Education (Home Students)

Concessionary fee for people in receipt of specified Income-Based State benefits

Available to students in receipt of Jobseeker's Allowance (income or contribution based), Working Tax Credit (there is a joint annual income threshold), Council Tax Benefit (25% single occupancy does not qualify for a reduction), Income Support, Housing Benefit, Pension Guarantee Credit (you will not be eligible for reduced fees if your Guarantee Credit is nil), Employment & Support Allowance (Income based only) or who are unwaged dependants of persons in receipt of these benefits. This fee is only for one year even if the course lasts longer.
Claiming a Concessionary Fee :
You will need to provide a copy of all relevant benefit evidence at time of enrolment, otherwise you will be liable to pay the full fee. If you are enrolling by post, please provide the following:
Income Support : Your letter from JobCentre Plus which will state in bold 'about your Income Support'. The date must correspond to the correct academic year.
Jobseeker's Allowance : All pages of a recent award notice from JobCentre Plus stating that you are receiving income-based or contribution-based Jobseeker's Allowance.
Council Tax : All pages of your Council Tax Demand Notice or Benefit Decision Notice (25% single occupancy does not qualify for a reduction).
Housing Benefit : All pages of your Housing Benefit Decision Notice.
Working Tax Credit : All pages of your current award notice from HM Revenue & Customs. You will not be eligible for reduced fees if your joint annual income exceeds £15,276.
Pension Guarantee Credit : All pages of your award notice from The Pension Service. You will not be eligible for reduced fees if your Guarantee Credit is nil.
Employment & Support Allowance (ESA) : All pages of your award notice from JobCentre Plus. This must state that the allowance is income-based.

Instalment Plans

This facility (for course fees over and above £80) is available providing that the payment is made by Direct Debit. An initial 25% deposit is required and the balance payable (in up to six monthly instalments including the initial deposit) by the end of March or the end of the course, whichever is the sooner. Should you withdraw from the course the full outstanding balance must be settled immediately. Please apply at time of enrolment. Not available to students sponsored by their employers.

Other help

In order to qualify for funding you must be aged 19 or over and be attending a full or part time Further Education course funded by a Government Agency’. Adult Education and self-financing courses are not eligible for support.
+19 Access Fund : Help with course related costs - If your household income is below £25,000* per year or you are in receipt of means tested benefits, or have special circumstances you are eligible to apply.
Help with childcare costs : If your household income is below £25,000* per year and you have a child or children under the age of 13 in registered childcare, you may be eligible for support with your costs of up to £3* per hour. Please contact us for an application form.
Adult Learning Grant (ALG) : The Adult Learning Grant is a means tested grant of £10, £20 or £30 per week for adults resident in England studying for a first full Level 2 or first full Level 3 qualification. It is only available to learners in full time education aged over 19. People receiving out of work benefits are not eligible for the grant. Single students must be earning under £19,513; students with cohabiting partners must have a joint income of under £30,810. Please call 0800 121 8989 for more information.
Family Action : This is an external service that puts students in contact with charities and other organisations that provide funding to students. Students studying for any qualification are able to apply to Family Action.
Professional and Career Development Loan : For information on financial assistance to support your learning, please visit www.direct.gov.uk/adultlearning or contact 0800 585 505.

* correct for academic year 2009/10 - subject to change

Student Financial Support

We're here to help
For more information on what financial support is available, please contact a member of the Student Financial Support team direct on 01903 606014 or email sfs@nbcol.ac.uk. We also offer a drop-in service at our West Durrington campus - normal office opening hours are 9am-5pm Monday to Thursday and 9am-4.30pm Friday.