16-18 year olds
Full Time home students aged 16-18 do not have to pay tuition fees.
(However, some costs for activities/uniform/trips and specialist equipment & materials may be applicable. Any costs associated with individual courses will be detailed at interview.)
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 (Government Funded course/Certificate, Foundation Studies, C&G, BTEC Diploma).
Travel Assistance
There are various travel schemes available which you may be eligible for:
3 in 1 Bus Card (YourCard)
- Full time students from West Sussex who are aged 16-19 are able to apply for a bus discount card which will allow half price travel. For students with household incomes over £16,190, cards cost £50 and application forms are held in the College's Student Financial Support office, or you can visit
www.yourspacewestsussex.co.uk
for more details.
Unirider
bus ticket
- A Northbrook Unirider ticket could save around £160 per annum and can be purchased via the website
www.stagecoachbus.com/south
. An unlimited 7 day travel ticket is also available if you hold a 3 in 1 card.
See Unirider leaflet.
Young Persons Railcard
- If you are aged 16-25 this card will give you one third off your fare if you use it after 10am (or before if the ticket costs more than £12). You will get 10% discount by purchasing the railcard online. Contact your local station for more details
Unizone
- Depending on where you live and which campus you are travelling to, it may be cheaper for you to travel by train using a Unizone ticket. Please contact your local station or
click here
for more details.
Sussex Student Card*
- Students of all ages attending a Further Education course can apply for a Sussex Student Card which offers discounted train travel in some areas. Application forms are available from the College or your Local Authority website.
Under 19 Bursary Scheme*
The bursary scheme is made up of two parts:
Guaranteed Bursary
-If you are in care, a care leaver, in receipt of Income Support or a disabled young person in receipt of both Employment Support Allowance and Disability Living Allowance, you will be entitled to £1200. This will be paid to you in instalments.
Discretionary Bursary
- If you do not qualify for the guaranteed bursary but have a household income under £25,000, you may be able to apply for some funds to support things like travel, materials/ equipment or other course related costs.
16-19 Bursary Questions & Answers
Prioritisation & Criteria for Support Funds
Childcare*
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 0800 121 8989 for more information.
Residential Support Scheme
If the course you wish to attend is not available locally and you have to move, this scheme can help toward rent costs. Contact 0800 121 8989 for an application form.
19+ home students
Students who are aged 19 or over at the start of their course will pay a fee each year unless they are entitled to Government Funding (see below). For details of fee amounts, please contact 0845 155 60 60 or email enquiries@nbcol.ac.uk
Who is entitled to Government Funding?
Government policy on funding age 19+ can be subject to change. At the time of writing, the College is aware of the following:
-
Students aged 19 to 23 taking a Level 1 or 2 course may be entitled to fee remission if they do not already have a full qualification at Level 2 or above and they have less than 4 GCSEs at grade C or above.
-
Students aged 19 to 23 taking a Level 3 or 4 course may be entitled to fee remission if they do not already have a full qualification at Level 3 or above and they have less than 2 A Levels.
(Note that some courses may still have costs for activities/uniform/trips and specialist equipment & materials)
Your eligibility for Government funding will be assessed at time of enrolment.
For an explanation of Levels,
click here.
In order to qualify for funding, you must be aged 19 or over and be attending a full or part time Further Education course (Government Funded course). Adult Education and self-financing courses are not eligible for support.
+19 Learner Support Fund
- Help with course related costs - If your household income is below £30,000* per year or you are in receipt of means tested benefits, you are eligible to apply.
Help with childcare costs
- If your household income is below £30,000* 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.
Prioritisation & Criteria for Support Funds
Help with Rent - If your household income is below £30,000* and the course you wish to attend is not available locally and you have to move, this scheme can help toward rent costs.
Educational Grants
- Family Action is an external organisation that can put students in contact with charities and other organisations that may be able to provide funding to students. Please see
www.family-action.org.uk/educationalgrantssearch
for further details.
Professional and Career Development Loan
- A Professional and Career Development Loan is a bank loan and the YPLA pays the interest on the loan while you’re studying – and for one month afterwards. For further details, please visit
www.direct.gov.uk/adultlearning
or call 0800 100 900.
24+ Advanced Learning Loans
If you are aged 24 and over and starting a course after 1st August 2013 and studying at Level 3 or above, you may be able to apply for the Government's new 24+ Advanced Learning Loan which means no upfront costs for your course. Your household income is not taken into account and there is no credit check. You won't pay anything back until your income is over £21,000.
24+Advanced Learning Loans Bursary Fund – If you take a loan for your fee and your household income is under £30,000* you may also be considered for support with childcare, travel and other course related costs. Please note that funds are limited and early applications are advised.
Prioritisation & Criteria for Support Funds
For further information click on the links below:
Loans Factsheet
Loans FAQ
Loans Learner Journey
Quick Guide to How to Apply
Quick Guide to Repayments
Eligibility Checker
Repayment Calculator
Key Facts Animated
To apply from April 2013 go to
www.gov.uk/24_advanced_learning_loans
and check our website for updates.
24+ Advanced Learning Loans Video
Bus Travel
A Northbrook Unirider ticket could save around £160 per annum and can be purchased via the website
www.stagecoachbus.com/south
. See
Unirider leaflet.
* correct for academic year 2012/13 - subject to change
Northbrook Student Financial Support Team
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 273014 or email sfs@nbcol.ac.uk.
We also offer a drop-in service at The University Centre Worthing - normal office opening hours are 9am-5pm Monday to Thursday and 9am-4.30pm Friday.
Standard Cancellation Charge and Refunds
It is not College policy to issue refunds unless it has been necessary to cancel the course and a substitute alternative is not available. Please note that there may be circumstances in which there are insufficient fee paying students to allow the course to be run. In these instances the College reserves the right to cancel the course. If this occurs, we will notify you and you will receive a full refund.
If the decision to withdraw from the course is that of the student, either prior to or within the first two weeks of the course commencing, a Standard Cancellation Charge of £30 will always be payable. Students who withdraw after the first two weeks will be required to pay the full fee. A £25 charge is levied to all students who do not attend an examination for which they are registered.
No refunds will be initiated if classes are cancelled for circumstances beyond the College's control.