Student Finance

If you are/will be aged 16, 17 or 18 on 31 August in the academic year when you begin a programme of study, you DO NOT have to pay tuition fees, college registration fees or examination/board registration fees.

You may have concerns about paying for your course as an adult returning to education or training.  Many of our personal and professional learning courses are fully funded or subsidised for those who want to undertake a level 2 or Level 3 and do not already have qualifications at this level  There are free courses and concessions for those that are unemployed and claiming benefits.  This also applies for those that are employed and on a low wage - £20,319 annual gross salary or £22,500 if you live within the Cambridge and Peterborough combined Authority)

Our student administration teams are on hand to advise what you may be entitled to in relation to tuition costs or what loans are available to cover these costs.

University Funding

All guidance relating to fees apply to those who have been resident in the UK or another EEA country for the three years preceding the start of the course. If you have not, you will need to contact the Admissions Manager to confirm eligibility.

You may be eligible for free tuition on certain courses up to and including Level 3.

For all individuals over 19 years of age at the start of the academic year

You are legally entitled to study the following courses free of charge:

• English and maths, up to and including level 2, who have not previously attained a GCSE grade 4 (C), or higher, and/or
• Essential Digital Skills qualifications, up to and including level 1, who have digital skills assessed at below level 1

For individuals aged 19-23

If you do not currently hold a full level 2 or Level 3 course, then you are legally entitled to study these courses free of charge. This includes Access to HE courses.

For individuals aged 24+

At the start of the academic year, you will be eligible for free tuition for courses up to and including level 3 if:

• You are currently unemployed and in receipt of an eligible benefit.
• You are employed in receipt of low wage with an annual gross salary less than :
  • £20,319 if you live in Suffolk, Norfolk, Essex, Hertfordshire
  • £22,500 if you live within the Cambridge and Peterborough combined Authority

For all other individuals who are required to contribute to their course fees

There are various flexible options available to help you return to study.

Most short course fees are affordable and can be paid in full at the start of your course via a debit or credit card or through our online payment systems. For longer programmes where fees are more than £400, students can opt to pay fees by instalments. The first instalment is payable on receipt of the first invoice and can be paid online by debit or credit card.. An automatic payment plan will then be set up to pay the balance in 3 equal instalments at regular monthly intervals approximately 1 month after the first payment. Payment plans can be flexible to meet individual budgets where required.

For students aged 19 and above who do not qualify for fully funded courses at Level 3 and above may qualify for an Advanced Learner Loan.

Advanced Learner Loan

Aside from tuition fees, there are often costs for materials or equipment, transport or childcare when returning to study as an adult.  There is support available depending on your household income.

Find out about funding and financial support options:

West Suffolk College Bursary

Educational grants from the WSC Education Opportunity Trust