Don't be put off applying because you are worried about how you are going to cover
living costs or pay for books and equipment – Learner Support Services can give
you advice on how to deal with money and help you access different types of financial
help before you start your course.
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Professional and Career Development Loans
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A Professional and Career Development Loan is a bank loan. You make an agreement
with a participating bank to borrow an amount between £300 and £10,000. Then once
you’ve stopped studying, you pay it back in the normal way. The good news is you
don’t pay any interest while you’re studying or for one month after you complete
your qualification.
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Course Fee Remission
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If you are aged 19 or over you could be responsible for the payment of your course
fees. However, if you are in receipt of an income assessed benefit such as Income
Support, Job Seekers Allowance, Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit, your fees
may be waived. You can discuss Fee Remission with a Client Adviser. You may be
required to complete a form and provide evidence of any income assessed benefits
you receive – it may be necessary to visit Job Centre Plus for this purpose.
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Level 2 Entitlement (L2E)
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If you are over 19 and do not have a full Level 2 qualification (NVQ2, 5 GCSEs A-C
etc) you may be eligible to have your course fees waived. You can discuss L2E with
a Client Adviser and complete the form at the back of this pack if appropriate.
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Level 3 Entitlement (L3E)
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If you are over 19 and under the age of 26 and do not have a full Level 3 qualification
(NVQ3, 1 or more A Levels etc) you may be eligible to have your course fees waived.
You can discuss L3E with a Client Adviser and complete the form at the back of
this pack if appropriate.
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Adult Learning Grant (ALG)
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Adult Learning Grant (ALG) ALG is available to you if you are over the age of 19,
enrolling onto your first full-time (more than 12 hours a week or 450 hours in total)
Level 2 or Level 3 course.
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Discretionary Learner Support Fund (dLSF)
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The discretionary Learner Support Fund is a fund available to assist students to
continue with their studies. These funds can be used to pay for essential learning
resources / equipment (as agreed by the College) and in some circumstances the fund
can contribute towards (Ofsted registered) childcare and travel expenses.
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Free Childcare for Training & Learning for Work
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If you are a parent, you may be eligible to apply for support with the cost of (Ofsted
registered) childcare through this scheme. To be eligible you need to meet a number
of criteria which can be discussed with a Client Adviser.
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New Deal for Lone Parents
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New Deal for Lone Parents is a voluntary programme specifically designed to help
lone parents into work. It offers a package of support to help you move towards
a more secure future for you and your children. A Personal Adviser at Jobcentre
Plus will be able to adviser you whether you are eligible for New Deal, however,
it is vital that you make enquiries before enrolling at College as the Jobcentre
will need to agree your training.
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Residential Support Scheme
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The Residential Support Scheme may be able to contribute to the cost of rent you
will incur if you have to move away from home to study.
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Travel discounts
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There are a number of discount schemes that you might be able to take advantage
of as a student. These include the Transport for London Oyster Card, Ensign bus
discounts (Thurrock only) and Student Railcards.
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Aimhigher
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If you have a low household income (less than around £18,000 per year), are disabled
or have learning difficulties then you qualify for support through Aimhigher. Aimhigher
can help pay for trips to universities for open days, interviews and can even help
with the cost of field trips for your course.
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Ideally, if you can apply for funding before enrolling at College (ALG being good
examples of where this would be possible), then you should, but there are some other
funds (such as dLSF) for which you can’t apply for until you have enrolled.
You can contact Learner Support Services if you need any further information or
guidance about dLSF or any other funding.