For a lot of students, you will not have to pay for the cost of full-time (and some part-time) studies,
but even if you do there may be help available.
Course Fees
Course fees cover the cost of tuition and examinations.
You do not have to pay course fees
if you are between 16 and 18 years old and have been living in the UK or an EU country for three
years prior to starting your studies
(Information for International Students.)
If you are over 18 or if you have not been living in the UK or an EU country for three years prior to beginning your studies,
don’t worry as you may still be able to study for free or at a reduced cost. Please speak to a client adviser to
discuss paying for your studies on 0845 52 12345.
Other Costs
Even if you don’t have to pay course fees, there are other potential costs to bear in mind when considering further education.
As with course fees, there may be help available.
- Books and Course Materials
Even if your course is free you may still have to buy books and class materials.
On some vocational courses, you need to buy special equipment to aid your practical studies.
Uniforms and other materials can be bought online from our dedicated store at
www.southessexuniforms.co.uk
- Educational Trips
There are College trips on many of our courses and you may have to pay a fee to attend
- Transportation
Assistance with travel costs is available through Local Authorities, or the
College, subject to certain criteria. Click here for more information
- Additional Qualifications
During your main course of study you may have the opportunity to take
additional qualifications, such as sports coaching or first aid and you may have to pay for these.
- Earn While You Learn
Some of our courses (such as the Apprenticeship programme) allow you to work while you study.
If your employer is paying for your course you will need to provide their details with your application, along with a
letter on company headed paper agreeing to pay your course costs. If you leave the course after your course starts,
the employer may still be liable for payment of the fees.
Financial assistance if you apply through Learner Services
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 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.
- Course Fee Remission - If you are aged 19 or over you could be responsible for the payment of course fees.
However, if you are in receipt of JSA or ESA there may be an opportunity to have fees waived for some short courses.
- Level 2/3 Entitlement - If you are over 19 and are studying for your first full Level 2 or 3
qualification you may be eligible to have your course fees waived.
- Discretionary Learner Support Fund (dLSF) - A fund available to assist 19+ students on a low income and can be used to pay for equipment
(as agreed by the College) and contribute towards (Ofsted registered) childcare and travel expenses.
- 16-19 Bursary Fund (for 16-18 year olds) - A new fund designed to replace EMA by helping students most in need with a fixed award
and for others facing financial hardship there is funding to help with equipment, trips and possibly travel expenses.
- Travel Bursary (for 16-18 year olds) - You can apply for financial help with travel if you live more than 3 miles from the campus you are due
to attend and have been refused help from the local authority.
- Travel discounts - These include Oyster cards, Student Railcards and Ensignbus discounts (Thurrock Campus only).
Most of the above funds depend on the availability of money allocated to the College.
Because of this, we always suggest that students apply for this funding within the first month after enrolment.
Financial assistance if you apply through external organisations
Depending on your circumstances you may be eligible to the following types of funding and you should apply to the external organisations as detailed below:
- Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) (For 16-18 year olds) - Though EMA has closed to new applicants,
if you received EMA in 2010/11 you may still be able to receive payments.
- Adult Learning Grant (ALG) - Though ALG has closed to new applicants if you received it in 2010/11 and are continuing onto the 2nd or 3rd
year of the same course in 2011/12 you will still be eligible for these payments to continue.
- Care to Learn (for 16-18 year olds) - If you are a parent and aged under 20, you may be eligible to apply for childcare and travel support.
- Residential Support Scheme - This scheme may be able to contribute to the cost of rent you will incur if you have moved away from home to study.
Please contact the Learner Support Helpline (0800 121 8989) to enquire about the funds listed above.
- Local Authority Post 16 Travel Scheme (for 16-18 year olds) - Your local authority maybe able to assist with the cost of travel from home to college.
Please contact your local authority for details.
- Professional and Career Development Loans - A bank loan agreed with a participating bank, paid back once you have finished studying.
For more information or an application pack call 0800 100 900.
For further details on the Local Authority Post 16 Travel Scheme, Travel Bursary and the Travel Discount’s please click on Transport under the Learner Support heading.
What if you need help or more information?
You can contact Learner Services if you need any further information or guidance by visiting Funding and Welfare during their drop in’s as follows:
Main Campuses
Tuesday - Friday
11am - 1pm
Thurrock Learning Campus
Thursday
11am - 1pm
Or Email your questions to the funding and welfare team at
FundingAndWelfareEnquiries@southessex.ac.uk