FE Funding

Course Fees for Further Education Courses

FE course tuition fees are not charged to students enrolling at the College on a full time course if they are an EU citizen and are under 19 on 31st August. Students over 19 or not an EU citizen will usually need to pay for tuition, exam and registration fees though they may be eligible for tuition fee remission depending on:

• The course of study
• The qualifications already achieved
• Whether they are in receipt of certain state benefits
• Their age on 31st August

Students who have not lived in the EU/EEA for the last 3 years may have to pay a higher fee.  Eligibility will be checked at the application stage. All prospective full time students are sent up-to-date fee information once the details are finalised usually in June. In the event of new regulations affecting course fees, applicants will be informed.

To find out more, contact our Admissions Team on 01225 756300

Advanced Learner Loans

Advanced Learner Loans are available to learners aged 19 and over who are studying at level 3 to level 6 on an eligible course. You can view further information about Advanced learner Loans on www.gov.uk/advanced-learner-loan

If a learner takes out an Advanced Learner Loan to pay for an Access to HE Diploma and then goes on to complete an HE qualification, the outstanding balance of the Advanced Learner Loan will be written off.

Once you have been offered a place on an eligible course at college, we will send you a Learning and Funding Information Letter which has all the information you need to apply for the Advanced Learner Loan. Please apply well before the start of your course so that the loan is approved and in place before you enrol. If it is not agreed by the time you enrol, you can either pay in full or pay a deposit and set up an instalment plan for the fees which will be refunded (minus £35 administration) once your loan has been approved.

If you are experiencing financial difficulties and considering withdrawing your application as a result, please speak to our Student Administration Team first on 01225 756300 to discuss the options open to you.

Financial help

16-18 Guaranteed Bursary

If you are in receipt of either Income Support, ESA (Employment Support Allowance) and DLA (Disability Living Allowance) or PIP (Personal Independence Plan), or Universal Credit (if it replaces any of these benefits) or if you are in care or leaving care then you may be eligible for the 16-18 Guaranteed bursary of £1200 to assist with college costs. You will also receive a free college lunch each day that you are in college.

If you are under 19 and not in the above groups but have a household income of less than £25,000, you can also apply for a bursary and may receive support with course costs and transport.

You can download a 16-18 Bursary Application Form or pick up a  paper copy from Customer Services. Funds are available on a first come first served basis and cannot be guaranteed. Check to see what support is available here with the 16 -18 Bursary Guidance Information.

All students studying at Lackham should download a Lackham bursary form which can be found under Residential Bursaries below.

19+ Discretionary Support Funds

If you are 19+ and your annual household income is £25000 or under, you could be eligible for assistance from our discretionary funds. Assistance may be available with travel, course related costs and childcare.

19+ Loans Bursary fund

If you take out an Advanced Learner Loan to pay your further education tuition fees, you can also apply to the means-tested 19+ Loans Bursary Fund. This can be used to help with travel, equipment and childcare and to pay for any additional learning support needs that you have. If you are eligible for an Advanced Learner Loan but choose not to take it out, you will not be able to apply to the 19+ loans bursary fund and no other support will be available.

Please download a 19+ Bursary Application Form or pick up a copy from Customer Services. Funds are available on a first come first served basis and cannot be guaranteed.  Check to see what support is available here for 19+ Bursary Guidance Information.

Childcare Support

If you are aged under 20 and have a child, you could be eligible for help with your childcare whilst you are studying, from the Care to Learn Scheme. Find out more by visiting www.gov.uk/care-to-learn

If you are 20+ and your household income is under £25000 you can apply for childcare support through the Discretionary Support fund or Loans Bursary fund as detailed above.  To be eligible for support your childcare must be with an OFSTED registered provider.  Support will be provided for term time only, for the days that you attend college.  

Please download a 20+ Childcare Support Application form or pick up a copy from Customer Services. You will need to complete one childcare form for each child and submit it with the main application form above.  Funds are available on a first come first served basis and cannot be guaranteed.

Students eligible to take out the Advanced Learner Loan, who choose not to take out the loan, are not eligible to apply for any childcare support from our funds.

Residential Bursaries

Students studying on an eligible landbased course at our Lackham campus may be eligible for a means tested Residential Bursary to help with accommodation costs.

How do I apply for a residential bursary?

An application form and guidance can be downloaded

16 - 18 Bursary Guidance Form for Lackham
16 - 18 Bursary Application Form   

19 + Bursary Guidance Form for Lackham
19 + Bursary Application Form   

Once completed, please return it to Customer Services together with financial evidence so that a provisional assessment can be made. 

Applications will be considered if the student has been offered a place on a Wiltshire College & University Centre full time course and is 16 years of age or over and living on campus or in private external accommodation in order to attend their course. Please note, students enrolled on Higher Education (university level) courses cannot apply for a Residential Bursary.

If you have any questions about any of the above, please contact the Fees and Funding Advisor on campus on 01225 350035.