Help with fees and additional information

Reduced fees on course codes ending in ‘F' (Priority qualification) for 2012-13

Please note, online enrolment isn't available if you want to claim reduced fees.

Buckinghamshire Adult Learning offers:

Full tuition fee remission on courses leading to a qualification to learners who are in receipt of:

• Jobseeker's Allowance (income based) (JSA)
• Employment & Support Allowance (WRAG) (ESA)
• Over 16 years and under 19 years on 31/8/12 if not on any other funded training
• 19-23 and not qualified to a full Level 2* e.g. min of 5 GCSEs at A-C grade or NVQ2
• Those aged 19-24 who are not qualified to Full Level 3* e.g. min of 2 A levels or NVQ3
• Those who are unemployed and looking for work and need to gain skills to get work if they are on a means tested benefit (excluding pension credits)

* Certain qualifications only. Please seek advice.

50% discount on tuition fees (limited funds)** to a maximum of £250 per learner per year, on application, on courses to learners who are in receipt of:

• Council Tax Benefit (not single occupancy tax relief)
• Housing Benefit
• Income Support
• Pension credit
• Working Tax Credit (household income under £20,000)
• Unwaged dependant of someone claiming one of the above (including JSA and ESA)

Reduced fees on course codes ending with ‘A' for 2012-13

Buckinghamshire Adult Learning offers a 50% discount on tuition fees (limited funds)** to a maximum of £150 per learner per year, on application, on courses to learners who receive any of the benefits listed above.

Learning support combined application form - PDF

Additional information on fees

Examination board fees

These are included in the course fee except where indicated.

Small group fees

Fees for certain courses are based on an average enrolment of eight learners.

Overseas learners

Please note that learners who have not been living in the UK or EU residents who have not been living in the EEA for at least the last three years will need to pay the Overseas Student Rate for any course which is £8.50 per hour.

Minimum age

The minimum age to join a course is 16 years. 16-18 year olds in full time education may need signed authorisation from their school or college when they join a Buckinghamshire Adult Learning course. Most qualification courses, i.e. those ending in an 'F', will be provided free of charge provided the course is not a GCSE resit programme or connected with any full time programme that they are on at school.
Full fees need to be paid for any non-qualifying course.

Paying in instalments

If the course fees are over £120 and it runs for 25 weeks or more you can spread the cost by paying in 3 equal instalments. You will need to pay the first instalment by credit/debit card, cheque or cash at the time of enrolling, which will secure your place on the course. We will then send you a Direct Debit mandate with your receipt, which you will need to complete and return within 10 working days to our finance office. The direct debit will be taken from your account on 15th December and 15th March.

For courses over £120 but less than 25 weeks, you can still apply to pay by instalments. 1st payment to be taken on enrolment, then 3 subsequent monthly payments, to be taken on 15th of each subsequent month.

If you wish to pay in instalments please call 0845 045 4040 or complete a postal enrolment, we are unable to process online enrolments with direct debits.

Money to Learn

Childcare costs**

If you are claiming a full concession for a qualification course, you may be entitled to apply for help with Child care costs, for the time you are attending your course/s. This help is available for those aged 20 and over.

Travel and materials costs**

If you are claiming a full concession for a priority qualification course, you may also be able to claim back the cost of getting to your course and for the cost of essential books and course materials.

Course fees do not include materials or book costs, except where otherwise stated. It is inadvisable to buy materials for your course until you are certain it is running and until your request for financial
assistance has been approved. For further details contact our learner information staff based at the
Evreham Centre on 01296 383582.

** the amount we have available to fund discounts and provide financial assistance towards other costs is limited. Applications may not be successful if funds have already been committed. Once support has been offered, however, this will apply for the whole of the course. In order to support as many students as possible, we may limit the amount provided to an individual learner.