Welcome to SERC

Fees & Financial Matters

Do I have to pay fees?

Yes, you will normally be charged a fee for a part-time course.. The fee for each course is listed in the course descriptors founds on pages 12 to 52. The College does offer some free courses and they can be found on page 54.

When and how do I pay?

Fees are generally payable at the time of your enrolment. We can accept payment by cash, cheque (payable to SERC), or payment card (e.g. debit / credit).

Please note that fees are chargeable for each academic year. This means that you will have to enrol and pay fees in each year when your course is two or three years in duration.

Can I pay in instalments?

Yes, when the total fee payable, after any concession is applied, totals £300 or more.

You will need to set up a Direct Debit arrangement with the College at the point of enrolment. To enrol we require a payment of 25% of the total course fee at the point of enrolment. For September enrolments, two instalment payments will then be collected as follows:

25% on 1 December 2021 (by direct debit). 50% on 1 February 2022 (by direct debit)

For January/February enrolments, two instalment payments will then be collected as follows: 50% on 3 May 2022 (by direct debit)

It is important that you note the following • Default in any payment will result in a £10 administration fee.

• Default in any payment will result in enrolment on the course/programme of study becoming invalid.

• Students who withdraw from their course are still liable for payment of their fee in full and therefore all direct debit payments will be collected.

Can I receive a reduced fee/ concessionary rate?

Yes, there are concessions available for certain circumstances.

You can find the range of concessions that SERC offers on our website www.serc.ac.uk/student-finance/ concessionary

Please note that you must be studying on an accredited course, that concessionary fees do not apply to all courses, and are for the tuition fee element only (ie do not apply to examination or other costs included in the total fee).Please view our website course finder or call 0345 600 7555 for details on whether concessionary fees are available for your chosen course.

Should you qualify for more than one concession, the highest value concession only will be applied. For details on eligibility for concessionary fees please view the Concessionary fees section on our website.

Concessionary fee - must I bring evidence with me?

Yes, you must submit evidence to confirm that you are eligible for a concession. Evidence must be submitted at the time of enrolment, otherwise the full course fees will be charged. Evidence submitted after enrolment will not be considered for concessions.

Are there any discounts for paying in full at the time of enrolment?

Yes, if you are self-paying, with a course fee greater than £300, you will receive a 5% discount on the tuition element of their course fees if you pay in full at the point of enrolment.

What happens if I do not pay my fees?

If do not pay your fees the College will impose a number of sanctions, including loss of access to College systems. Outstanding student fees may be referred to a debt recovery agency

It is important that you seek help at the earliest opportunity. Our Student Finance Advisors can assit you if you encountered difficulty paying your fees.

Can I re-enrol if I have outstanding fees from a previous year?

No, if you have an outstanding (part or full fees) from a previous year, you will not be allowed to enrol for a course in the new academic year.

What happens with my payment if I am applying for funding? Further Education

If you have already been approved for funding from Student Finance NI, in the form of a FE Grant, you must submit your grant letter at the point of enrolment.

The amount of the grant will be deducted from the total fee and if a balance remains this must be paid in full at enrolment, unless the criteria for payment by instalment is satisfied.

If you do not not have funding in place, at the point of enrolment, you will be required to pay the full course fee atthis point unless criteria for payment by instalment is satisfied. Once funding has been approved by Student Finance NI you must present your award letter to Customer Services. If the award covers the total fee, the College will refund the amount already paid by you. The College will cancel any direct debit agreement and issue the refund prior to 1 December 2021. If the grant does not cover the total fee, you remain liable for any balance. If paying by instalments, the College will proceed with the direct debit for the remaining fees on the notified dates. In all instances, the College will refund to youany overpayments that you have made. In the event of Student Finance NI not releasing the full amount of your award (for example if you withdraw), then you will be required to pay the remaining balance of the total fee.

Higher Education

As a Part-Time Higher Education student you can apply for assistance in the form of a means-tested tuition fee grant and/or non-means-tested tuition fee loan, as well as a course grant. These are dependent upon household income and course intensity. Tuition fee grants will be paid directly to the College. You can apply for financial assistance, via the Student Finance NI website and our Student Finance Advisors are available to offer you help and support. If you are intending to apply for a part-time fee grant or loan you will be treated as a self funding student until your funding is approved. You will be required to complete the following steps at enrolment:

• Make an upfront payment of 25% of the course fee

• Submit a completed direct debit mandate at enrolment

After enrolment you should submit your student finance application via www.studentfinanceni.co.uk

If approved for funding, your award letter must be submitted to Customer Services as soon as it is received. If the award letter is not submitted to Customer Services prior to the first direct debit instalment date, the College will proceed with the direct debit. If your application for funding is unsuccessful or does not cover the full course fee, then you will be liable for the outstanding fees. In all instances, the College will refund to you any overpayments that have been made to your account and are due to you.

Will there be any additional costs?

Yes, there are courses that will have additional costs. .

Where a course incurs additional costs, they will be detailed on the course descriptor on our website.

Can I get a refund?

As a general rule the College does not offer refunds, although there is some discretion in exceptional circumstances.

To request a refund, in exceptional circumstances, you should complete the Fee Waiver/Refund Request form, available on our website or from Customer Services, and submit necessary supporting evidence. Please note that you will still be liable for your fees if you decide to withdraw from your course. Higher Education students should refer to the Fees Policy Appendix C.

Can my employer pay for me?

Yes, we call this a sponsored enrolment.

Your sponsor will need to complete a Sponsor Liability Form (available from customer services on campus). The completed form should be submitted to Customer Services at the point of enrolment.

Sponsors will be liable for the full cost of the course fee and concessions do not apply.

The College directly invoices the sponsor for your fees.

The sponsor should become familiar with the terms fo sponsorship before completing the form. For example, if you leave your sponsor’s employment after the start date of the course the fee liability remains with the sponsor.

What do I do if I’m experiencing unexpected difficulties in paying my fees?

Firstly, do not panic!

Our Student Finance team is here to assist you where you have unexpected difficulties in paying your fees.

Please contact the Student Finance Team at the earliest opportunity to discuss what potential help may be available. You should also contact the College’s Finance Department to discuss your difficulties.