Sussex Coast College Fees Policy

FEE INFORMATION & HOW TO PAY PART-TIME COURSES 13/14

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1 | FEE INFORMATION & HOW TO PAY

The fees shown throughout the part-time course guides are payable when you enrol which should be prior to the start of the course (unless you have signed up to our instalment payment plan). These fees are for 2013-2014 academic year only. As the college charges annual fees, for courses longer than one academic year, fees will usually be payable prior to the start of each year of study.

Course costs may often include registration fees, exam fees, material and uniform costs and visits. Where this is the case, it is usually highlighted in the course description. All additional costs can be discussed at enrolment. It is also important to note that eligibility criteria may be subject to change based on government changes.

Fees All fees listed throughout the course guides indicate the full amount you have to pay for the course. However, discounts are available for courses that show a little number next to the fee amount (e.g. £200 1 ). This number means you may be eligible to receive a substantial reduction in your fees. Please see below for what each number represents.

1. I am aged 16-18 2. I am under 16 and still at school 3. I am enrolling for a GCSE Maths/English course 4. I am studying my first FULL Level 2 qualification 5. I am studying my first FULL Level 3 or 4 qualification

Spreading the cost Payment in instalments is available for courses costing over £200 that last longer than 15 weeks.

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For course fees between £200-400, a deposit at enrolment of £100 is followed by three equal instalments during the course.

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For course fees above £400, a deposit at enrolment of 25% is followed by three equal instalments during the course.

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The instalments payments can either be taken on a credit or debit card that will still be in date on the third instalment payment date.

If you would like to pay by instalments, at enrolment you will need to complete the fee payment form, which is available from Student Central.

6. I am on benefits 7. I am on benefits but not JSA or ESA 8. I have lived outside the UK 9. I am an International student Once you have found which number is relevant to you, please read the corresponding text on the other page.

Is there other financial support available?

Funds may be available if financial problems make it difficult for you to complete your course. As a Further Education student you may apply for help towards the cost of books, equipment, trips/ visits, childcare and travel.

If you are a Higher Education student, you should apply online at www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance. For more information, please contact Financial Support on 01424 458465.

How can I pay for my course?

For courses lasting less than 15 weeks and any courses costing less than £200 (total of tuition and certification fees), you will be expected to pay for in full when you enrol. You can pay by cash, cheque or card.

For courses lasting at least 15 weeks and costing £200 or more, you can sign up for our instalment payment plan – please see Spreading the Cost section.

If your employer, sponsor, Student Loan Company or managing agent has agreed to pay for your course you will need to bring confirmation from them.

Refunds Where the College cancels a course prior to its start date or alters the location or time, so that a student cannot attend, a full refund will be made. If a student needs to cancel their course, and does so in writing to Student Central a minimum of three weeks before the course start date, the College will make a full refund.

If an individual or employer cancels less than three weeks before the start of the course, then the College operates a ‘no refund policy’. If a refund is requested on the grounds of quality, this should be sent in the first instance to the Quality Department at: quality@sussexcoast.ac.uk.

FEE INFORMATION & HOW TO PAY | 2

THE FUNDING RULES ON FEES AND FUNDING ARE COMPLEX AND POTENTIAL STUDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO CONTACT THE STUDENT ADVISER TEAM TO DISCUSS THEIR PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES ON 01424 458467 OR 01424 458475.

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Tuition and certification fees are not normally payable if you are aged 16-18, but you will be required to pay for materials.

You will be required to pay certification fees for a re-sit. You may also be required to pay certification fees if you withdraw from your course or fail to attend your examination without good reason. Some courses offered by the College are not subsidised by our funding bodies which means you will have to pay all fees in full.

Exemption from fees may not apply if you are still in full-time education at another college/school or if you have been living outside the UK within the last three years.

If you are on Job Seeker’s Allowance including where you are in receipt of JSA National Credit only or Employment and Support Allowance in the Work Related Activity Group for skills training in order to help you get into work, you are entitled** to free tuition and certification fees (additional fees may still be payable).

Evidence of benefit will be required, e.g. award notice or official letter stating the type of benefit you are receiving.

A Jobseekers card is NOT acceptable evidence. You will need to provide your National Insurance number.

If you are a dependant of a claimant but not part of a joint claim you are not automatically eligible for full remission but may be eligible under other criteria (see number 7).

For more information telephone 01424 458465.

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If you are under 16 years old on 31st August 2012 and you wish to attend college, you may be required to pay additional costs such as materials and certification fees.

You will also need a letter from your head teacher supporting your enrolment at College.

You will qualify for remission of fees if you are enrolling onto a funded course and you meet all of the following criteria: • you are currently unemployed • you are wanting to enter employment • you have the right to work in the UK • you are enrolling to help you enter employment

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You are in receipt (or a dependant of someone in receipt) of one of the benefits below: • Council Tax Benefit • Housing Benefit • Income Support • Working Tax Credit • Employment Support Allowance (ESA not in the Work Related Activity Group) • Asylum Seeker in receipt of an income-based benefit

If you do not have a GCSE grade A-C in Maths and/or English language, then you will qualify for free tuition and fees in the relevant subject(s).

4 If you are aged 19 - 23 and do not already hold a full Level 2 or higher qualification, then you are entitled to free tuition and certification fees (additional fees may still be payable).

For more information telephone 01424 458465.

Evidence of your benefits will be required e.g. award notice or official letter stating the type of benefit you are receiving.

5 If you are aged 19 - 23 at the start of your course and do not already hold a full Level 3 or higher qualification, then you are entitled* to free tuition and certification fees (additional fees may still be payable).

8 If you have been living outside the UK within the last three years, you may be considered as an overseas student.

Overseas students are required to pay overseas fees (even where a course is advertised as free), which are considerably higher than fees for home students (i.e. residents in the EU).

For more information phone 01424 458465.

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If you are aged 24+ there is no longer any fee remission or subsidy for studying a Level 3 or 4 course. However, instead of paying for the course in full on enrolment or by instalment plan within the first term of the course, you may be eligible to take advantage of a 24+ Advanced Learning Loan.

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For more information phone 01424 458465 Please see back page on how to apply for 24+ Loans.

Please contact our International team on 01424 458577 for details of fees.

different rules apply for learners studying in the workplace.

For more information phone 01424 458465.

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not applicable to full cost courses

24+ Advanced Learning Loan From August 2013 adult learners above the age of 24 who want to study on level 3 and level 4 courses can apply for a 24+ Advanced Learning Loan. They are similar to Higher Education Loans, but will ONLY be introduced to further education students.

Students will therefore have the option to either: •

pay all the course fees themselves

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have an employer/sponsor pay the all course fees for them

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apply for an Advanced Learning Loan to help pay for the course tuition fees

To qualify you will need to be: •

aged 24 and above at the start of their course

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studying at Level 3 or level 4 in Further Education and training

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a resident in the UK for 3 years prior to the start of the course

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have not previously had a loan to do the same qualification type and level of qualification

HOW TO APPLY 1. You can apply for a loan from April 2013, for courses that start on or after 1st August 2013.

2. You apply for a loan from the Student Loan Company. Visit www.gov.uk/advanced-learning-loans for more information.

Please note: The loan is available irrespective of the student’s current employment status and the loan will not be means tested or subject to any credit check. Once you have applied for the loan you don’t need to do anything to pay the course fee - the loan will then be paid directly to the college on your behalf.

REPAYING THE LOAN Repayments will automatically be deducted from your earnings through the tax system once you’ve left the course. The amount you pay back each month will depend on your income. Once you earn over £21,000 a year, you would pay 9% of your income.

For example: Salary: Minimum Salary Level: Salary which repayment is calculated: Interest rate: Monthly repayment:

£25,000 £21,000 £4,000 9% £30.00

If your loan is for an Access to HE course and you progress on to a Higher Education course and complete it, you will not have to pay back your FE loan!

APPRENTICESHIPS The student and employer are expected to share the costs of the course, so the loan you would take out would only be for half the course cost.

For more information, get in touch with Student Services on 01424 458475