How much will it cost to study?

If you are aged 16-18 you will not have to pay tuition, registration or examination fees.*

If you are aged 19 or over, you may not have to pay tuition fees.*

Other Fees

Other fees can include registration, exam and certification fees, and in some cases residential fees.

Will I have to pay for my course?

If you are aged 16-18 you will not have to pay tuition, registration or examination fees.*

Introductory Courses

If you are aged 19 or over and receive one of the benefits listed, you may not have to pay tuition fees.

Level 1 Courses

If you are aged between 19 and 23 and you do not already have a Level 2 qualification, you may not need to pay any tuition or exam fees for an Entry or Level 1 course.

Level 2 Courses

Your course may be free if you qualify for either Level 2 Entitlement or Level 2 Fee Remission. Find out more about these below:

Level 2 Entitlement (19-23-year-old)

If you are aged 19-23 and studying for your first full Level 2 qualification you may not need to pay tuition, registration or exam fees.

Other Level 2 Fee Remission

If you are aged 19 or over and in receipt of one of the following benefits you may not have to pay tuition, registration or exam fees:*

  • Job Seekers Allowance (JSA)
  • Employment Support Allowance (ESA) in the Work-Related Activity Group
  • Universal Credit

If you are in receipt of one of the following benefits and you are currently unemployed and looking to gain skills that will help you enter employment, you may not have to pay tuition, registration or exam fees:*

  • Income Support
  • Housing Benefit
  • Council Tax Benefit (not single person’s payment)
  • Working Tax Credit (but not in employment)

Please note that evidence of benefits dated within 3 months must be provided at the point of enrolment.

If you work full-time (37.5 hours a week) and meet both of the following, you may not have to pay tuition, registration or exam fees:*

  • Eligible for co-funding
  • Earn less than £15,736.50 annual gross salary, based on the Social Mobility Commission’s low pay threshold of £8.07 (hourly rate in 2016) and on the assumption of a 37.5 hour contract with paid statutory holiday entitlement.

Please note that evidence of your employment must be provided at the point of enrolment. This could be a wage slip dated within 3 months of your learning start date or a current employment contract which states gross monthly/annual wages.

*Please note that full cost, Higher Education and Level 3 and above courses that attract Advanced Learning Loans are not eligible for fee remission.

Level 3 Courses

Your course may be free if you qualify for Level 3 Entitlement. Find out more below:

Level 3 Entitlement (19-23-year-old)

If you are aged 19-23 and studying for your first full Level 3 qualification you may not need to pay tuition, registration or exam fees. In some cases, this could be a first full Level 4 without having attained a first full Level 3 qualification.

All of the categories listed are subject to the student satisfying UK/EEA residency requirements.

Advanced Learner Loans

Advanced Learner Loans are student loans similar to Higher Education Loans, but for further education students. Advanced Learner Loans are available to students aged 19 or over, studying at Level 3 or Level 4, including QCF Certificates and Diplomas, and Access to HE.

You will need to have been resident in the UK for 3 years prior to the start of the course.

For further details, please contact Student Services on 01642 473132 or visit http://www.gov.uk/advanced-learner-loan/.

Loan Repayments

If eligible, you don’t pay anything up front for your course fees and, once completed, you do not need to pay anything back until you earn over £25,000. Loans will not be means tested or subject to credit checks.

You will not have to pay back your Advanced Learner Loan if your loan is for an Access to Higher Education programme and you progress to and successfully complete an approved Higher Education programme, which is eligible for student finance.

You can apply online or by using a paper-based application form.

For further details or help with the completion of your application form, contact Student Services 01642 473132.

When do I need to pay for my fees?

If you do not get fee remission or are enrolling on a course that is not eligible for an Advanced Learner Loan, you will be required to pay for courses, registration and exam fees at the time of enrolment. This can be in cash, by cheque, credit or debit card. If your employer is paying your fees the College will need to see a letter of authorisation at enrolment.

Please visit Student Services for support in applying for your Advanced Learner Loan or Higher Education Loan.

Paying in Instalments

We want to make it as easy as possible for you to pay for your studies. Instalments are permissible on tuition fees of over £300 and are as follows:

An initial deposit of 25% of the course fees is required, followed by three monthly instalments on or around the first working day of the month.
Please note, this service does not include registration, exam, residential or other course fees, which must be paid at enrolment.

The first payment, plus all other costs, must be paid at the point of enrolment. Further payments are to be made by Direct Debit.

The Easier Payment option does not apply to Higher Education courses.

Full details regarding fee remission, loans and finance are explained within the College’s Fee Policy which is available on the College website and at the point of enrolment.


For further information please contact Student Services on 01642 473132.

How we can support you!

The College has student support funds which can provide financial support if you are on a low income. Subject to meeting eligibility requirements, funds may be available to help with the cost of your books, equipment, travel and childcare. As these funds are limited, we recommend you apply as early as possible if you think you could benefit from this support.

Note that we cannot guarantee to support all applicants. Awards are means tested and require evidence of household income. Evidence of earnings or benefit must be dated in the last 3 months.

Redcar & Cleveland College offers nursery provision in partnership with local day nurseries, as well as other childcare providers. We may be able to offer a number of free or partly funded places to students who are in receipt of certain benefits or who are experiencing financial hardship.

Note that awards are means tested and subject to applicants meeting eligibility criteria.

The Care to Learn scheme aims to meet the childcare and additional travel costs of young parents under the age of 20 years old.

For more information about this fund or to request an application form, call the Care to Learn helpline 0800 121 8989 or visit www.direct.gov.uk for more information.

Free Meals for Learners in Further Education

Free meals are available for learners aged 16 – 18 who are studying in further education. To qualify for a free meal, learners or their parents will need to be in receipt of one or more of the following benefits:
  • Income support
  • Income based Jobseekers Allowance
  • Income-related Employment Support Allowance (ESA)
  • Support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
  • The guarantee element of the State Pension Credit
  • Child Tax Credit (provided they are not entitled to Working Tax Credit) and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190 as assessed by HER Majesty’s Revenue and Customs
  • Working Tax Credit run-on – paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
  • During the initial roll out of the benefit, Universal Credit.
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