Some adult learners may be eligible to study their course for free, depending on their circumstances.
How much will my course cost?
Most of our part-time courses can be studied for FREE*, depending on your personal circumstances. The guide below will help give you an idea on whether you are eligible to study a part-time course for FREE* or are eligible for financial support.
If you fall under one of the following categories you may not have to pay any fees for your course:
• You are unemployed and receiving benefits
• You are economically inactive
• You are working and earn below £33,210 for Tees Valley residents and £25,000 outside of Tees Valley (thresholds may be subject to change)
• You are looking for a job
• You are studying your first Full Level 2 or Level 3 course
To be eligible for FREE courses, you must bring evidence with you to enrolment, e.g. recent proof of benefits or wage slips.
If you are not eligible for full funding, there are a range of Government loans to support students with the cost of their tuition including the Advanced Learner Loan. Don’t let the cost of studying put you off reaching your dream career. While affordability is one of the biggest factors in going back to education, here at Middlesbrough College, we make it easier, thanks to straightforward support from our dedicated team, as well as a range of support funds to help with costs.
You will find the cost for each course detailed on individual course information pages.
Financial Support
Middlesbrough College has a number of different funds to help with expenses for individual adult learners, such as kit, uniform, equipment or help with childcare.
Here are brief details of the main schemes:
Advanced Learner Loan
An Advanced Learner Loan helps cover the costs of further education courses.
Learners aged 19 and over who are studying an approved course at Levels 3, 4, 5, or 6 with an approved provider in England can apply. Those enrolled on Level 4 or 5 courses with Higher Technical Qualification (HTQ) approval may also be eligible for undergraduate funding.
Eligibility for the loan is not based on income, and no credit checks are required. Interest is applied from the date the first payment is made directly to Middlesbrough College.
The loan, including any interest, must be repaid, but only after the learner has completed or left their course and is earning above the repayment threshold. Find out more about the repayment threshold here.
If you’re studying a Level 3 qualification, you might be eligible for a grant from the Adult Skills Fund (ASF) instead of an Advanced Learner Loan. If you get a grant, you do not need to repay it.
The amount a learner can borrow depends on the course they are studying and the fees set by the Middlesbrough College.
Learners can choose how much they want to borrow, up to the maximum available, with a minimum loan amount of £300. The loan is paid directly towards the course fees charged.
If the course fees exceed the maximum loan amount, the learner will need to cover the remaining cost themselves.
Learners can usually apply for up to four Advanced Learner Loans and may hold more than one at the same time.
Learners can only receive funding once for an Access to Higher Education Diploma.
Find out if you are eligible here on the Student Finance English website.
How to apply
Chat to our Student Services team who will talk you through the process. They are available to help and support you through your enrolment. Email the team today on studentservices@mbro.ac.uk or call 01642 333606 for further information. Or you can fill out an application form here.
Learner support funds
You may be able to get help with equipment costs and travelling expenses from funds that are allocated to the College.
There are also different ways in which the College can help with childcare costs depending on your personal circumstances. We are able to calculate your eligibility to get help with childcare costs based on your lesson hours and course attendance.
Professional and career development loans
This is a loan from the bank where an agreement is made to borrow an amount between £300 and £10,000.
This can be used for course fees, expenses such as books, travel and childcare and living expenses such as rent, food and clothing.
Free Courses for Jobs
Are you aged 24 or over? If you don’t yet have a Level 3 qualification, equivalent to A levels, or an advanced technical certificate or diploma, you can enrol onto a selection of Level 3 courses with Middlesbrough College for free. Click here to find out more.
Support with Childcare
We appreciate childcare can be a challenge when returning to education which is why we offer a range of packages aimed to support with childcare costs.
Our dedicated team will calculate your eligibility based on lesson hours and course attendance so you know exactly if and how we can help.
HE Tuition Loans
Apply for a tuition loan available through the Student Loans Company. The loan is paid directly to Middlesbrough College and there is no upfront payment. Your loan repayments will only start once you are earning over £25,000 a year and all debt is wiped after 30 years. Repayments are based on what you earn not the amount you borrow.
For further information visit www.gov.uk/student-finance.
Need more support?
If you require more support with understanding course fees, the financial support available or to see if you are eligible for a free course, our Student Services team are available to help in anyway.
