Some adult learners may be eligible to study their course for free, depending on their circumstances.
How much will my course cost?
For students looking to return back to education, there is a large amount of financial support available. Depending on your financial circumstances, your previous qualifications and the course you choose, you may pay no fees at all!
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 a low wage (£33,210 for Tees Valley and North Yorkshire Residents and £25,000 outside of Tees Valley*)
• You are looking for a job
• You are studying your first Full Level 2 or Level 3 course
*Thresholds may be subject to change
To be eligible for FREE courses, you must bring evidence with you to enrolment, e.g. recent proof of benefits or wage silps.
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
Don’t let money stand in the way of your career ambitions!
If you are aged 24 or over or are 19-23 and already have a Level 3 qualification, you can apply for an Advanced Learner Loan to fund the costs for a range of Level 3 and 4 courses.
Advanced learner loans have been introduced by the UK Government for those wanting to return to study. They are easy to apply for, your household income isn’t taken into account and there’s no credit checks. Better yet, you don’t have to repay them until you are in employment and earning over £27,295 a year!
The loan is paid directly to the College covering the cost of your tuition fees so you don’t have to pay anything up front to study. You don’t have to borrow the full amount available- you can pay for some of the course yourself if you prefer. The minimum amount available is £300.
If you complete an Access to Higher Education course then go on to study a higher education programme, your repayments will be written off and you won’t have to pay anything back!
If you take out an Advanced Learner Loan for one course, then go on to study another eligible course afterwards, you can take out an additional Advanced Learner Loan to help with those fees too. You can take out a maximum of four loans in total.
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.
Further information
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