A College for everyone
Taking you higher with affordable education
Education should be accessible to everyone. We understand that times are difficult now, but, here at Middlesbrough College, we are dedicated to making education affordable. We support each full-time student with a range of perks and financial support.
Free* travel to and from College
Full-time students can travel to and from College for free on bus or train. Whether you live 15 or 50 minutes away, there are range of travel routes available to make the journey easier.
With a 16-17 Savers Card, costing £30 per year, students will save 50% on their train fare. We will then reimburse the remaining 50% of the fare once it has been handed into our Student Services team each week.
Middlesbrough College offers free bus travel across the Tees Valley. The MC Mover is a free shuttle bus taking students from the BBC Building in the town centre to and from the College or to TTE. We also have dedicated bus services from Ingleby Barwick, Easington, Great Ayton, Saltburn and Guisborough to ensure students who live further away can still come into College.
Students can benefit from free* travel with local travel operators, Stagecoach and Arriva North East. After the purchase of a travel sticker each term, full-time students can travel within the Tees Valley zone 7-days a week. You could also use your free travel on weekends when heading to the shops or meeting up with friends!
*a £5 admin fee is required for a travel sticker.
Find out more about travelling to College
Free laptop to support studies
To support the studies of our learners, eligible students are provided with a free laptop for the duration of their time at Middlesbrough College. The loan laptops have built-in AI features, helping students to succeed in their learning and showcase their digital skills.
Loan laptops are available for all 16–19-year-old students on a Level 1, 2 or 3 study programme. Students are responsible for their laptop, and after completion of the MC Click laptop scheme, may be eligible to keep their device. Our Digital Helpdesk found in the main college building are always on hand to help with any issues.
Enrichment
College isn’t just about gaining qualifications; students have opportunities for personal development and building friendships for life. Our free enrichment programmes allow students to take on new activities away from their studies.
Whether it’s learning a creative skill, sharing a lifelong interest with like-minded people or wanting to make a difference to the wider community, Middlesbrough College has a vast amount of enrichment activities students can partake in for free.
Our Sports Academies help keep the body and mind active, and with a team of highly qualified coaches, students can develop sporting excellence in 8 academies. We offer academies in football, basketball, cricket, golf, table tennis, gymnastics, volleyball and swimming.
Find out more about Enrichment
Financial support
Although learners aged 16-18 are not required to pay for their studies, there are still financial support options available to help.
Eligible students may be able to claim a bursary of £350 per year, based on attendance, performance and behaviour.
Students can also continue to receive free school meals, and all students regardless of household income can benefit from our 10% student discount on food at our 6 food outlets.
Young parents aged under 20 have access to financial support with childcare costs and may be eligible for income support with a £1,200 bursary. We also provide financial support to help with the costs of equipment, residential and travel expenses depending on personal circumstances.
Find out more about Finacial Support
The perks of being a Middlesbrough College student
We offer a range of students perks to benefit all our students. Full-time students can access our on-site gym for just a one-off £10 fee and take advantage of the high-quality fitness equipment and fitness programmes.
The Graduate Salon offers students a free haircut in their first term, and 20% discount on all hair and beauty treatments.
Students will also be eligible to apply for a NUS/TOTUM card and receive discounts on over 200 brands.
The College Welfare team also provide a range of support services, including free confidential counselling, safeguarding and young carer support to ensure Middlesbrough College is a safe space for everyone.
You can find out more about studying at Middlesbrough College by attending one of our upcoming Open Events. Discover our range of study programmes, meet our expert tutors and tour our amazing £120m campus!