Fees and Financial Support

Newcastle City Learning receives government funding for some of its courses through the North East Combined Authority (NECA) and Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA). Learners accessing government funding for their course, will be asked to provide evidence of residency and where applicable evidence of fee remission. Please visit Enrolment Checklist 2024-25 (pdf, 104KB) for further details on the type of evidence required.

When enrolling on a course at Newcastle City Learning, learners will be made aware of any fees due from them in respect of the course for which they are applying.

Fee Remission

Your course may be free if:

•    You are unemployed, in receipt of Universal Credit, Job Seekers Allowance, Employment Support Allowance or another state benefit and your take home is pay below the £892 as a sole claimant and £1437 as a joint claimant.
•    Your employed or self- employed and your individual gross annual earnings are below £25,000
•    You are aged between 19-23 and studying your first full Level 2
•    You are aged between 19-23 and studying your first full Level 3
•    You are studying a maths qualification and don’t hold a level 2 or above in this subject.
•    You are studying an English qualification and don’t hold a Level 2 or above in this subject.
•    You are studying a Digital Skills qualification and don’t hold a Level 1 or above in this subject.

The above is subject to meeting residency criteria. Please note eligibility is subject to change.

Learning at Level 2 and below

Level 2 and below qualifications are free to learners who meet the residency eligibility, are aged 19 and over and who are employed or self-employed and have an individual gross annual income of less than £25,000, excluding benefits. If you are unemployed and in receipt of Universal Credit, Job Seekers Allowance, Employment Support Allowance or another state benefit and your take home pay is below the £892 as a sole claimant and £1437 as a joint claimant you may qualify for a free course. Evidence of income or benefit must be provided. Depending on individual circumstances, those learners that do not meet the eligibility criteria will have to pay the co-funded or full cost fee.

Digital Skills

Learners who are aged 19 and over and assessed as having digital skills levels below level 1 are eligible for a free digital skills qualification regardless of their annual income. Residency criteria must be met to qualify for a free course.

Maths and English Courses

Maths and English courses up to and including level 2 are free to adults, who have not previously attained a GCSE grade 4 (C) or a qualification at a comparable level, or higher regardless of income. Residency criteria must be met to qualify for a free maths and English course.

First Full Level 2 

Level 2 qualifications listed on the legal entitlement list will be free to those learners aged between 19-23 who don’t already hold a full level 2 regardless of your annual income. Residency criteria must be met to qualify for a free course.

Level 3 Free Courses for Jobs

Level 3 qualifications listed on the legal entitlement list will be free to those learners aged between 19-23 who don’t already hold a full level 3 regardless of your annual income.  If you already hold a full level 3 qualification or you are 24 or over and you are employed or self-employed and have an individual gross annual income is less than £25,000 or you are in receipt of Universal Credit, Job Seekers Allowance, Employment Support Allowance or another state benefit and your take home pay is below the £892 as a sole claimant and £1437 as a joint claimant you may qualify for a free course. Residency criteria must be met, and evidence of income or benefit provided to qualify for a free course. Those learners that do not meet the eligibility criteria will need to pay the full cost fee or apply for an Advanced Learner Loan.

Advanced Learner Loan

Learners aged 19 or over and enrolling on a course at Level 3 or above, may be eligible to apply for a loan to pay for their course fees.

Co- Funded Courses

Where learners do not qualify for fee remission but meet the residency criteria for subsidised course fees, the hourly rate is £5.50. The course fee covers the running cost of the course, including the teaching, venue and awarding body costs. There may be additional charges on some courses for materials and equipment. Learners will be expected to pay their course fee at the time of enrolment to secure their place on the course.

Full Cost Courses

Where learners do not meet the residency criteria, or their course does not attract government funding then they will be expected to pay the full cost hourly rate of £11.50. The full cost rate also applies to those learners studying a qualification they have previously studied. Learners will be expected to pay their course fee at the time of enrolment to secure their place on the course.

Please note learners can only receive government funding once for each qualification, once a learner has exhausted all fundable aims in a subject area, they do have the opportunity to join our full cost provision.

Instalments

Where learners course fees are over £200 and the course lasts more than 15 weeks, instalment options are available. Learners will be expected to pay 25% of their course fee when they enrol to secure their place on the course.

Travel and Childcare

Discretionary Learner Support (DLS) funds may be available to help with the cost of travel, childcare, books and equipment. To qualify learners must have a household income of less than £25,000 if there are no dependants or £30,000 if there are one or more dependants.

To claim assistance with your childcare costs the child must be under 15 years of age and be cared for by a registered childminder or nursery. Learners who receive financial assistance but don’t complete their course, may have to repay monies received. To apply for DLS, 

Please speak to one of our advisors who will discuss eligibility and evidence criteria with you.

Outstanding Fees

Learners with unpaid course fees may, not be permitted to enrol for new courses or continue their course until all outstanding monies have been paid. Newcastle City Learning will refer unpaid amounts to an external agency to pursue payment. Any additional costs incurred by Newcastle City Learning in the collection of the debt will be the liability of the learner and will be added to the debt.

Refunds

Fees are non-refundable, except in the following circumstances:

•    When Newcastle City Learning has cancelled the course, in which case all fees paid will be refunded.
•    When a fee has been paid in advance of the course start date and Newcastle City Learning has been informed in writing by the learner of their withdrawal before their start date.
•    When a learner withdraws from a course due to medical or work-related reason, a partial refund will be issued upon receipt of satisfactory evidence.
•    Where there is a complaint made through the formal complaints’ procedure about the quality of the course which is upheld (this may be a full or partial refund).
•    Where there are exceptional, mitigating circumstances.

Date last updated: June 2024