Fees and paying for your course

Policy Statement 2026-2027

Newcastle City Learning receives government funding for some of its courses through the North East Mayoral Strategic Authority and the Department for Education. 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 2026-27 (pdf, 495KB) 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, looking for work and in receipt of Universal Credit, Job Seekers Allowance, Employment Support Allowance and your take home pay is below £991 as a sole claimant and £1597 as a joint claimant. 
• Your employed or self- employed and your individual gross annual earnings are below £32,000 
• 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 2 or above in this subject. 

The above is subject to meeting residency criteria. Please note that 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 £32,000, excluding benefits. If you are unemployed, looking for work and in receipt of Universal Credit, Job Seekers Allowance, Employment Support Allowance and your take home pay is below the £991 as a sole claimant and £1597 as a joint claimant you may qualify for a free course. Evidence of income or benefits must be provided. Depending on individual circumstances, those learners that do not meet the eligibility criteria will have to pay the co-funded or standard rate fee. 

Digital Skills 

Learners who are aged 19 and over and assessed as having digital skills levels below level 2 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 https://www.qualifications.education.gov.uk/ 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 https://www.qualifications.education.gov.uk/ 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 £32,000 or you are in receipt of Universal Credit, Job Seekers Allowance, Employment Support Allowance and your take home pay is below the £991 as a sole claimant and £1597 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 standard rate fee or apply for an Advanced Learner Loan. 

Advanced Learner Loan 

Learners aged 19 or over and enrolled on a course at level 3 or above, may be eligible to apply for a loan to pay their course fees subject to available funds. 

Co-Funded Courses 

Where learners do not qualify for fee remission but meet the residency criteria for subsidised course fees, the hourly rate is £6.00. 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. 

Standard Rate 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 standard hourly rate of £12.50. The standard 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 standard rate provision. 

Reduced Rate Courses 

Learners may be eligible for a reduced rate on our advertised standard-rate courses. 

A reduced rate of £8.00 per hour may be available if you have an individual gross annual income of less than £32,000, or if you receive Universal Credit, Jobseeker’s Allowance, Employment and Support Allowance, or another state benefit. 

If you receive benefits, your take-home pay must also be below £991 per month as a sole claimant or £1,597 per month as a joint claimant. 

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 £30,000 if there are no dependents or £35,000 if there are one or more dependents. For travel support, learners must live more than 5 miles from their place of study. Distance is measured as the crow flies. 

If you do not receive government free childcare you may be able to claim assistance with childcare costs; the child must be preschool 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 reasons, 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 is exceptional, mitigating circumstances. 

Updated August 2026.