Course Fees

Depending on your circumstances and/or which course you wish to take, there may be a fee to pay for your course. If you do have to pay your own fees there are a number of ways you can find help with making this payment. This could be a loan or we can help spread the payments out with an interest free payment plan.

If you already applied and looking to pay your course fees please visit our payment portal.

For information on course fees, contact our advice and guidance team by email at info@shcg.ac.uk

Do I need to pay course fees?

For students aged 16–18 our full‑time study programmes are free to study, but coming to college can involve other costs such as travel, equipment and trips. Financial support may be available (see top of this page for information).

Regardless of your age, you don’t need to pay tuition fees for a basic English (literacy) or maths (numeracy) course up to level 2. There are also no fees for GCSE English and maths if you have not already gained a grade 4/C or above in these subjects.

If you meet any of the following criteria you may be eligible for free or discounted study depending on your selected course:

You are aged 19 to 23 years and the course is your first full level 2 qualification (the equivalent of five GCSEs at grade 4/C or above)
You are aged 19 to 23 years and the course is your first full level 3 qualification (the equivalent of two A-level passes)
You are in receipt of active benefits (see Unemployed or on benefits section below for more information)
You have been referred to the College through your local Job Centre Plus office

Please note: in some cases exam and registration fees may be payable.

UK and EU students do not pay tuition or examination fees for government funded further education courses, as long as they have not reached their 19th birthday by the month in which their course begins.

Unemployed or on benefits?

If you are aged 19+ and in receipt of active benefits (e.g. Job Seeker’s Allowance, Employment Support Allowance, Universal Credit) and studying below level 3 you may be eligible for free or discounted study depending on your selected course.

19 – 23 Fully Funded Level 2 Course (Not English or Maths)

19 – 23 Co-Funded Level 2 Course

19 – 23 Fully Funded Level 3 Course

24+ Fully Funded Level 2 Course (Not English or Maths)

24+ Co-Funded Level 2 Course

24+ Fully Funded Level 3 Course

19+ Co-Funded ESOL Course

19+ Fully Funded ESOL Course

Please note: in some cases, exam and registration fees may be payable.

If you are 19 – 23 and meet the following criteria, you would be eligible for a fully funded Level 2 course that is not English or Maths.

You do not already hold a Level 2 qualification.

or

You are either unemployed and in receipt of benefits and/or your gross annual income is below the earnings threshold of £25,000. The gross annual income figure does not include any partners income. Evidence of benefits and/or salary will be required to prove income level.

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If you are 19 – 23 and meet the following criteria, you would be eligible for a co-funded Level 2 course.

You are either employed and your gross annual income is over the earnings threshold of £25,000 or unemployed and not receiving benefits. The gross annual income figure does not include any partners income.

Co-funded learners will be required to pay a contribution towards the course fee, with the Government subsidising the remainder of the fee. The contribution that you will pay will depend on which course you choose to enrol on, further guidance and costs can be sought from your local college Information, Advice and Guidance team.

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If you are 19 – 23 and meet the following criteria, you would be eligible for a fully funded Level 3 course.

You do not already hold a full Level 3 qualification.

or

You are either unemployed and in receipt of benefits and/or your gross annual income is below the earnings threshold of £25,000. The gross annual income figure does not include any partners income. Evidence of benefits and/or salary will be required to prove income level.

or

You are either employed and your gross annual income is over the earnings threshold of £25,000 or unemployed and not receiving benefits. The gross annual income figure does not include any partners income.
You do not already hold a full Level 3 qualification.

Those learners who do not fall into any of the three criteria above would have to pay the course fee in full. Learners can apply for an Advanced Learner Loan to help with the initial outlay, or they can choose to pay for the course in instalments (provided the course cost is over £500). Further information can be sought from your local college Information, Advice and Guidance team.

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If you are 24+ and meet the following criteria, you would be eligible for a fully funded Level 2 course that is not English or Maths.

You are either unemployed and in receipt of benefits and/or your gross annual income is below the earnings threshold of £25,000. The gross annual income figure does not include any partners income. Evidence of benefits and/or salary will be required to prove income level.

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If you are 24+ and meet the following criteria, you would be eligible for a co-funded Level 2 course.

You are either employed and your gross annual income is over the earnings threshold of £25,000 or unemployed and not receiving benefits. The gross annual income figure does not include any partners income.

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If you are 24+ and meet the following criteria, you would be eligible for a fully funded Level 3 course.

You are either unemployed and in receipt of benefits and/or your gross annual income is below the earnings threshold of £25,000. The gross annual income figure does not include any partners income. Evidence of benefits and/or salary will be required to prove income level.

Those learners who do not fall into the above criteria above would have to pay the course fee in full. Learners can apply for an Advanced Learner Loan to help with the initial outlay, or they can choose to pay for the course in instalments (provided the course cost is over £500). Further information can be sought from your local college Information, Advice and Guidance team.

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Provided you are 19+ and meet the following criteria, you would be eligible for co-funded English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) learning up to and including Level 2.

You are either employed and your gross annual income is over the earnings threshold of £25,000 or unemployed and not receiving benefits. The gross annual income figure does not include any partners income.

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Provided you are 19+ and meet the following criteria, you would be eligible for fully funded English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) learning up to and including Level 2.

You are either unemployed and in receipt of benefits and/or your gross annual income is below the earnings threshold of £25,000. The gross annual income figure does not include any partners income. Evidence of benefits and/or salary will be required to prove income level.

Course Fees

Do I need to pay course fees?

Unemployed or on benefits?

If you are 19 – 23 and meet the following criteria, you would be eligible for a fully funded Level 2 course that is not English or Maths.

or

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If you are 19 – 23 and meet the following criteria, you would be eligible for a co-funded Level 2 course.

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If you are 19 – 23 and meet the following criteria, you would be eligible for a fully funded Level 3 course.

or

or

Back

If you are 24+ and meet the following criteria, you would be eligible for a fully funded Level 2 course that is not English or Maths.

Back

If you are 24+ and meet the following criteria, you would be eligible for a co-funded Level 2 course.

Back

If you are 24+ and meet the following criteria, you would be eligible for a fully funded Level 3 course.

Back

Provided you are 19+ and meet the following criteria, you would be eligible for co-funded English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) learning up to and including Level 2.

Back

Provided you are 19+ and meet the following criteria, you would be eligible for fully funded English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) learning up to and including Level 2.

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