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What sort of funding and financial support can you get?

If you’re thinking of doing a course, there’s plenty of information about financial help online.

There are also telephone helplines that can answer questions on some of your funding options.

Or if you want to get some advice in person, make an appointment with your college’s student support or welfare officer.

Discretionary Learner Support

Colleges and school sixth forms can provide extra financial help through their Discretionary Learner Support. The funds are prioritised for those who face financial hardship.

• Discretionary Learner Support

Help with childcare costs

If you're a parent, there are a number of sources that could help with childcare costs while you’re learning.

• Help with childcare costs while you're learning

Professional and Career Development Loans

A Professional and Career Development Loans could help you pay for vocational or work-related learning. It's a deferred repayment bank loan which allows you to borrow between £300 and £10,000.

• Professional and Career Development Loans

Other grants and bursaries

There are other grants and bursaries available to help with learning costs.

These include the Residential Support Scheme, which offers accommodation costs if you need to study away from home.

Remember: grants don’t have to be paid back. Bursaries are similar to grants, but are usually linked to a particular career.

• Help if you're studying away from home: Residential Support Scheme and more...

• Other grants and bursaries for adult learners

How much will your course cost?

Learning for free

Tuition is free for some courses - including, in many cases, courses in literacy and numeracy and courses which lead to your first qualification equivalent to GCSEs and A levels.

• Learning for free

Learning for work

If you’re in work, your employer may be willing to support you - financially or otherwise.

• Training and learning for work

Course fees

If you have to pay for tuition, course fees vary depending on the subject, the length of the course and the type of qualification. You can find out about fees before you enrol.

Learning costs

There may be other costs like exam fees, field trips and membership of societies or clubs. You may also need to buy materials - books, stationery and computer equipment, or specialist equipment for courses like art or music. It’s worth finding out about these costs before you start your course.

Keeping costs down

To keep costs down you can:

• More about the NUS Extra card Opens new window

• Find a UK online centre near you Opens new window

Help with learning costs in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales

• Help with learning costs in Northern Ireland Opens new window

• Educational funding in Scotland Opens new window

• Financial support for learning in Wales Opens new window

Financial help for higher education students

The sources of financial help are different if you’re doing a higher education course.

• Student finance: financial help in higher education

More useful links

• Disability support at college (disabled people section)

• Download 'financial help for adults in learning or training' booklet (PDF, 748K)

• Money Advice Service - healthcheck Opens new window

Useful contacts

• Adult learning contacts