This information applies to England and Wales.
Further education is any study you do after finishing your secondary education but it does not include undergraduate and postgraduate degrees.
You can do a further education course at schools and academies with sixth forms, colleges or specialist colleges.
In England, your education is free until you are 19. You can get bursaries and funds that support your study, like books, transport and even accommodation and meals.
After you are 19 you may have to pay for your course. There are loans, bursaries and grants that can help you with costs. You may not have to pay fees if:
What qualification levels mean (GOV.UK)
Check with your chosen college if you will need to pay fees.
Further education courses and funding (GOV.UK)
Funding further education for disabled students (Disability Rights UK)
There is a different system for further education funding in Wales.
If you have an Education, Health and Care plan (also known as EHC plan or EHCP), you can get funding for further education up to age 25.
After you turn 19, your funding will depend on things like:
You may also need to think about funding for things like course materials, books and travel.
Find out whether a student maintenance loan will affect any means-tested benefits, such as Universal Credit, income-related Employment and Support Allowance or Housing Benefit.
If you are 19 or older, you might qualify for an Advanced Learner Loan to cover course fees.
The amount of money you get depends on the type of course, your course fees and the maximum loan available for your course.
Advanced Learner Loan: what you'll get (GOV.UK)
The loan covers tuition fees for level 3 to 6 courses, including:
Advanced Learner Loans (MoneyHelper)
Apply for an Advanced Learner Loan (GOV.UK)
You start repaying your loan when you start earning over the repayment threshold. How much you pay depends on your weekly or monthly wage.
You do not have to pay off the Advanced Learner Loan for an Access to Higher Education course once you complete a higher education course.
If your application for an Advanced Learner Loan is approved, you can apply for money from the Loan Bursary Fund to help pay for the cost of:
You may be able to get help with the cost of term-time accommodation if you are studying a course far from home.
There are 2 funds available:
The funds are usually for students between 16 and 19. You may still be eligible if you are over 19, but you must either:
To apply for funding for a residential or specialist college, you will have to show that your local mainstream college cannot meet your special educational needs (SEN). This may involve visiting your local college and getting an assessment.
If you have an EHC plan, you can ask to go to the specialist college of your choice in your EHCP. This is called 'naming a special post-16 institution' (specialist colleges for students aged 16 and older).
The specialist college must meet your needs and be an 'efficient use of resources' for your local authority to agree to fund your chosen college.
If the local authority does not agree to your chosen college and you are not happy with the named college or course offered in its place, you can:
Appealing an EHC plan decision
IPSEA provides a wide range of resources to help you go through the steps for EHCPs and negotiating with local authorities.
If you are between 16 and 19, you might be eligible to receive a bursary. You do not have to pay this back. The scheme has 2 parts:
You could receive a bursary of up to £1,200 a year if you are classed as 'vulnerable'. This means you are:
You could also get a discretionary award if you face financial barriers, such as you are struggling with the costs of transport, meals, books and equipment.
Your college or training provider is responsible for deciding who is eligible, how much to pay and how regularly to pay it. They will usually want to see evidence, such as a letter about your benefits.
You could get extra money from your college if you are facing financial hardship. Discretionary support funds help disadvantaged students, such as disabled students or those on low incomes with the costs of further education.
Each college has its own policy on who is eligible for funding and what they will provide grants for. Grants can cover the cost of:
What you can apply for depends on your age, learning provider and personal situation.
Contact your college student support or welfare officer for more information on how to apply for funds.
You can also talk to your college or education provider about Learner Support (GOV.UK) to find out if you can get financial support.
You may be able to claim grants from charitable trusts to help with the extra costs of disability.
The Snowdon Trust provides grants for disability-related further education costs not covered by Government funding. They accept applications from February to August for the academic year starting in September.
Apply for a Snowdon Trust grant
Disability Rights UK has a list of trusts you can apply to. They also have information on the best way to apply.
In further education, Care to Learn supports those under the age of 20 with childcare costs.
Colleges also have discretionary support funds.
There is also a bursary fund attached to the Advanced Learner Loan.
Last reviewed by Scope on: 01/08/2024
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