Fees & Funding

Did you know you may be able to study for free? 

Many of our students are eligible to study for free on some courses and we can offer you all the advice you need about course fees, funding support and Advanced Learner Loans. 

For short courses and many courses up to level 2, the majority of our adult students are eligible to have their courses fully funded if they are:

• unemployed
• on certain benefits
•  if your gross annual salary is less than: £23,400 (£30,476.96 for Free Courses for Jobs) for South Yorkshire residents, £25,000 for West Yorkshire residents or £25,000 for residents who live in any other area

We will confirm this when you apply.

For students who pay, we offer competitive pricing to ensure education remains accessible to all, with many entry level short one or two-day short courses costing £50 or less.

For longer level 3 courses which can last up to around nine months, most students under 24 are eligible to study for free if they do not already have a full level 3 qualification (equivalent of two A-levels).

Most students aged 24 and over cover the cost of our higher-level courses by applying for an Advanced Learner Loan (ALL). Students may not need to pay this back if you take one of our Access to Higher Education programmes and go on to complete a university degree afterwards – essentially studying for free. Further details and eligibility can be found at: www.gov.uk/advanced-learner-loan/overview and we can confirm all details with you when you enroll on a course.

Unfortunately, our courses do not attract Council Tax Exemption as they do not meet the required hours as outlined by the government. How Council Tax works: Discounts for full-time students – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Free Meals whilst at College

You will be eligible for free home cooked meals while studying if you meet one of the following criteria and have provided the relevant evidence during enrolment.

The criteria is, if you are unemployed and in receipt of state benefits or you have an individual gross annual income below £30,477 (or household income of less than £39,000 where there is no individual income) you may be eligible for learner support.

If you are eligible for free meals you will be entitled to the following:

• Residential students: breakfast, lunch and dinner (starting with lunch on the first day).
• Non-residential students: lunch each day you attend college.

Residential study

We offer the ideal location to focus on your studies and future, and you will receive support throughout.

Students who wish to stay residentially, can apply to do so when they enrol. Staying residentially is subject to meeting certain criteria. When you enrol on a course, you will be asked to select the criteria that represents your current situation and provide some information in relation to this.

Do you need additional financial support to study? 

We may be able to provide you with financial support to help you with costs associated with attending college, for example, accommodation, meals, travel, books, resources and visits to universities.  Financial support is means-tested and therefore dependent upon your household income.   

In addition, we are committed to supporting students with childcare requirements to access learning.  We can offer financial support to help with the costs of childcare whilst studying.   

For more information on whether you may be eligible for financial assistance, please refer to our Financial Support and Childcare Support procedures below or contact us to learn more.

External Resources

Help with the rising cost of living – Barnsley

Our procedures