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Fee Reductions for Adults

Read about fee reductions for adults across all levels

Please note: additional costs for extras that help maximise your learning experience and which are essential to your study programme may still apply.  These can include costs of essential books, equipment, specialist clothing, field trips and other learning resources or materials. 

For further details please contact our Enquiries Team on 0800 032 1986 or email enquiries@hlcollege.ac.uk.

Fee reductions for courses Level 2 and below

Adults (aged 19 years or over) taking courses funded by the Education and Skills Funding Agency may be entitled to reduced course fees if they meet the following criteria:  

  • Adults (aged 19 to 23 years) wishing to study at Level 2 and who do not have a first full Level 2 qualification (i.e. do not have 5 GCSEs at grades 9 – 4 (A* – C) an NVQ at Level 2 or an equivalent qualification) will be exempt from tuition fees, although other fees covering examinations, certification and additional costs may still apply.  
     
  • Adults undertaking English or maths qualifications, including GCSEs, will not be charged tuition fees if they have not previously attained a GCSE grade 4 (Grade C) or above in the subject.  
     
  • Adults who are in receipt of certain means tested benefits (Job Seekers Allowance, Employment and Support Allowance in the Work-related Activity Group) will be entitled to a reduction in fees.  
     
  • Recipients of Council Tax Benefit, Housing Benefit, Income Support, Working Tax Credit, Pension Credit, Contribution-based ESA, DLA, Child Tax Credits or Universal Credit who are unemployed and wish to train or re-train in order to find work, may also be entitled to a reduction in fees. Valid documentary evidence of any qualifying benefits received must be provided in order for fee reduction to be applied. 

 

For further details please contact our Enquiries Team. 

Fee reductions for Level 3 courses

Further information

  • Adults (aged 19 to 23 years) wishing to study at Level 3 and who do not have a first full Level 3 qualification (ie, do not have 2 or more A Level passes or 4 or more AS Level qualifications, an NVQ at Level 3 or equivalent) will be exempt from tuition fees, although other fees covering examinations, certification and additional costs may still apply.  

    Certain qualifications are classified as ‘Free Courses for Jobs’ (previously known as the ‘National Skills Fund’) by the ESFA and can be claimed once.  These are for adults who:  

    • do not already have a full Level 3 qualification or equivalent as defined by the Education and Skills Funding Agency (i.e. two or more A Level passes or 4 or more AS Level qualifications, a 90 Credit Diploma, and Extended or a Work-based Diploma at Level 3); 
    • already have a level 3 qualification or higher but earn below the National Living Wage annually (£20,319 from April 2023); 
    • already have a level 3 qualification or higher but are unemployed. 

     

    Please note that if you have used Free Courses for Jobs / NSF eligibility once you cannot use it for a further course.  


For further details please contact our Enquiries Team. 

 Visit our page on financial support.  

Read about student finance, loans, grants, bursaries and paying back loans on the government’s student finance page. 

Read more on the government’s Skills for Life website. 

Follow Student Finance England or Student Finance Wales on Facebook or Twitter to take part in student finance Q&A sessions. 

Student Finance England Facebook and Twitter 

Student Finance Wales Facebook and Twitter 

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