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Adult Education – Fees and Support 2024/25

Additional Learning Support

We have a specialist member of staff who can offer advice and support on all aspects of communication and study skills, essay writing, planning your time, numeracy etc. Help is available on Monday and Tuesday evenings to any student enrolled with Aquinas Adult Education at any time throughout the academic year.

Need help to pay for your course?

How we can help you varies depending upon whether you enrol for an examination course or a leisure course (please ask before enrolment) but below are the main sources of help:        

Examination courses

 

Many of our Adult Learners are able to access free courses with us. Subsidised fees and Advanced Learner Loans may also be available, depending on your circumstance and the course you have chosen to study.

Full advice and guidance on support will be available to you at your admissions interview, once you have made an application to the College.

Please note, age is based on learner start date, however learners must be 19 years old on 31st August 2023 for the below criteria to apply.

The following guide applies to Greater Manchester Residency Only, Fees are payable for all learners outside the Greater Manchester area.

 

You will need to provide your National Insurance Number and proof of address at interview.

  • AAT Certificate in Accounting Full Level 2

    • This course is free if you are:

      19+ unemployed or low income (below £25,000).

      19-24 with an Education Health Care Plan.

      If none of these apply you may still be eligible for a reduced fee. Please complete the application form in full so that we can assess your circumstances.  Full Fee; £1100

  • GCSE Maths / GCSE English

    • This course is free if you are:

      19+ and do not already hold a Maths or English Level 2 qualification at grade 4 or higher (C or higher) or above.

      If none of these apply you may still be eligible for a reduced fee. Please complete the application form in full so that we can assess your circumstances.  Full Fee; Math & English £600.

  • AAT Foundation Certificate Bookkeeping Level 2

    • This course is free if you are:

      19+ unemployed or low income (below £25,000).

      19-24 with an Education Health Care Plan.

      If none of these apply you may still be eligible for a reduced fee. Please complete the application form in full so that we can assess your circumstances.  Full Fee; £650

  • Science GCSE

    • This course is free if you are:

      19-23 and have already achieved a *full Level 2 but meet the unemployment/low income criteria#.

      19-24 with an Education Health Care Plan.

      24+ and do not already hold a *full Level 2 qualification or above, or meet the unemployment/low income criteria#.

      If none of these apply you may still be eligible for a reduced fee. Please complete the application form in full so that we can assess your circumstances.  Full Fee; £775

  • Access to Higher Education Full Level 3

    • This course is free if you are:

      19-23 and do not already hold a level 3 qualification.

      19-23 with level 3, or 24+  Fees are payable, you may be entitled to apply for an Advanced Learner Loan.

       Full Fee: Health Professions £3338, Psychology & Criminology £3022

  • AAT Advanced Diploma in Accounting Full Level 3 (part of National Skill Offer)

    • This course is free if you are:

       

      19+ and do not already hold a **full Level 3 qualification.

      19+ and have already achieved a **full Level 3 qualification, but meet the unemployment/low income criteria#.

      19-24 with an Education Health Care Plan.

      19+ and have already achieved a *full Level 3 but do not meet the unemployment/low income criteria#, fees are payable, you may be able to apply for an Advanced Learner loan.

      If none of these apply you may still be eligible for a reduced fee. Please complete the application form in full so that we can assess your circumstances.  Full Fee; £2573

  • AAT Advanced Certificate in Bookkeeping Level 3 (part of National Skill Offer)

    • This course is free if you are:

      19+ and do not already hold a *full Level 3 qualification or above.

      19+ and have already achieved a *full Level 3 or above but meet the unemployment/low income criteria#.

      19-24 with an Education Health Care Plan.

      If none of these apply you may still be eligible for a reduced fee. Please complete the application form in full so that we can assess your circumstances.  Full Fee; £1265

  • ESOL (English for speakers of other languages)

    • This course is free if you are:

      19-23 and have already achieved a *full Level 2 but meet the unemployment/low income criteria#.

      24+ and do not already hold a *full Level 2 qualification or above, but meet the unemployment/low income criteria#.

      If none of these apply you may still be eligible for a reduced fee. Please complete the application form in full so that we can assess your circumstances.  Full Fee; tbc

EXAMPLES OF EQUIVALENT QUALIFICATIONS

*Full Level 2

5+ GCSEs at A-C  (Grade 4 and above)  or

1 A Level  or

2 AS Levels or

NVQ2 or

QCF Level 2 or

Certificates/Diplomas or Technical Certificate Level 2.

** Full Level 3

2+ A Levels, or

4+ AS Levels or

1 A Level + 2 AS Levels or

Access to HE or

GNVQ Advanced or

NVQ Certificates/Diplomas at Level 3 or

Applied general qualifications at Level 3 or

Technical Certificate Level 3.

#UNEMPLOYMENT CRITERIA

If you are in receipt of Job Seekers Allowance or Employment Support Allowance (Work Related Activity Group) no fee will be charged.

Your fees will also be waived if you are in receipt of Universal Credit AND earn (disregarding benefits) less than £617 a month (learner is sole adult in benefit claim), or £988 a month  (learner has a joint benefit claim with partner), and Job Centre Plus recognises you as a member of:

  • All Work Related Requirements Group
  • Work Preparation Group
  • Work Focused Interview Group

Or if you receive other state benefits AND now earn (disregarding benefits) less than £617 (learner is sole adult in benefit claim), or £988 (learner has a joint benefit claim with partner), a month.

Or if  you want to be employed or progress to more sustainable employment AND now earn (disregarding benefits) less than £617 (learner is sole adult in benefit claim), or £998 (learner has a joint benefit claim with partner), a month.

Evidence will need to provided and retained for audit purposes.

#LOW INCOME CRITERIA

If you are employed or self-employed, and earn less than £20,888.00 you may be entitled to study an academic courses for free. Evidence will need to be provided and retained for audit purposes of your gross annual earnings, ie Universal Credit statement within three months of learning start date, current employment contract or wage slip. If you are self-employed you will need a copy of your tax return or business accounts

  • Additional Information about Advanced Learner Loans

    • Advanced Learner Loans – provide a source of fees and support to help people aged 19 and over enrolling onto a Level 3 course.

      On receipt of a learner’s loan application, the Student Loan Company is responsible for assessing whether a learner is eligible.  By taking out a loan, a learner is taking direct responsibility and financial liability for their learning.

       

      Advanced Learner Loan Support Fund – this fund provides financial support to enable you to attend and complete your course with costs such as: travel expenses, books and equipment for students enrolling onto examination courses (terms and conditions apply). This is offered at enrolment to those students who are on a low income or in receipt of Job Seekers Allowance; Employment Support Allowance (in the work related activity group); Universal Credit (mandated to seek work) only. Application forms available during the academic year and distributed until the funds are used.

       

      Instalment Plan for examination courses costing over £250:
      You have the option of spreading the cost of your fees by paying a deposit at enrolment followed by a number of standing order payments (full details on request); you will need your bank details, your cheque book or credit/debit card when enrolling. Please enquire which courses this applies to when you enquire/enrol.

Leisure, fitness & Language courses

Fee reductions are available if you are in receipt of any of the following income related benefits:

    • Job Seeker’s Allowance (JSA)
    • Employment Support Allowance (ESA)
    • Universal Credit (mandated to seek work)
    • Working Tax Credit (excludes Child Tax Credit on its own)
    • Council Tax & Housing Benefit
    • Income Support
    • Pension Credit (Guarantee Credit only)
    • (Unwaged dependant of the above – (named spouse/partner/adult dependent of income based benefit claimant)
    • Carer’s allowance
    • You are issued with a Stockport Council Band A Leisure Key beginning with number 1/….

If you are entitled to a reduction in your fees, you will need to provide proof of this at enrolment, with your payment book, your Giro (or a photocopy), or an appropriate letter from the agency awarding you the benefit.

Payment is expected termly at termly enrolments.

Fees and Dates