Financial Support Options for 19+ Learners
Welcome to SGS College, the Money Management Service are a unique team dedicated to providing you with information, advice and guidance on the financial support that is available while you study. Don't be left worrying about the cost of college life, we offer a variety of internal and external schemes that may be able to support 19+ learners looking to study with us.
Return to Main Financial Support PageIf you are studying a level 3 or above course, you may also be interested in one or more of these financial support options:
Free Courses For Jobs Offer The Advanced Learner Loan Level 3 EntitlementLegal Entitlements
Am I Eligible?
If you do not already hold a full Level 2/3 qualification, you may be eligible to apply for an entitlement if you are aged 19-23 at the start of the course. This could mean that all your course costs (excluding optional trip fees) are waived. You will need to meet the full Education Skills Funding Agency eligibility criteria and be studying a course that is eligible for this scheme.
What Will I Get?
If awarded, the Legal Entitlement will pay for:
- Tuition Fees
- Exam Fee
- Any Invoiced Material Fees
The payment will be made directly to the department you are completing the course with.
PLEASE NOTE: If you leave the course before completing the qualifying period for funding, then you may be liable for your course fees. Please click here to apply for Financial Support
Benefit Fee Waivers
Am I Eligible?
You may be eligible for funding if you are:
- Aged 19+ on the first day of your course
- Studying a level 2 course or below, that is eligible for the scheme
- In receipt of an approved state benefit in your own name and earned income from employment (disregarding benefits) is less than £617 a month, (if you are the sole adult in the benefit claim), or £988 a month (if you have a joint benefit claim with your partner)
- Have settled status, have been an ordinary resident in the UK for at least 3 years prior to the start date of the course, or be in one of the exception groups
PLEASE NOTE: If you are aged 19-23 you can only be funded for a level 2 course via this offer if you are already qualified to a Full Level 2 or above.
What Will I Get?
If awarded, the Benefit Waiver will pay for:
- Tuition Fees
- Exam Fee
- Any Invoiced Material Fees
The payment will be made directly to the department you are completing the course with.
PLEASE NOTE: If you leave the course before completing the qualifying period for funding, then you may be liable for your course fees. Please click here to apply for Financial Support
Low Income Fee Waivers
Am I Eligible?
You may be eligible for funding if you are:
- Aged 19+ on the first day of your course
- Studying a level 2 course or below, that is eligible for the scheme
- Be Employed/Self Employed
- Be earning less than £20,319 annual gross income (per annum) if you live within an Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) funding area, or £23,400 per annum if you live within the West of England Combined Authority, (WECA) funding area.
- Have settled status, have been an ordinarily resident in the UK for at least 3 years prior to the start date of the course, or be in one of the exception groups
CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT IF YOU ARE IN A WECCA OR ESFA AREA
PLEASE NOTE: If you are aged 19-23 you can only be funded for a level 2 course on this offer if you are already qualified to a Full Level 2 or above.
What Will I Get?
If awarded, the Low Income Waiver will pay for:
- Tuition Fees
- Exam Fee
- Any Invoiced Material Fees
The payment will be made directly to the department you are completing the course with.
PLEASE NOTE: If you leave the course before completing the qualifying period for funding, then you may be liable for your course fees. Please click here to apply for Financial Support
Free Courses for Jobs Offer
Am I Eligible?
What is the Free Courses For Jobs Offer?:
This offer is a part of the Government's Plan for Jobs. It is designed to remove the age constraints and financial barriers for adults looking for their first level 3 qualification, or those who are classified as unemployed or earning below the national living wage, so they can access training that will enable them to progress. All qualifications on the offer have been identified to help improve job prospects.
To be eligible you must be:
- Aged 19+ on the first day of your course and either be taking your first level 3 (or above) qualification, or be unemployed or earning below the national living wage.
- Completing a level 3 course that is on the Free Courses For Jobs Offer
- Have settled status, have been an ordinary resident in the UK for at least 3 years prior to the start date of the course, or be in one of the exception groups
What Will I Get?
If awarded, the Free Courses For Jobs Offer will pay for:
- Tuition/Exam Fees
You do not need to apply for this scheme. The College will determine your eligibility upon receipt of your application.
Eligible Courses
If a course is funded by this offer you will see an 'FC' icon against the course information on the SGS website.
Please click here to apply: Applying for Financial Support (sgscol.ac.uk)19+ Advanced Learner Loan
Am I Eligible?
Advanced learner loan explained Click here
Before applying for an Advanced Learner Loan check you are not eligible for a Legal Entitlement or could be funded via the Free Courses For Jobs Offer. If you choose to apply for a loan rather than exercising your entitlement, this may mean that you have given up your right to exercise your entitlement to AEB funding in future.
To be eligible you must be:- aged 19+ on the first day of your course
- completing a level 3,4,5 or 6 qualification
- have settled status, have been an ordinary resident in UK for at least 3 years prior to the start date of the course, or are in one of the exception groups
If you pay for an Access to HE course using an Advanced Learner Loan and then go on to complete a higher education course, the Student Loans Company will write off the balance on the Advanced Learner Loan.
To apply you will need a 'Learning and Funding' letter', which will contain all the relevant details you need to make your application. This letter will be emailed to you, along with your invoice, as soon as you have been enrolled. To apply, or for further information click Here. If you require any assistance then please contact the MMS team.
What Will I Get?
Advanced Learner Loans are similar to higher education loans, helping students to pay for tuition fees rather than having to pay upfront.
- Please be aware that your loan may be equal or slightly less than your course fee.
- Payments are made to the College monthly based on your attendance.
- If you leave your course, your loan will stop and you will be responsible for paying any outstanding money owed to the College.
- You will only need to start to repay the loan once you have finished your course and are earning over £25,000 a year.
Useful links:
19+ Advanced Learner Loan and Hardship Bursaries
Am I Eligible?
To be eligible, learners must:- be aged 19 or over on the 31 August of the year of study;
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be in receipt of a means tested benefit or be able to demonstrate a house hold income of £33,000 a year or less.
Please Note: if you are in receipt of any state benefits it is your responsibility to inform the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) about any learner support you receive from us, as the learner support payment may impact those benefits. - have an approved 19+ Advanced Learner Loan to be eligible for the advanced learner loan bursary.
What Will I Get?
The total value of a Bursary award is based on the individual needs and circumstances of each learner. The final award will be constructed of 3 main potential elements:
- Support towards the payment of any invoiced material fees - (A one off payment paid directly to the Department).
- Support towards the purchase of kit/equipment, professional membership fees and DBS checks for academic courses - (A one of payment paid directly to the Department, or if applicable paid into your designated bank account*).
- Support towards travel if during term time you live 2 miles or more from the college site you are attending - (This could be an academic year bus pass (mTicket), a student railcard, and/or money paid into your account on a monthly basis)**.
*Please note that you may be asked to initially and at various points during the year produce receipts for any travel, kit and equipment that you have purchased with the bursary payment provided.
Check Eligibility For Childcare Apply for financial supportChildcare Support
Am I Eligible?
To be eligible:- You must have been awarded the 19+ Hardship or the 19+ Advanced Learner Loan Bursary.
- Be aged 21 or over. If 20 and under, refer to the Care2Learn scheme to help with childcare costs up to the value of £180 per child per week. Click here to find out more.
You can apply for childcare support when applying for a bursary. Just click, "yes" when asked if you are interested in childcare support, and an additional questionnaire will be generated that you can complete and submit separately to the bursary application.
What Will I Get?
Any award will be based on the number of childcare hours needed to attend your chosen course. If you are eligible for the government funded 'Early Education Entitlement' then you must use this first before also applying for childcare support.
Your award will be based on the number of children needing childcare and the number of hours you will be attending the college.
Apply for financial supportLearners with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP)
Am I Eligible?
Students with an approved education, health and care plan, who are aged 24 and under on the 31st August in the first year of their study programme are eligible to apply for the 16-18 bursary.
This means that:- No course fees will be payable (With the exception of non-essential trips).
- The bursary award will be in line with the 16-18 bursary allocation strategy.
- Free college meals can be applied for.
Welsh Government
Learning Grant
Am I Eligible?
The Welsh Government Learning Grant is an income-assessed grant for 19+ students that aims to encourage residents of Wales to continue with their education where otherwise this may not be possible. Applications are only available via Student Finance Wales, who have full control over the outcome of your application.
To be eligible:
- You must be 19 or over on 1 September on the first day of your course.
- Live in Wales.
- Be studying an approved course.
- Your household income must be £18,370.
For more information visit Who is eligible for WGLG, Further Education | Student Finance Wales
What Will I Get?
The Welsh Government Learning Grant is funding to help with the costs of your education if you're aged 19 or over. If you're studying full-time you could get payments of up to £1,500 a year or, if studying part-time, you could get up to £750 a year. Click here to apply.