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If you are studying a level 3 or above course, you may also be interested in one or more of these financial support options:

Am I Eligible?

You may be eligible if:

  • You are aged between 19 and 23 on the 31st August.
  • You are not already qualified to a full level 2 or a full level 3 standard.
  • The course you are studying is funded by a Legal Entitlement.

Example of Full Level 2: 5 GCSE's grades 4 or C and above

Example of Full Level 3: 2 A Levels or 4 AS Levels

PLEASE NOTE: If you leave the course before completing the qualifying period for funding, then you may be liable for your course fees.

Planned length of the learning aim Qualifying period
168 days or more 42 days
14 to 167 days 14 days
Fewer than 14 days 1 day

What Will I Get?

If awarded, the Legal Entitlement will pay for:

  • Tuition Fees
  • Exam Fee
  • Any Invoiced Material Fees

Your eligibility for this funding will be automatically assessed when you apply for your course of learning. If awarded, you will be emailed an Award Letter. If you are not awarded, you will be emailed an invoice. You can then either:

  • Explore other potential funding options
  • Set up a flexible payment plan via FlexPay
  • Pay the fees via the College's Payment Portal

Benefit Fee Waivers

Am I Eligible?

You may be eligible for funding if you are:

  • Aged 19 and over.
  • A UK national, person with right to abode, refugee or have pre-settled or 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.
  • Are studying a level 2 course or below, that is eligible for the scheme.

… and either, live in a WECA funded area and are:

  • In receipt of an approved benefit in your own name and earned income from employment is less than £617 a month (sole adult), or £988 a month (joint claim).
  • Or, you have been released on temporary licence, are studying outside a prison environment, and are not funded by the Ministry of Justice.

PLEASE NOTE: If you are aged 19-23 you can only be funded for a level 2 course via the WECA 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

These fees will be paid directly off your invoiced bill.

You will remain liable for all fees until you are awarded. If not awarded then you will need to make alternative arrangements for the payment of your fees.

Planned length of the learning aim Qualifying period
168 days or more 42 days
14 to 167 days 14 days
Fewer than 14 days 1 day

Low Income Fee Waivers

Am I Eligible?

You may be eligible for funding if you are:

  • Aged 19 and over.
  • A UK national, person with right to abode, refugee or have pre-settled or 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.
  • Are studying a level 2 course or below, that is eligible for the scheme.

… and either, live in a WECA funded area and are:

  • Personally earning below the earnings threshold (annual salary of below £25,000 gross).

PLEASE NOTE: If you are aged 19-23 you can only be funded for a level 2 course via the WECA offer if you are already qualified to a Full Level 2 or above. You may however be eligible for funding for an entry or level 1 course.

… or, live in an ESFA funded area and are:

  • Personally earning below the income threshold (£25,000 gross annual salary).

CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT IF YOU ARE IN A WECA OR ESFA AREA

What Will I Get?

If awarded, the Low Income Waiver will pay for:

  • Tuition Fees
  • Exam Fee
  • Any Invoiced Material Fees

These fees will be paid directly off your invoiced bill.

You will remain liable for all fees until you are awarded. If not awarded then you will need to make alternative arrangements for the payment of your fees.

PLEASE NOTE: If you leave the course before completing the qualifying period for funding, then you may be liable for your course fees.

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 adult learners. You may be eligible for funding if you are:

  • Aged 19 and over.
  • A UK national, person with right to abode, refugee or have pre-settled or 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.
  • Are completing a level 3 course that is eligible for the scheme.

… and either, live in a WECA funded area and:

  • Do not already hold a level 3 or higher qualification.
  • Or, are personally earning below the earnings threshold (£25,000 gross annual salary).
  • Or, in receipt of an approved benefit in your own name, that is considered for funding purposes to meet the definition of 'unemployed'.

… or, live in an ESFA funded area and are:

  • Personally earning below the income threshold (£25,000 gross annual salary).
  • Or, in receipt of an approved benefit in your own name, that is considered for funding purposes to meet the definition of 'unemployed'.

CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT IF YOU ARE IN A WECA OR ESFA AREA

What Will I Get?

If awarded, the Free Courses For Jobs Offer will pay for:

  • Tuition Fees
  • Exam Fee
  • Any Invoiced Material Fees

These fees will be paid directly off your invoiced bill.

You will remain liable for all fees until you are awarded. If not awarded then you will need to make alternative arrangements for the payment of your fees.

PLEASE NOTE: If you leave the course before completing the qualifying period for funding, then you may be liable for your course fees.

Planned length of the learning aim Qualifying period
168 days or more 42 days
14 to 167 days 14 days
Fewer than 14 days 1 day

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:

Yes, you must be 19 or above or enrolled on a level 3 or above course.

No, there's no upper age limit.

Yes, applying online is quick and easy. You can register and apply online at www.gov.uk/advancedlearnerloan. If you need any help, please contact the MMS Team.

You should apply as early as possible to make sure Student Finance England can pay at the start of your course. However, you can apply for a loan at any time during your course, but not after you have completed it.

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;
  • Be in receipt of a means-tested benefit or be able to demonstrate a household 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-off 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 produce receipts for any travel, kit, or equipment purchased with the bursary payment provided.

Depending on when you apply, we will try and write to you within four weeks of receiving your application.

This will vary depending on the elements of the bursary that you are awarded. Some awards are one-off payments and may be made directly to the Department. You may also be sent voucher codes to purchase a bus ticket (mTicket). If you are awarded money for travel, this will be paid directly into your designated bank account via a BACS payment and will generally land in your account by the first Monday of every month (with the exception of bank holidays and the Christmas period). If your application is successful, we will send you an award payment schedule detailing when and how you will be paid. Please be aware that if you are awarded money for travel or to purchase items you need for your course, you may be asked to produce a receipt.

Yes, if there is a justifiable reason that you are unable to have your own bank account. Otherwise, you will be expected to have a bank account open when you apply for the bursary.

If your bank details change, you must visit PayMyStudent and update your details as soon as possible. Failure to do so could cause delays to you receiving your award. Please contact us at [email protected].

Please notify us if you change your course; we may need to adjust any course fee awards.

If you withdraw from your course, all bursary payments will stop and you may be liable to pay material fees or return some or all of your bursary award.

You may not have received your bursary payment if your attendance is below 90%. You can review your account on PayMyStudent to see why your bursary has not been paid. If you believe the attendance record is incorrect, please speak to a member of your department. Alternatively, we could hold incorrect bank details for you; to check this, please visit the team or email [email protected]. Payments are also based on students meeting the College's Behaviour Policy requirements.

Speak to your tutor or staff member. If reasons are genuine and they feel your bursary can be paid, then ask them to email MMS.

Childcare 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 £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 support

Learners 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 below £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

Last updated, 11th August 2022 @ 10:34am.