SGS College | Be Outstanding

Covid Update

On Tuesday 29 March, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Sajid Javid, set out the next steps for living with COVID-19 in England from Friday 1 April.

Updated guidance advises:

  • Adults with the symptoms of a respiratory infection, and who have a high temperature or feel unwell, should try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people until they feel well enough to resume normal activities and no longer have a high temperature.
  • Children and young people who are unwell and have a high temperature should stay at home and avoid contact with other people. They can return to college when they no longer have a high temperature, and are well enough to attend.
  • Adults with a positive COVID-19 test result should try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for 5 days, which is when they are most infectious. For children and young people aged 18 and under, the advice is 3 days.

For education and childcare settings from Friday 1 April:

  • Regular asymptomatic testing is no longer recommended in any education or childcare setting, including in SEND, alternative provision and children’s social care settings. Therefore, we will no longer be able to order test kits .

Recruitment Evening
Funding Options and Applications

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 Page

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.

Click here to find out if you are in a WECCA or ESFA area.

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:

Q. Is there an minimum age for someone applying for the Advanced Learner Loan?

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

Q. Can I apply for the Advanced Learner Loan online?

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.

Q. Can I apply for the Advanced Learner Loan after my course has started?

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 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 support

Q. How long does it take to process my bursary application?

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

Q. How and when will I be paid if I am awarded a bursary?

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.

Q. Can my bursary be paid to someone else's account?

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.

Q. My bank details have changed since I submitted my bursary application. What should I do?

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].

Q. I applied for my bursary, but what if I change my course?

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

Q. What if I withdraw after applying for a bursary?

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.

Q. Why haven't I received my bursary payment?

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.

Q. What if my attendance falls below the required limit?

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.

Q. Why has my application been declined?

If your household income is over our upper income threshold then this could be the reason for the decline. If you have not uploaded all of your supporting evidence to PayMyStudent your application will have been declined.

Q. What if I apply late or supply evidence late?

Your bursary will be awarded from the month following your application/submission of evidence and may not be backdated.

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 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 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 £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.

Click here to apply.