Financial Help

At the college, we aim to remove barriers to learning and one of the ways we can help is through funding, to help pay for the costs of the course, travel and more.

Below we talk about the different methods of funding available to you and the eligibility criteria.

If you are aged 16-18 on a full-time course, there are no course or examination fees. Financial support may be available for students aged 19+ if:

  • You are claiming benefits and studying a level 1 or 2 qualification
  • or earning less than £17,004.00
  • or enrolling on to a full level 3 qualification age 19-23 years at the start of the course and do not already hold a full level 3 or higher qualification

 

Individual bursaries are available to help North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College students, who may be experiencing financial hardship, to attend and complete their course. The Student Bursary Fund is available to help students cover the essential costs of attending college, such as:

  • Travel and transport (if you live more than 2 miles from the campus you are studying at)
  • Childcare
  • Free Meals
  • Essential college trips
  • Equipment kit and uniforms
  • Fees if you are 19+ and not eligible for fee remission

You can apply to the college bursary portal using the following link:

https://nwsl.paymystudent.com/portal/

Download our bursary funding guide

Read our guide on applying for financial support here

If you are aged 19 and over and are looking to study a Further Education course at Level 3 or above (including Access to HE), you may be able to apply for a 19+ Advanced Learner Loan to cover the cost of tuition fees. The loan is easy to apply for, doesn’t involve a credit check and you don’t have to pay anything back until April (the following year) after you’ve completed your course. 

In order to apply for the loan you must be:
• Aged 19 or over on the first day of your course (there is no upper age limit)
• Living in the UK on the first day of your course and have lived in the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man for three years immediately before this
• UK or have settled status with no restrictions on how long you can stay
• Studying at an approved College or training provider in England
• Enrolling onto an eligible course at Level 3 and above that is a full qualification and approved for public funding. These include: A-Levels, Access to Higher Education Diploma and other Diplomas and Certificates

Are you eligible? For further information go to: www.gov.uk/advanced-learner-loan/eligibility 

We have a handy guide you can read over that covers more details including how to apply and re-payments. View that here 

Most of our Full Time Higher National Certificates, Higher National Diplomas, and BA, BSc top-up courses are eligible for funding through Student Finance England.  

You can apply for loans to cover the cost of your course. This means that you won’t pay the course tuition fees upfront.  

Tuition Fee Loan
This loan will help you pay for the full cost of your university course. The loan is paid directly to your chosen university or college.
Do I have to pay it back?
Yes, but only once you are earning over £25,000** a year.
Where can I find out more?
www.gov.uk/studentfinance  

Maintenance Loan
Available to full-time and some part-time HE students, you can apply for a Maintenance Loan to support you with living costs while you are studying. The amount you will receive depends on your personal circumstances.
Do I have to pay it back?
Yes, but only once you are earning over £25,000** a year.

Where can I find out more?
www.gov.uk/studentfinance 

Depending on your circumstances, you may also be eligible for further support which you don’t have to pay back:
Parents’ Learning Allowance
If you are a full-time student with children, you may be eligible for extra funding to help with your learning costs.
Find out more here: www.gov.uk/parents-learning-allowance  

Childcare Grant
Depending on your household income, this grant helps with covering childcare costs.
Find out more at www.gov.uk/childcare-grant

Adult Dependents’ Grant
Available if you have an adult who is financially dependent on you. 
Read more www.gov.uk/adult-dependants-grant  

Disabled Students’ Allowance
Available in addition to your tuition fee loan to help pay for extra equipment and support you may need for your disability.
For more information visit www.gov.uk/disabled-students-allowances-dsas 

** these figures are subject to change by Student Finance England. 

GCSE and Functional Skills English and maths qualifications are free to all eligible UK residents who do not already hold a passing grade (4/C) at Level 2 or an alternative Level 2 qualification.  

We do however reserve the right to charge a fee for exams not attended. 

Entry to all courses is via interview and initial assessment to assess current working levels. Not every learner starts at GCSE or level 2; some may need to complete other levels first.  

There is no cost for delivering in the workplace or community, however, learners must meet eligibility criteria. We can create bespoke models and accommodate shift patterns. 

Refresher courses: There are no entry requirements other than the fee for the course. There is no funding available for these courses. Learners will be able to access material online and will conduct self-study. There are no exams for this course. 

NWSLC are proud to be registered to the ELC Scheme. 

Our provider ID is 11206.  

ELC (Enhanced Learning Credits) can be used by both current Armed Forces members and those who have left for up to five years after leaving. There are three levels of funding available depending on how many years of service you have completed. These are: 

  • Lower Tier – This is a maximum of three awards of up to £1,000 per financial year. You must have completed either 4 or more years of service before 1st April 2017, or 6 or more years of service on or after 1st April 2017. 
  • Aggregated Lower Tier – This is a single award of up to £3,000 per financial year for those who have completed 6 or more years of service on or after 1st April 2016. This cannot be used if you are already pursuing a Lower Tier or Upper Tier claim. 
  • Upper Tier – This is funding for a maximum of 3 awards of up to £2,000 per financial year. You must have completed up to 8 years or more of qualifying service to claim 

Only one ELC claim can be made per financial year. This claim can only be with one authorised provider. 

To find out more visit www.nwslc.ac.uk/elcas/  

Learners must be a British, EU or EEA citizen, had been a permanent resident of the UK, EU or EEA for the whole of the previous 3 years and aged 19 or over. If you are aged between 19 and 23, you must also hold a Level 2 qualification. Learners who live in eligible postcode code areas can study our online courses for free*.  

*Choose a course of your choice and use our postcode checker to see if you are eligible. 

Funding is available for those aged 19+ who have either achieved a level 2 qualification or those who want to progress to their level 2 qualification.

Funding makes eligible courses free for residents within the following areas: Birmingham, Coventry, Solihull, Wolverhampton, Walsall, Sandwell and Dudley. 

As part of the National Skills funding, some level 3 online courses are free to those aged 24 and over if you do not currently hold a level 3 qualification. 

This offer is also available to adults in England who earn less than the National Living Wage annually (£18,525) or who are unemployed. This is regardless of their prior qualification level.

To find out more click here

To find out more about the subject area and courses available click here

 

As part of the National Skills funding, some level 3 online courses are free to those aged 24 and over if you do not currently hold a level 3 qualification. 

This offer is also available to adults in England who earn less than the National Living Wage annually (£18,525) or who are unemployed. This is regardless of their prior qualification level.

To find out more click here

To find out more about the subject area and courses available click here

Eligible level 3 courses may be free to those aged 19-23 if it is their first Level 3 qualification.  

We can offer this funding for Access to HE courses and we will be introducing more courses that this funding can be used for shortly.
As this is funding that is in development, we expect to see more clarification in the coming years.