We offer a wide range of full and part-time Further Education (FE) courses, ranging from Apprenticeships and National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) to First and National Diplomas. FE courses allow you to gain knowledge and skills which can help you to start a new career and can often help you progress in the one you already have. FE courses can also lead to higher education opportunities such as a diploma or even a degree.

Many school-leavers attend College to study FE courses but we also have a large number of mature students. A ‘full-time’ FE course usually means studying for 15 hours a week or more, so you might only need to attend College a couple of days a week.

Please Note :- All of our FE courses run subject to minimum class sizes.

Funding and Finances (2011/2012 Academic Year)

Course Fees (Tuition and Exam) - Under 19 years of age

If you are under the age of 19 on 31st August 2011 you do not pay course fees.

What help is available?

All learners

• A free healthy breakfast
• Discounted termly zone cards
• A £200 bonus payment (4 x £50 paid half-termly)

If you have a household income of less than £20,817 per year

• Free termly zonecards (dependant on attendance & for students who will not be receiving transitional EMA in 2011/12)
• Help with equipment costs
• Help with the costs of residentials

If you are in care / a care leaver / a young person getting income support / a disabled young person getting both Employment Support Allowance and Disability Living Allowance, £1,200 a year possibly made up of:

• Free termly zonecards (You need to live more than 1 mile away from your College campus)
• Help with equipment costs
• Help with the costs of residentials
• Help with the costs of student trips
• Cash payment to make up the balance to £1,200 (paid termly) subject to attendance
• If you think you may be eligible, you can download a fact sheet and an application form

Course Fees (Tuition and Exam) - Over 19 years of age

Many courses are free depending on your circumstances for example:*

• Your first full Level 2 course
• Adult Basic Skills/Literacy/Numeracy/Skills for Life course
• Your are aged 19-24 and it is your first full Level 3 course
• You are in receipt of one of the following benefits; Job Seekers Allowance or Employment Support Allowance (work related activity group)
• You are studying a TUC Course
• GCSE Maths and English if you are under 25 and do not already hold a grade C or above

In most cases you will have to pay exam fees for your course in full at Enrolment. You may be able to claim part of the exam fees back on successful completion of your programme.

*If a course does not carry a government subsidy, you will have to pay the full course fees at enrolment as no benefit waivers apply (these courses are marked in red in the On Course Supplement, or have EC in the course code).

What help is available?

A Free Healthy Breakfast

College Bursary:
If you’re an unwaged dependant or receiving any of the following benefits you may be able to apply for a bursary: Council Tax Benefit / Housing Benefit / Income Support / Working Tax Credit (income less than £16,190 guaranteed) / Pension Guaranteed Credit. The £800 bursary is payable in 4 monthly instalments of £200 starting in November. To apply please download the application form and return to Student Services or for more information telephone the Welfare Advisors on (01253) 504350/4496/4637.

Payment by Direct Debit Instalment Plan

If you are not enrolling on an economic course and have been permanently resident in the UK or other members of the European Economic Area for at least 3 years, you may also be able to pay for your tuition fees by direct debit in instalments, please see the instalment plan below:

You can set up the direct debit instalment at enrolment, we will require your bank details and your first instalment payment.

Instalment Policy

Home status Learners (have been permanently resident in the UK or other members of the European Economic Area for at least 3 years) attending Further and Higher Education courses are eligible for the above plan, provided the last payment can be made before the course end date. All exam and materials fees are payable at enrolment along with the tuition deposit.

ALL Learners who default on payments will no longer be eligible for instalment plans and must pay all annual fees due at enrolment.

Learners enrolling to economic courses:

• must pay all fees in full at enrolment, OR
• must pay each year’s fees upfront for multi year courses.

Overseas learners (not on Maritime courses) must pay first year’s fees in full prior to the college issuing a Certificate of Acceptance to Study (CAS).

Overseas learners (not on Maritime courses) in exceptional circumstances may be eligible to pay 2nd and subsequent year fees on a short term specific plan, in agreement with the College Director of Finance & Information

Don’t forget - Our experienced welfare team is here to help you with any aspects of student finance and funding. Call 01253 504496 or 504350 if you have a query.

Full Time Higher Education Studies

Higher education (HE) courses are university programmes that you can study right here at Blackpool and The Fylde College. Our courses include Higher National Certificates (HNCs) and Diplomas (HNDs), Ordinary and Honours Degree programmes and Foundation Degrees.

Many of our degrees are awarded by Lancaster University, so you can be sure that on completion, you will hold a degree from a top UK university. These courses are available in a wide range of subjects and can last anything from one to four years. Some even offer the opportunity to go out on placements to gain work experience.

Higher education qualifications can help pave the way for a new career or enhanced prospects so make sure you check out our course guide to make the right choice for you. Full-time students receive extra support to help them with the costs of their study. When we think of ‘full-time’ we immediately think of Monday – Friday 9-5 but in education the commitment in terms of hours you attend is much reduced

A full-time higher education course, qualifying for the maximum financial support, can mean attending one day a week or a small number of hours across the week. Our full-time Foundation Degree in Communication at Work, for example, only requires students to attend one day a week from 1 to 9pm.

Funding and Finances (2011/12 Academic Year Only)

Full-time students receive extra support to help them with the costs of their study. There’s a variety of funding options available for course fees and day-day living expenses from grants that don’t have to be paid back to loans that can be re-paid in manageable instalments once you are qualified and working.

• Student Loans are available to cover tuition fees and living expenses which don’t have to be repaid until you’re qualified and earning at least £15,000 per year.
• If you study a full-time degree programme you may be eligible for a bursary of £700..
• You may qualify for the maintenance grant to help with living costs worth up to £2,906 per year if your household income is less than £25,000.
• You may also qualify for a Parent's Learning Allowance of £1508.00 per academic year.
• There may also be other help available to you contact Student Services for more details.

Whether you are assessed on your own (and your partner’s) income or that of your parents, depends on whether you are seen as a ‘dependant’ or ‘independent’ student in the eyes of Student Finance England. For more information on how you will be assessed please see your College Welfare Advisor.

There is also help available with living costs while you study as a full-time higher education student in the form of a student loan and your may qualify for a maintenance grant.

Help with Childcare is paid to you in the form of the Childcare Grant. This is a grant for students with dependant children who are using registered and approved childcare while on timetable. You could receive up to £148.75 per week for one child or up to £255 per week if you have two or more children. The help you get depends on your household income. But you will not be entitled to help if you currently receive the childcare element of working tax credit.

Don’t forget help is at hand to help you identify funding options available to you – just contact your a student welfare advisor at the college on 01253 504496 or 504350.

If you have been permanently resident in the UK or other members of the European Economic Area for at least 3 years, you may also be able to pay for your tuition fees by direct debit in instalments, please see the instalment plan below:

You can set up the plan at enrolment, we will require your bank details and payment of the first instalment.

INSTALMENT POLICY:

Home status Learners (have been permanently resident in the UK or other members of the European Economic Area for at least 3 years) attending Further and Higher Education courses are eligible for the above plan, provided the last payment can be made before the course end date.

ALL Learners who default on payments will no longer be eligible for instalment plans and must pay all annual fees due at enrolment.

Overseas learners (not on Maritime courses) must pay first year’s fees in full prior to the college issuing a Certificate of Acceptance to Study (CAS).

Overseas learners (not on Maritime courses) in exceptional circumstances may be eligible to pay 2nd and subsequent year fees on a short term specific plan, in agreement with the College Director of Finance & Information

Don’t forget - Our experienced welfare team is here to help you with any aspects of student finance and funding. Call 01253 504496 or 504350 if you have a query.