Fees & Finance
Tuition Fees
If you are a full-time student aged 16, 17 or 18 on 1 September in the year your course begins and you have lived in the United Kingdom or another EU country for three years, there are no tuition fees. However, if you are a part-time, overseas or adult student, the College receives no funding for tuition and it charges a fee reflecting the full costs of provision: details are available from Catherine Cole, Deputy Principal (Student Services).
Gift Aid Donation
As a charitable organisation, the College invites a donation from parents of all full-time students at registration in the new academic year.
Daily Travel
The College has negotiated substantially discounted fares for students within the area served by Stagecoach (including Hook, Odiham, Wokingham, Sandhurst and Farnham) and for students travelling by rail from all directions.
Financial Support Available to Students
(a) Educational Maintenance Allowance (EMA)
EMA is a government run scheme and it is closed to new applications.
• Students who received EMAs in both 2009/2010 and 2010/2011 are eligible to claim a continuation payment at the same rate in 2011/2012.
• Students who received the top rate of EMAs (£30 a week) for the first time in 2010/2011 are eligible for a continuation payment of £20 in 2011/2012.
Students on EMA will be eligible to apply for support from other funds, but they will not be treated as a priority.
All the students who are eligible for continuation EMAs will receive a Notice of Entitlement. They must return this to Sue Massie in Student Services.
If you were in receipt of £10 or £20 EMA and your circumstances have changed, you may be entitled to a re-assessment. You should contact EMA for further information on 0800 121 89 89.
(b) Bursary Scheme
There are two forms of bursary that the Government is providing via the College.
1. Guaranteed Bursary
Money will be made available to students who are classed as ‘vulnerable’. These include:
a) Young people in care
b) Care Leavers
c) Young people in receipt of Income Support
d) Disabled young people in receipt of Employment Support Allowance who are also in receipt of Disability Living Allowance
To be eligible for this fund a student would need to complete the relevant application form and provide appropriate evidence such
as:
• a letter setting out the benefit to which the young person is entitled
• written confirmation of the young person’s current or previous looked-after status from the local authority which looks after them or provides their leaving care services.
If a student is eligible for this bursary they will meet with Tracey Falzon (Health and Wellbeing Co-ordinator) or Catherine Cole (Deputy Principal, Student Services) to discuss what the funds will be used for and how they will be paid.
2. Discretionary Bursary
For students whose parent(s)/guardian(s) are on:
a) Job Seekers Allowance (income based)
b) Pension Credit (guaranteed element)
c) Employment and Support Allowance (income based)
Or if the family income is below £21,000
We will ask for evidence to support your application in the form of benefit and/or P60, Tax Credit Award Notice or evidence of self-employment income.
No assessment can be made without supporting evidence.
What can the Bursary funds be used for?
• A grant to contribute towards transport costs
• A grant to contribute towards books, equipment and other course costs
• A grant to contribute towards the cost of field trips which relate directly to the course of study
Do you qualify for a Bursary?
Students are able to apply for an award if they meet the residential requirements as stated below*
-
*Be a UK national born here or have UK citizenship or a UK passport with three years of continuous residence in the UK before starting your course
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*Have ‘indefinite leave to remain’
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*Come from an EU or EEA country and have lived in the UK for three years
If the student is not living with parent(s)/guardian(s) due to exceptional circumstances the application would be assessed as a separate entity. The student would be referred to their local Job Centre and council offices who would assist them in applying for additional financial assistance such as income support and housing benefits. The Bursary Scheme would not be used to finance accommodation costs.
Receipt of other forms of financial support is neither a pre-condition, nor an exclusion factor, for the receipt of assistance through the Bursary Scheme.
Application Forms
Application forms are available from the College by either phoning on 01252 688201 or in person at the Student Services Office.
The College understands that circumstances may change throughout the year and therefore applications submitted after the start of the academic year will still be considered. Any assistance that may be offered to late applications will be dependent on available funds.
How should you apply?
• The student should be encouraged to speak to his/her parent(s) or guardian(s)
• He/she can speak to his/her Personal Tutor, Subject Tutor, the Health and Wellbeing Co-ordinator or Student Services
• If he/she is eligible to apply, a Bursary form will be printed by Student Services
• He/she should complete the application form fully
• His/her parent(s) or guardian(s) will need to complete the section on family finance, unless they are living independently, in which case they will need to complete it
• The form and evidence of income should be returned to Tracey Falzon, Health and Wellbeing Co-ordinator or to the Student Services Offic.
Once we have received the application, an appointment will be made to meet with Tracey Falzon (Health and Wellbeing Co-ordinator) to discuss the assistance required.
Conditions
• In order to receive an award, the student has to abide by their Learning Agreemen;
• The College may withdraw payments if the student fails to attend, if attendance drops below 80% or if commitment is poor
• The College reserves the right to use the student award to pay off debts to the College
• If you receive financial assistance and leave before the completion of your course, you may be required to repay all or part of the bursary
• Any continuing award will be paid to a nominated bank account either monthly or as periodically agreed
Additional information on the bursary funds is available in the Bursary Scheme Policy
(c) Transport Assistance
- Hampshire County Council provides limited travel assistance to students who meet certain criteria. For more information visit www.hants.gov.uk/passengertransport. Then click on - Financial help with home-school travel - Post 16 Transport
- If the household income is less than £21,000 and there is difficulty covering the cost of transport it may be possible to spread the cost over the first few months of the College year. Please complete an application form and return it with proof of income to Mary Marsh, Student Services Office Manager
Enquiries to Mary on 01252 688317
(d) Loans
Students may apply to the College for a short-term loan in support of their studies. Parent/Guardian agreement is generally requested and repayments are arranged through a standing order. If you would like more information about the scheme, then please contact Mary Marsh, Student Services Office Manager 01252 688317
(e) Childcare for Young Parents
If you are under 20, Care to Learn could pay up to £160 per child per week towards your childcare and travel costs while you are learning. You will have to apply via the Care to Learn scheme. Further details and application forms are available on line at www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/14To19/MoneytoLearn/Caretolearn
or they can be collected from Student Services.
(f) Family Action
Family Action has been making grants to families and individuals in need since its foundation in 1869. They make welfare grants meeting a range of essential needs and educational grants for the additional costs associated with education such as transport, books and equipment. Please see www.family-action.org.uk for more information
