Age 16-18
Find the right way to pay for your course
Cost should not stop you from starting a career in education.
On this page, you can find out about free courses, loans and bursaries. You can also see how your employer may be able to pay, and the extra help we offer with costs such as childcare and travel. Some funding is only for certain courses or subjects, so check each section to see what fits you. If you are not sure what you can get, our team can check for you before you apply.
Free courses
All courses for students aged 16-18 are free. If you are aged 19 and over, you may also be able to study some courses for free. This usually includes courses at Level 2 and below, and some Level 3 courses.
Courses for job seekers are free if you are unemployed or on certain benefits.
Advanced Learner Loans
If you are aged 19 and over and your course is at Level 3 or Level 4, you may be able to pay with an Advanced Learner Loan.
- the loan pays your fees straight to the College
- you only start to pay it back when you earn over a set amount
- your repayments are based on your income, not on how much you borrowed
Student finance for Level 5 and Level 7 courses
You can pay for our Education (Level 5 Certificate) and our Postgraduate Certificate in Education: Post-Compulsory Education and Training (PCET) with a tuition fee loan from Student Finance England.
We recommend you apply for your loan at the same time as you apply for your course, as it can take several weeks.
Even if you have had a student loan before, you can usually still get student finance for a further education teaching qualification.
