What financial support is available?

Our Student Finance Advisers are on hand throughout the year to help with fees, funding and further financial support.

Before, during and after your course, our Advice Centre (0118 955 4508) is available to help you explore the funding options available to you.

Free tuition for those on a means tested benefit
If you are in receipt of Jobseekers Allowance (JSA) or are in the work related activity group of Employment and Support Allowance (ESA (WRAG)), you will probably qualify for a fee remission scheme which means that you will not be required to pay for the tuition element of the fee if your course is funded.

There have been recent changes to government policy regarding free tuition which means that if you are in receipt of any other means tested benefit you will no longer be entitled to free tuition under this scheme. This is unless you are actively looking for a job and need a course to find work. Advice and Admissions will be able to advise you on your eligibility.

Starting a course can affect entitlement to benefits, so if you are in receipt of any benefit you should seek advice as to how studying may affect you before you start your course.

Tuition fee remission – ‘Level Offers’

If you are studying on a Foundation Learning course (an Entry or Level 1 qualification) and plan to progress onto a Level 2 qualification, and do not currently have a Level 2 qualification, then you will not have to pay the tuition fee for your course. This only applies if your course is a funded course.

If you are studying on your first full level two, or aged between 19 and 24 and studying on your first full level three qualification, then you will be entitled to a ‘Level Offer’, and will not be required to pay the tuition element of the fee if your course is funded.

In some cases, if you are aged 25 or over and studying on your first full Level 3 qualification and do not already have a Level 2 qualification, you may also be eligible for a Level Offer.

If you want to check if you are eligible for a Level Offer, and find out what evidence you will need to supply, please speak to Advice and Admissions who will be happy to help you.

Staged payment plans

We are able to offer staged payments to students enrolling onto courses that are over 14 weeks in duration and where the cost of the course at enrolment is more than £150. Please contact Advice and Admissions for further details. At enrolment 40% of the fee is paid and the remaining 60% is paid in two or three instalments. There is also a £20 admission charge for the facility.

Adult Learning Grant (ALG)

The ALG scheme will close at the end of the 2010/11 academic year. The only students who will receive ALG in 2010/11 are those who are continuing with their first full Level 2 or Level 3 qualification.

More information about the changes to the ALG scheme can be found on: www.direct.gov.uk/alg

Care to Learn – childcare for students aged 19 and under

The Care to Learn scheme is funding towards childcare costs for young parents aged between 16 and 19 years old at the start of their course. The scheme currently pays £160 per week whilst you study, providing you are using an Ofsted registered childcare provider, and it may also help with additional travel expenses. You should apply as soon you know that you are going to study.

Further information on Care to Learn is available on www.direct.gov.uk/caretolearn, or by phoning the Learner Support Service helpline: 0800 121 8989.

Note: the Care to Learn scheme is currently being reviewed by the government. There may be changes to the scheme for 2011/12, and may no longer exist after the 2011/12 academic year. If you are starting a two year course this may mean that you are only able to receive Care to Learn funding in the first year. We will update our website with further information as and when it is available.

Learner Support Fund (LSF)

The Learner Support Fund is a fund administered by the college to assist students with the costs associated with studying. In 2011/12, support will be awarded to the following main areas:

• course costs
• travel support
• childcare funding
• accommodation bursary

All elements of the funding are targeted at students who are in receipt of an income based benefit, or have a household income of less than £20,817. Specific criteria applies to each element of the scheme, details of which are available on the application form.

In all cases the Learner Support Fund may not pay all of your costs but a percentage contribution, and support from the Learner Support Fund is never guaranteed even if you meet the eligibility criteria as the funds are subject to availability.

Application forms for 2011/12 academic year are available now. You can contact Student Information Services for an application form, either by phone on 0800 371 434 or by email at enquiries@reading-college.ac.uk

Loans for study – The Professional and Career Development Loan (PCDL)

The Professional and Career Development Loan is a government scheme which can help you pay for learning which will lead to work or enhance your employment skills. The PCDL can assist with course costs and in some case, it can also help towards living expenses.

Further information can be found on www.direct.gov.uk/pcdl, or by phoning the PCDL Helpline on 0800 100 900.

You may also wish to contact your bank for details of any loans which they may offer for study purposes.

Trusts and charities

There may be some trusts and charities which are able to offer some support to students. Competition for such funding is often competitive and the awards made can be quite small.

You can search for trusts and charities on the “Educational Grants Search” on the Family Action website: www.family-action.org.uk.

If you are a lone parent you may be eligible for support from the “Horizons Education Fund”. Information on this is also available on the Family Action website (as above). Applications for this fund are only open between 1st to the 31st July 2011.