Finance
<p>On this page, you will find information about finance options, course fees, concessionary fees, advanced learner loans and instalment plans.</p>
<p>Many of the courses we offer are supported by funding from the Education Skills Funding Agency (ESFA). Skills & Learning must make responsible use of this funding and has a duty to ensure it is used to support learners who are committed to achieving and live in Dorset. We welcome enrolments from those who live elsewhere but cannot guarantee the same funding.</p>
<p>We also offer courses that do not receive any external funding, and these are supported by the fees we charge to learners.</p>
<p>Each course we offer has a code which we use to identify the course and the finance options available. You can find the course code when enrolling on a course on our website or call our team to ask on 01202 123444.</p>
<h4>Fully Funded (CF) Courses</h4>
<p>Fully funded (you pay no fee) courses or Concessionary Fee (CF) courses are subject to permanent residency and eligibility rules (please<strong> <a href="https://www.skillsandlearningace.com/contact-us">contact us</a> </strong>for details).</p>
<h4>Courses Starting AA, AT, PP, QE and QT:</h4>
<p>The fee shown is a subsidised cost for eligible learners (please see <a href="https://www.webenrol.com/skillsandlearningace/Default.asp?page=terms"><strong>Terms & Conditions</strong></a>):</p>
<ul>
<li>If you receive JSA or ESA it is likely you may be entitled to a fully funded (you pay no fee) qualification course</li>
<li>If you are unemployed, either looking for work or will be looking for work in the future, and are in receipt of any other state benefit, you may be eligible for a fully funded (you pay no fee) course</li>
<li>English and maths GCSE may be fully funded if you do not already have a Grade C / 4 or above</li>
<li>If your take home pay (disregarding Universal Credit and other benefits) is less than £892 a month (if you are a sole adult in your benefit claim) or £1,437 a month (if you have a joint benefit claim with your partner) and want to progress to more substantial employment, the course may be fully funded (you pay no fee).</li>
<li>If your earnings are less than £25,000 per year you may be eligible for a fully funded course (you pay no fee). You will need to complete a low wage declaration, which can be found <a href="https://www.skillsandlearningace.com/learning-with-us/forms/">here</a>.</li>
</ul>
<p>Further financial assistance towards course fees may be available depending on your personal circumstances. For further information please contact us for advice.</p>
<h4>AF Courses</h4>
<p>If you are 19+ at the start of the course are unemployed, or are earning less than £25,000 pa, then you may be entitled to a fully funded (you pay no fee) course.</p>
<h4>AH Courses</h4>
<p>The fee shown is the full cost of the course. You will need to pay this full cost or apply for an Advanced Learner Loan. If you are 19-23 at the start of the course and do not already have a full Level 3 or above qualification, then you may be eligible for a fully funded course (you pay no fee).</p>
<h4>ZA and ZN Courses</h4>
<p>The fee shown is the full cost. There are no subsidies available.</p>
<h4>NE Courses</h4>
<p>These courses are for those who are unemployed or under-employed and are free to eligible learners.</p>
<h4>PL and PS Courses</h4>
<p>The fee shown is the cost for eligible learners (please see <a href="https://www.webenrol.com/skillsandlearningace/Default.asp?page=terms">Terms and Conditions</a>).</p>
<p>Please note the concessionary fee for PL and PS courses applies if you have an access to leisure and learning card or you meet the same funding criteria for an access to leisure and learning card. You can check if you qualify <a href="https://www.poole.gov.uk/sports-and-leisure/access-to-leisure-and-learning/"><strong>here</strong></a>.</p>
<p>Further financial assistance towards course fees may be available depending on your personal circumstances. For further information please contact us for advice.</p>
<h4>What do you mean by "unemployed"?</h4>
<p>A learner is defined unemployed if they meet one or more of the following criteria:</p>
<ul>
<li>Receive Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) or Jobseeker's Allowance</li>
<li>Receive Universal Credit, and their take-home pay as recorded on their Universal Credit statement (disregarding benefits) is less than £892 a month (learner is sole adult in their benefit claim) or £1,437a month (learner has a joint benefit claim with their partner)</li>
<li>Receive other state benefits (not included in the list above) and and their take-home pay as recorded on their Universal Credit statement (disregarding benefits) is less than £892 a month (learner is sole adult in their benefit claim) or £1,437a month (learner has a joint benefit claim with their partner</li>
</ul>
<p>At our discretion, learners who are unemployed, not in receipt of benefits, wants to be employed, and are enrolling on learning that is directly relevant to their employment prospects and the local labour market needs, may also be classified as unemployed for funding purposes.</p>
<h4>What do you mean by "low wage"?</h4>
<p>Learners in receipt of low wage earn less than £25,000 annual gross salary.</p>
<p><strong>If you are ineligible for our funding options and cannot afford to pay the full course cost we do have some more options to help, please see below.</strong></p>
<h4>Instalment Plan</h4>
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<td><strong>For fees over £100</strong></td>
<td>It may be possible to pay 50% of the course fee before the enrolment can be processed for the course, with the remainder 50% being paid in 2 consecutive monthly instalments at 25% each. An example being - If the course costs £132 and starts in September, £66 must be paid before enrolment, with £33 being paid the next 2 months after the first initial payment. So if the first payment is taken in September of £66, £33 will be owed in October and again in November.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>For fees over £650</strong></td>
<td>We recommend that you contact our team at Skills and Learning for further information and guidance.</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h4>Advanced Learner Loan</h4>
<p>If you are aged 19 or over and want to study a course at level 3 or above, you will need to pay your college or training organisation for the cost of your course. The Advanced Learner Loan is a way of borrowing money to pay for your course. It's easy to apply for, doesn't take your household income into account and doesn't involve a credit check. Please contact us for more information on our Advanced Learning Loans</p>