Part-Time Students aged 19+



Fees

If you are aged 19+ you are normally expected to pay for your tuition fees unless any of the following apply to you:

• You are in receipt of Job Seeker’s Allowance or Employment Support Allowance in the work-related activity group.
• You are undertaking a level one course which is required for progression to level 2 (age 19+)
• You are undertaking your first full Level 2 course (all ages over 19)
• You are undertaking your first Level 3 course (aged 19 to 24 only)
• You are undertaking an Adult Basic Skills course (literacy or numeracy)

This applies to UK / European Economic Area residents only. Please note that exam and other fees may be payable.      

For fee paying students you may be able to pay in instalments, please contact the College Finance Officer for details on 0113 222 6024.

Benefits and Studying

Job Seeker’s Allowance (JSA)

Full-time students cannot normally receive JSA. To study and claim JSA you will need to be:

• a part-time student. This means that your course of study is 16 ‘guided learning hours’ or less per week. (You need a copy of your timetable and a College Learning Agreement for your signing office confirming your hours of study);
• willing and able to take time off from your course for job interviews;
• able to demonstrate a reasonable pattern of availability for work – 40 hours per week.

To find out more about JSA or to claim please contact Jobcentre Plus on 0800 055 6688, their opening hours are Mon – Fri 08.00 -18.00.

Income Support
If you are claiming Income Support, you may be able to study full time. Your benefit will not normally be affected if you are 19 or over and are a lone parent. For more information Leeds based students can contact an advisor on 0113 226 2181.

New Deal for Lone Parents
Jobcentre Plus provides a package of support for lone parents which can include attendance at College. For more information please contact your local Jobcentre Plus office and ask to speak to a “lone parent advisor”.

Financial Support Schemes

Discretionary Learner Support Fund (DLSF)

The DLSF is an allocation of funding given to colleges to help support students aged 19+ who are facing financial hardship. It can be used as a contribution towards travel, books, equipment and childcare. For more details contact Student Services, funds are limited so please apply early. (Nb Asylum seekers aged 19 or over are not eligible for this fund.)

Adult Learning Grant (ALG)
This is continuing in its current format only for those who are already in receipt of ALG and are on a 2-year course which they are continuing in 2011/12. All other students 19+ in hardship should apply to the Discretionary Learner Support Fund.

Professional Career Development Loans
These loans are operated by some of the major banks and are for work-related learning, you can apply to borrow between £300 and £10,000, but please be aware that interest is payble on the loan. Please note students need to be over 18 and have lived in the UK for 3 years, to find out more click here.

Other Sources of Financial Support

There are various Trusts and Charities you may be able to apply to for help with studying. A list of these is provided below:

• the Educational Grants Directory
• the Charities Digest
• the Grants Register
• the Directory of Grant Making Trusts

You could also consider the Educational Grants Advisory Service (EGAS), which offers a range of services providing information on funding from charitable trusts for people in post-16 education. There is a limited telephone information service open from 2 pm to 4pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday only, please call 020 7241 7459. More information can be found by clicking here.

For further information help or advice contact Student Services on 0113 222 6002.