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Concessions

We offer financial support and a range of concessions on courses.

Our courses are funded by the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) or Department for Education (DfE).

To be eligible for funding on one of our courses you must be:

  • aged 19 or over on 31 August 2023
  • live outside of a devolved area
  • meet the residency requirements:
    • British or European Economic Area (EEA) national and resident in the UK, EEA, Switzerland or Gibraltar for the past 3 years
    • not British or EEA national and resident in the UK for the past 3 years
    • not British national and obtained either pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS).

You may be exempt from the 3 year residency rule, these include but are not exclusive to:

  • indefinite leave to remain
  • refugee status and Ukraine family
  • sponsorship and extension schemes.

Concession eligibility to access certain courses for free

You will be asked to provide evidence to support your eligibility for a concession to access a course for free.

Concession Eligible courses Description
Unemployed Adult Skills (Course Codes ending in F)

Tuition and exam fees may be waived on Level 2 (and Level 3 if part of the free courses for jobs offer) or lower level courses if you are unemployed and in receipt of an eligible state benefit. For example:

  • Universal Credit
  • Job Seekers Allowance (JSA)
  • Employment Support Allowance
  • Income Support
  • Housing or Council Tax
  • Partner of Working Tax Credit Claimant
  • Pension Guarantee Credit
  • Disability Living Allowance
  • Personal Independence Payment.

If you are not claiming an eligible state benefit but other state benefits, you also need to be seeking employment and the learning is directly relevant to your employment prospects and the local labour market needs.

Low income Adult Skills (Course Codes ending in F) Tuition and exam fees may be waived on eligible Level 2 or lower courses (and Level 3 if part of the free courses for jobs offer) if you are employed and earning less than £20,319 annual gross salary. You'll need a wage slip or current employment contract dated within 3 months of the course date.
Maths and English Maths and English (Course Codes ending in F) Tuition and exam fees are waived for Maths and English courses at Entry Level to Level 2 if the learner does not already hold a GCSE English or Maths qualification grade 4 (C) or higher.
First Level 2 Level 2 Adult Skills (Course Codes ending in F) Tuition and exam fees may be waived if you are aged 19 to 23 at the start of the course (excludes English for Speakers of Other Languages, English and Maths). You cannot already hold a full Level 2 qualification or above.
First Level 3 Level 3 Adult Skills (Course Codes ending in F) Tuition and exam fees may be waived if are under 23 (or 24 and over if the course is in the Level 3 free courses for jobs offer). Excludes English for Speakers of Other Languages, English and Maths. You cannot already hold a full Level 3 qualification or above.

 

Concession eligibility to receive a discount on course fees

Concession Discount Eligible courses Description
Over 60 25% Adult Skills and Community Learning (Course Codes ending in F and A) You are aged 60 and over and not employed for over 16 hours a week.
Disability 25% Adult Skills and Community Learning (Course Codes ending in F and A) You are claiming a benefit related to disability, for example Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Employment Support Allowance (ESA).
Means-tested benefit 25% Adult Skills and Community Learning (Course Codes ending in F and A) You are claiming a means-tested benefit.
Medway Fostering 20% Adult Skills and Community Learning (Course Codes ending in F and A) You live in Medway and are currently fostering.
Medway Council staff 10% Adult Skills and Community Learning (Course Codes ending in F and A) You are currently employed at Medway Council.

 

Other financial support

For some courses you may also get more financial support with an Advanced Learning Loan, Discretionary Learning Support, or the Bursary Fund.

Apply for an Advanced Learner Loan on GOV.UK 

Learn about Discretionary Learner Support on GOV.UK

Learn about the Bursary Fund on GOV.UK

More information

For more information about discounts and concessions please contact us by email at adulteducation@medway.gov.uk or phone on 01634 338 400.

Download our fees and charges policy.


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