Course Fees Explained
You are required to pay course fees at the time of enrolment. Payment can be made in cash, by cheque or by Visa/Mastercard debit or credit card in person at Clifden or Parkshot or on-line.
Click here to download our concessionary fees explained leaflet
Government funding subsidies
Apply to EU students only. If you have been living in the UK for less than three years and do not have settled EU/UK residency status, you will probably need to pay non-EU rates. For international students full fees apply.
In addition to course fees, you should budget for materials needed for your studies such as art supplies, protective clothing, tools or other essential items.
Fee Remission
If you are 19 or over (on 31st Aug 2011) and do not have a Full Level 2 qualification (equivalent to 5 GCSEs A*-C) you are entitled to free tuition to study towards your first Full Level 2, although you will have to pay exam fees. If you are aged 19 but not yet 25 when the course starts, and have a Full Level 2 qualification, but not a Full Level 3 (equivalent to 4 AS Levels or 2 A2 Levels), you are entitled to free tuition, excluding exam fees, for your first Full Level 3.
If you are 19 and have a Full Level 3 qualification, you may still qualify for fee remission for Government funded priority courses (marked * before the course code) if you are in receipt of “active” benefits e.g. Job Seeker’s Allowance or Employment Support Allowance. When you enrol, you must provide proof of your entitlement to one of the above benefits, which must be dated no more than three months prior to the date of enrolment.
Unfortunately changes to government entitlement reductions mean that we can no longer offer fee remission if you are in receipt of other “inactive” benefits.
For more information contact us on 020 8891 5907 or email info@racc.ac.uk
Students aged 16-18 on 31/8/11
Students aged 16-18 do not pay course fees on any qualification courses (marked with * in the course guide) although will be required to pay the non qualification, leisure course fee before enrolment.
Students aged under 16 on 31/8/11
Students aged under 16 may enrol on certain courses with tutor agreement and need to email fern-chantele.carter@racc.ac.uk or tel 07951 529860 before enrolment. Fees must be paid for both qualification and non qualification courses as the college does not receive any funding for learners in this age group.
What if I can’t afford the fees?
You may be able to get help paying your fees depending on your circumstances. For more information contact us on 020 8891 5907 or email info@racc.ac.uk
Fee Instalments
Fees over £150 may be paid by three instalments providing the final instalment is made a minimum of 6 weeks before the end of the course. You will need to have a UK bank account to apply for an instalment plan and you will be charged £15 per instalment. This must be arranged in person at our either our Parkshot or Clifden site.
RACC and Portcullis Trust Bursary
RACC and its fund-raising charity, The Portcullis Trust, will be committing to raise £100,000 in order to provide financial support to learners no longer entitled to fee remission as the result of changes to government entitlements.
If you are in receipt of income benefit e.g. income support, disability or housing benefit and your household income is less than £20,000 per annum, you may be eligible to apply for these limited funds to pay for 50% of total course fees (including exam fees). Applicable courses are those marked with an asterisk (*) in the prospectus (priority courses). You will need to be able to pay the 50% fee balance in full on enrolment unless fee instalments apply (see above).
When you enrol, you must provide proof of your entitlement to one of the above income based benefits, which must be dated no more than three months prior to the date of enrolment. This is a limited fund and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis so please enquire early. For more information contact us on 020 8891 5907 or email info@racc.ac.uk
Learner Support Funds
Low income learners (household income less than £20,000 per annum) may also qualify for fee support and help with travel and material costs for priority courses and for childcare (children of learners over 19 years only). This is a limited fund so when you enrol, you must provide proof of your entitlement to one of the income based benefits, which must be dated no more than three months prior to the date of enrolment.
This is also a limited fund and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis so please enquire early. For more information contact us on 020 8891 5907 or email info@racc.ac.uk
Adult Learning Grant (ALG)
With an ALG, you could receive up to £30 a week while studying. This can relieve some concerns about money, letting you focus on your future.
To receive ALG you must:
• Be aged 19 or over on 31/8/11
• Be studying at least 12 hours a week towards your first full Level 2 or first full Level 3 qualification and attending regularly
• Be earning less than £19,513 if you are single or less than £30,810 if you live as a couple
• Not be claiming ‘out of work’ benefits such as Jobseeker’s Allowance or Income Support
For more information click here
Professional and Career Development Loans
A Professional and Career Development Loan could help you pay for learning that enhances your job skills or career prospects. It’s a bank loan, so you’ll have to pay it back once you’ve left your course. However, you don’t pay interest for the period when you’re in learning.
For more information click here
Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA)
EMA is currently being replaced by a bursary scheme, details of which are yet to be announced by government agencies. You can continue to receive EMA payments while you study in 2011/12 if:
• you first applied for EMA in 2009/10 (you’ll receive the same weekly payment)
• you first applied for EMA in 2010/11 and you receive the maximum EMA payment of £30 (reduced to £20 a week in 2011/12)
If you’re in care, a care leaver or on income support your weekly EMA payments will be replaced with a guaranteed bursary of £1,200 a year from September 2011. All other students aged between 16 and 19 who face financial hardship can apply for a bursary through their school, college or training provider.
Further information on EMA and the new bursary scheme will be available from the Client Services team on 020 8891 5907 or email info@racc.ac.uk or click here
Local Charities
Students may under certain circumstances be able to seek direct financial support from a charity within the locality of their residence.
For more information on any of the above grants or loans please contact us on 020 8891 5907 or email info@racc.ac.uk
Click here to download our concessionary fees explained leaflet
