Can I Learn for Free? Q: Are you aged between 16 and 18?


A: Students aged between 16 and 18 on the 31st August 2012, do not pay fees on courses that are government funded and allow concessions. Courses that have concessions are marked as such in the guide.


Q: Are you aged between 19 and 23? Did you get lower grades at school? Do you want to study on an Entry Level or Level 1 course?


A: If the answer to these questions is ‘yes’ and you do not have a Full Level 2 qualifi cation (5 GCSEs or equivalent) you can claim free tuition if you need to do the Level 1 course to progress to Level 2.


Q: Are you aged between 19 and 23 (on August 31st 2012)? Do you want to return to full-time study? Did you get lower grade GCSEs at school? Do you want to study for a Full Level 2 qualifi cation?


A: If the answer to these questions is ‘Yes’ and you don’t yet have a Full Level 2 qualifi cation (5 GCSE or equivalent) you can claim free tuition. Simply fi ll in the Route A Application Form and sign the Full Level 2 declaration.


Q: Are you aged between 19 and 24 (on August 31st 2012). Did you miss out on getting A-Levels at school or College? Do you want to study for a Full Level 3 qualifi cation?


A: If the answer to these questions is ‘Yes’ and you don’t yet have a Full Level 3 qualifi cation (4 AS, 2 AS/A2 or an equivalent Level 3 vocational qualifi cation) you can claim free tuition. Simply fi ll in the Route A Application Form and sign the Full Level 3 declaration.


Q: Do you want to study on an English or Maths course?


A: If the answer is ‘Yes’ and you want to study for Adult English, Adult Maths, GCSE English or GCSE Maths then you can do this for free.


Q: Are you in receipt of Jobseekers Allowance (JSA) or Employment Support Allowance (ESA)?


A: If the answer to this question is ‘Yes’ then you may be able to claim fee remission on government funded courses. You will need to have the agreement of your Job Centre Plus Adviser and you will need to a letter from the Job Centre Plus confi rming your JSA or ESA status (dated within the last 3 months) and enrol in person for fee remission based on benefi ts.


Q: Are you unemployed and in receipt of Means tested benefi ts (other than JSA or ESA)?


A: If the answer to these questions is ‘yes’ you can claim fee remission. You will need to bring evidence of your benefi t status (dated less than 3 months old) and will also need to sign a declaration to confi rm your unemployed status.


Notes


If you already have one of the qualifi cations listed or higher, then you already have a Full Level 2 or Full Level 3 qualifi cation. Courses that can count towards a Full Level 2 or Full Level 3 are marked in the course guide. You can claim fee remission if you want to make up your current qualifi cations to a Full Level 2 or 3. Please ask for advice if you are not sure whether or not you qualify.


What makes a Full Level 2 Qualifi cation?


• 5 GCSE grade C or above • 5 O-Levels • 5 CSE grade 1 • 2 AS-Levels • 1 A-Level or 1 A2 • NVQ2


• GNVQ Intermediate • Edexcel/BTEC First Diploma QCF Level 2 Qualifi cations worth 13 credits or more.


What makes a Full Level 3 Qualifi cation?


• 2 A-Levels or 2 A2 • Any combination of 4 AS/A2-Levels • NVQ3 • Advanced GNVQ • Edexcel/BTEC National Diploma • Edexcel/BTEC National Certifi cate • Access to Higher Education QCF Level 3 Qualifi cations worth 25 credits or more. New QCF Level 3 Diploma, Extended Diploma, Subsidiary Diplomas.


First Level 2 and 3 FAQs


Q: How do I know what a Full Level 2 or Full Level 3 course is?


A: Look out for FL2 and FL3 against each course.


Q: How old do I have to be to claim free tuition for First Level 2?


A: You can claim First Level 2 if you are aged between 19 and 23 on the 31st August 2012? All 16-18 year olds get free tuition.


Q: How old do I have to be to claim free tuition for First Level 3?


A: You can claim First Level 3 if you are aged between 19 and 24 on the 31st August 2012.


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Q: I am claiming free tuition for a First Level 2/3 qualifi cation. Is there anything I have to pay for?


A: You have free tuition for your course. Learners claiming fee remission will not be charged for tuition or examination fees. Other costs for books, materials, uniforms, equipment and CRB checks may be charged if you make use of them outside the learning for you qualifi cation or keep them after the end of the course.


Books and Equipment are available on loan if you are claiming fee remission and do not want to keep them after the course fi nishes. Please enquire about equipment loans at enrolment. You can also speak to Student Services about funding to support you on the course. Check for details under the course.


Q: I have already got 3 GCSEs from school at grade A*-C. Can I claim Full Level 2 Fee remission?


A: Yes. You can claim for any study that brings you up to the same standard as 5 GCSEs at the higher grades.


Q: I didn’t do well at school with the academic subjects. Can I study for a Full Level 2 in a practical subject?


A: Yes. A lot of our Full Level 2 and Full Level 3 courses are vocational, ranging from social care to fi tness instruction.


Q: How do I claim my fee remission? A: Simply fi ll in the Route A Application Form.


Q: I have lost my certifi cates from school. Is this a problem?


A: No. You just have to give us a signed statement of the qualifi cations you already have. See Route A Application Form.


Q: The Full Level 3 course I want to study is a two year course. Do I get free tuition both years?


A: Yes. The fee remission is for the whole qualifi cation you are studying for.


Q: I didn’t do well at school and want to study A-Levels? I think I would fi nd it hard to do 2 AS/A2 subjects in one year. Can I study these over 2 years and still get fee remission?


A: If you don’t already have a Full Level 2 qualifi cation you can claim First Full Level 2 in the fi rst year while you study 2 AS subjects and First Full Level 3 in the second year while you study 2 A2 subjects provided you meet the age criteria for the fee remission in each year.


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