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Fees and funding for courses

Funding Guidance from 1 August 2023 to 31 July 2024

Learners must be 19 years or older on 31 August 2023.

Full funding is available from The Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) and European Social Fund (ESF) in the following cases:

For funding purposes, we define a learner as unemployed if one or more of the following apply, they:

  • receive Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), including those receiving National Insurance credits only
  • receive Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
  • receive Universal Credit (UC), and their take-home pay as recorded on their UC statement (disregarding UC payments and other benefits) is less than £617 a month (learner is sole adult in their benefit claim) or £988 a month (learner has a joint benefit claim with their partner)

You will need to provide evidence of any benefits dated one month before the course start date.

If you are employed and under the threshold detailed above we would require three months of payslips ahead of starting the course.

Learners must be resident in the UK or any EU country for three years.

If you have pre-settled or settled status in the UK under the EU Settlement Scheme (you will need to share this evidence where applicable)

Co-funding is available in the following cases:

  • Unemployed and not actively seeking work.
  • Employed earning less than £20,319 and unable to provide evidence that you are unable to meet course costs.
  • Employed earning more than £20,319

Course costs

Please contact us for details.

The Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) and European Social Fund (ESF) will fund a first full Level 3 for 19 - 23 year olds - Learners must be 19 years or older on 31 August 2023.

Learner Loans are not available.

Enquire with BTAC to ask about potential funding for Level 3 and 4 Early Years courses.

We ask for a deposit to secure your place and the remaining course fees can be paid by direct debit instalments of 10, 12 or 18 months, depending on the length of your course.

All applications are subject to availability of funding and eligibility.

If you have any queries please contact us:

Email: nvqhelp@bedford.gov.uk
Tel: 01234 276339