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Fees and Additional Costs for Government Subsidised Courses*
This Information relates to courses started on or after 1st August 2011.
*Subject to exceptions listed under each section
Full-time courses are free to learners aged under 19 (as at 31st of August in the first academic year of their course) subject to the conditions below. For learners aged 19 and over full-time course fees have been discounted to £900 for the academic year 2011/2012. Further discounts may also be available – please see the following pages for details.
Details of part-time fees and other course costs can be found in the College’s prospectus1 and from Learner Services, Rochford Campus tel. 01205 313218. The full cost of a course may include fees and charges for examinations, materials, visits, registrations and other costs. Registration and examination fees must be paid in full at the start of the course. Tuition and, where applicable, materials costs are charged per academic year. If your course lasts more than one academic year you will be required to pay at the start of each year. Costs should be explained to you when you enrol and learners should be clear about all these costs before starting the course.
* Fees published in the Prospectus are correct at the time of printing but may be subject to change. Please check with the College’s Student Services Centre.
Additional Costs
For most courses there are additional costs such as stationery, books, trips, personal equipment or clothing. Please ensure that you are aware of these when you enrol. You will be responsible for these costs. Please also note that examination re-sits are chargeable. In cases of financial hardship you may be able to apply for help with these costs to the College Learner Support Fund. Contact the Learner Services Team on 01205 313218.
For most courses there are additional costs such as stationery, books, trips, personal equipment or clothing. Please ensure that you are aware of these when you enrol. You will be responsible for these costs. In cases of financial hardship you should apply to the College Learner Support Fund. Contact the Student Services Centre Tel. 01205 313218.
Paying Fees and Other Charges
Fees and other charges can be paid by cash, cheque (payable to ‘Boston College’), direct debit^, or major credit and debit cards*.
* This facility is not available at all Learning Centres
Payment Terms For All Courses
Full payment is required at the start of the course unless alternative payment arrangements have been agreed with the College Registry Department. The receipted copy of the learning agreement must be retained and, where applicable, shown to the class lecturer.
You may pay by cash, cheque, direct debit^, credit card or debit card, subject to terms and conditions.
If relevant fees are not paid within 3 weeks of the start of the course then you will not be entitled to attend classes until such time as the fees are paid.
Where an employer is paying your fees, an Employer’s Agreement form should be completed and returned within 2 weeks of the start date of the course. Where no such authorisation (or purchase order) is received, you will be excluded from learning until authorisation is submitted or you personally pay all fees due.
Examination fees must be paid on enrolment. Late entries, where still possible, will incur an additional charge, details of which are available from the College’s Examinations Department. No entry will be made until all fees are paid; entry is the responsibility of each learner. Re-sits must be paid for before an entry is made.
Refunds are normally only made when a course is cancelled by the College. All decisions about refunds should be referred to the College Registry Department.
There are other special courses run by the College which have different fee regulations. Information is available from the Learner Services department.
^ Minimum fees apply and an administration fee will be charged
Concessions
Concessions are available for different types of courses dependent upon your age. The following pages detail these concessions. In most cases your age is taken as at 31st August in the academic year in which you commence your course.
Learners aged under 19 (as at 31st August in the first year of the course)
a) Full and part-time courses (excluding Higher Education and Commercial Courses)
Tuition is free for learners who are aged under 19 as at 31st August in the first year of the course. Registration, examination or assessment is free to learners who have satisfactory attendance and progress and actually sit the examination(s) for which they are entered. Where a learner’s performance is not satisfactory they may enter for assessment at their own expense.
Additional costs (personal tools, equipment and course materials) must be paid in full.
b) Apprenticeships
For learners entering Apprenticeship through Boston College, tuition is free for under 19s at the time of enrolment. Registration, examination or assessment is free to learners who have satisfactory attendance and progress and actually sit the examination(s) for which they are entered. For more information contact Boston College Employer Responsive delivery team on 01205 365701 ext 6252.
Learners aged at least 19 and under 25 (as at 31st August in the first year of the course)
Full and part-time courses (excluding those detailed separately below)
A) Entry Level or Level 1 Qualifications
All eligible learners who intent to study their first Full Level 2 qualification but who need a Level 1 qualification to progress are entitled to free tuition, however, a registration fee may be payable.
B) Full Level 2 Qualifications
Learners enrolling on a Full Level 2 who do not already hold a Full Level 2 qualification or higher are entitled to a discount on certain Level 2 courses. Definitions of a Full Level 2 qualification can be found at the back of this policy.
Learners claiming this concession will be required to sign a disclaimer stating that they do not currently hold a Full Level 2 qualification or higher.
C) Full Level 3 Qualifications
Learners aged 19 to 24 enrolling on a Full Level 3 course who do not hold a Full Level 3 qualification or higher are entitled to a discount on certain Level 3 courses. Learners claiming this concession will be required to sign a disclaimer stating that they do not currently hold a Full Level 3 qualification or higher.
Learners aged over 25 years enrolling on a Full Level 3 course who does not already hold a Full Level 2 qualification or higher is entitled to a discount on certain Level 3 courses. Definitions of a Full Level 3 qualification can be found at the back of this policy. Learners claiming this concession will be required to sign a disclaimer stating that they do not currently hold a Full Level 2 qualification or higher.
D) Learners in receipt of active benefits. This concession does not apply to Commercial Courses, Workplace Training or Apprenticeships
If you receive Job Seekers Allowance or Employment and Support Allowance (Work Related), you may be entitled to a discount. You must supply documentary evidence of receipt of the benefit at enrolment.
Discount for a, b, c and d:
Full-Time courses – no fees are payable.
Part-Time courses – tuition may be free. Examination or
assessment fees and other course costs must be paid in full on enrolment.
E) Adult Basic Education
For UK and EU residents who satisfy qualifying criteria, adult literacy or numeracy is free. Details of these criteria are available from the College Registry. Fees are chargeable for English for Speakers of Other Languages courses – discounts may be available if learners fall into other categories.
F) Apprenticeships
For learners aged over 19 a contribution towards delivery will be payable. For more information contact Boston College Employer Responsive Delivery Team on 01205 365701 ext 6252.
G) Workplace Training
Most part time NVQs with a workbased element are funded through the government’s Workplace Training initiative.
Learners wishing to study an NVQ Levels 1 to 4 through this scheme must be in a job role relevant to the award—this can include self-employment or voluntary work. Employer eligibility rules apply.
Workplace Delivery - learners aged 19
Level 1
All eligible learners who intent to study their first Full Level 2 qualification but who need a Level 1 qualification to progress are entitled to free tuition, however, a registration fee may be payable.
Learners aged over 25 who already hold a Level 2 qualification or above will be required to pay all tuition and registration fees.
Level 2
All eligible learners studying their first Full Level 2± are entitled to free tuition, however, a registration fees may be payable certain Level 2 courses;
Learners who already hold a Full Level 2 qualification or above and who work for an employer who employees less than 250 employees will be required to pay tuition and registration fees. Learners employed by a large employer (with more than 250 employees) will not be funded and will be required to pay full cost - please contact the College Registry team on 01205 365701 for more information.
Level 3
All learners aged between 19 and 24 studying their first Full Level 3± are entitled to free tuition on certain Level 3 courses, however, a registration fee may be payable
All learners aged over 25 studying their first Full Level 3± and who do not already hold a Full Level 2 qualification or higher are entitled to free tuition on certain Level 3 courses, however, a registration fee is payable . Learners aged over 25 who already hold a Full Level 2 qualification will not be funded and will be required to pay full cost - please contact the College Registry team on 01205 365701 for more information.
Level 4
All learners aged between 19 and 24 studying a Full Level 4 qualification, who do not already hold a Full Level 3 qualification or higher are entitled to free tuition, however, a registration fee may be payable.
Level 4 - all learners aged over 25 studying their first Full Level 4 and who do not already hold a Full Level 2 qualification or higher are entitled to free tuition on certain Level 4 courses, however, a registration fee is payable . Learners aged over 25 who already hold a Full Level 2 qualification will not be funded and will be required to pay full cost - please contact the College Registry team on 01205 365701 for more information.
Additional fees may be required if specialist resources are required to enable you to achieve. If you already hold a Full Level 2 or 3 qualification± fees may vary.
Opportunities are also available for learners wishing to complete Skills for Life qualifications from Entry level to Level 2 in literacy and numeracy. To receive these discounts, you and your employer will be required to sign a disclaimer. Registration or assessment fees and other course costs must be paid in full on enrolment.
To receive these discounts, you and your employer will be required to sign a disclaimer. Registration or assessment fees and other course costs must be paid in full on enrolment.
H) Concessions for the Armed Forces Personnel
Learners studying their first Full Level 3 qualification that has left the British Armed Forces (up to 10 years ago) after completing 4 or more years of service or have been medically discharged, due to an injury in active service, after completing basic training are entitled to free tuition on certain Level 3 courses, however, a registration fee may be payable. You will be required to provide evidence of your service/discharge.
± Please refer to the back of this guide for definitions of Full Level 2 and Full Level 3 qualifications
All Learners Aged 16 and over
A) Higher Education (HE) courses
Fees for HE courses vary according to mode of attendance and the awarding institution. Some U.K. residents will be entitled to financial support for HE courses . The awards for HE fees and maintenance are means-tested and applications should be made direct to Student Finance England via www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance or by telephoning 0845 3005090
B) Commercial Courses
Boston College also runs a variety of part-time and short courses which are generally not publicly funded, which means that all learners are required to pay fees, regardless of age. For details of these courses please contact the College’s Commercial Training Department on 01205 313242.
Full Level 2 and Level 3 Qualifications
A full level 2 or higher is defined as:
5 GCSEs grade A* - C | 5 ‘O’ Level passes |
5 CSEs Grade 1 | 2 / 3 AS levels or more |
1 A Level or more | NVQ 2 |
City & Guilds Craft part 2 | First Diploma |
Intermediate GNVQ | City & Guilds Craft part 2 |
The Higher Diploma |
|
A Full Level 3 or higher is defined as:
4 AS levels or more | 2 A Levels or more |
City & Guilds Advanced Craft | NVQ 3 |
NVQ 4 | NVQ 5 |
Access Course | National Certificate |
HND/HNC | First degree/Higher degree |
National Diploma GNVQ Advanced | Nursing (SRN) |
If your highest qualification does not appear in these tables please consult a member of Boston College staff for advice
NOTE:
The fees policy is increasingly complex due to government funding rules. Please contact the College Registry team if you require clarification on fees. Please also note that this Fees Policy is only applicable to learners starting their course on or after 1st August 2011. For learners who started last year and who are returning to complete their course please contact the Registry Team to discuss fees.
Page Last Updated : 20/07/2011 10:28:12