As a full-time or part-time student you can apply for a loan to cover your tuition fees. Full-time and part-time students applying for a Higher Education course starting do not have to pay their tuition fees in advance. If you are eligible, your fees will be automatically paid to the College by the Student Loans Company.
UK tuition fees vary depending on your home country. For home students, English universities can charge up to a maximum of £9,250 per year for an undergraduate degree.
Full time: £8,200
Part time: £4,000
Full time: £8000
Part time: £4,000
Full time: £8000
Part time: £4,000
You may also be eligible for a loan to help cover the cost of living as a student. You may have to give details of your household income when you apply as this can affect the amount you are given. This loan is paid directly to you in three installments, which you will have to pay back after you finish studying. Student Finance England have produced a step-by-step guide to help you through your student finance journey. Visit www.gov.uk for more information.
Our Higher Education tuition fees are lower than most UK universities’ fees and represent great value for money. We also offer extra financial support through bursaries and other funds.
Scholarship Awards
The College offers a limited number of Scholarship Awards made up of a cash grant of £500 for first year full-time students and £250 cash grant for first year part-time students. The awards are paid in February and May. Students are eligible if their household income is up to £25,000 and have to demonstrate a commitment to study through attendance and engagement with study.
Am I eligible for funding?
Funding is available to students on lower incomes to help meet costs associated with their course and coming to college, with several different options available, depending on the type and level of study.
Remember, our Student Financial Support Team is ready and waiting to help with information, advice and support on a range of fees and finance issues related to your study.
Find out more about student finance by visiting Student Finance England
You only make loan repayments once you have left your course and your annual income is over £25,000 a year. The amount you repay will depend on your income, not what you have borrowed.
Help with childcare costs
If you need assistance with the cost of childcare while you are at College, you may be eligible for help by applying through the Learner Support Fund or the Advanced Learning Loan Bursary.
Awards will be made to eligible students based on income levels in the household and using an Ofsted registered childcare provider to help with the costs whilst on the course.
Council tax exemption
Any full time student aged 18 and over can also apply for Council Tax Exemption from their Local Authority. Council Tax Exemption Certificates are available from the Enrolment Booths within Student Services.
Additional costs are the mandatory or optional expenses you may need to pay during your studies. These can be for materials, equipment, field trips and work placements, and are not included in your tuition fee. Additional costs are displayed on each course page on the College website.
To be eligible for the 16 – 19 bursary you must be 18 or under on 31st August in the academic year you start college or be aged 24 and under if have an EHC plan (Educational Healthcare Plan).To apply for the College Bursary you household income needs to be £40,000 per year or less (before tax)
If you are eligible for the Bursary, you may be able to get help with travel, essential equipment, meals and trips.
Registered Young Carers with a household income of less than £40,000 per year (before tax) may be eligible for a weekly bursary.
A weekly bursary may also be awarded to students who meet one of the criteria below:
If you are a student who is in the care of the Local authority or are a Care Leaver or living with Foster Parents (but not a private foster care arrangement).
Students who receive Universal Credit in their own right because they are financially supporting themselves and someone living with them such as a child or a partner.
Students who receive Employment and Support Allowance or Universal Credit in their own right as well as Personal Independence Payments or Disability Living Allowance.
Bursary application forms are available below to download or you can collect from Learner Services at your campus of study.
If you have any Bursary enquiries, you can email – studentfinance@tscg.ac.uk
The government has extended the free meals support to students from lower income families attending further education courses. This means that if you were in receipt of free meals whilst at school and are aged 16 – 18, you may still receive an allowance towards your lunch. In order to be eligible, you or your parents must be in receipt of one or more of the following benefits:
If you think you may be eligible, please call into Student Services to see a member of the Student Finance team.
If you’re a young parent, you may be able to get help with childcare costs (up to £160 per child per week). For more information about this support, please contact the Care to Learn helpline on 0800 121 8989 for more information and an application pack.
Childcare Expenses, including travel expenses to and from a childcare provider for young parents aged 16-19, can also be accessed through the national Care2Learn scheme.
‘Our Pass’ is a free bus travel scheme for 16-18 year olds who live and travel within the Greater Manchester area. Visit www.ourpass.co.uk for more information on the scheme and to apply.
‘Our Pass’ replaces bursary financial assistance for bus travel if you’re a student within the Greater Manchester area.
Please note: if you use an ‘Our Pass’ for journeys to and from college, you will not be eligible for a travel contribution from the bursary.
An ‘Our Pass’ will cost £10 and this fee will be reimbursed by the college if you are eligible for the bursary, live more than 1 miles from the college, and use an ‘Our Pass’ for your college journeys.
If you live outside the Greater Manchester area, or have to use alternative transport methods, you may be eligible for financial support for travel. Please contact Student Services to discuss this with a Financial Support Officer.
Vulnerable Bursary
We have a specific bursary to support students who are either:
Application forms can either be downloaded and printed, collected in person from the College or a form can be sent in the post, or email us at email studentfinance@tcg.ac.uk
To be eligible for this bursary you must be 18 or under on 31st August in the academic year you start college or be aged 24 and under if have an EHCP (Educational Healthcare Plan).
Your household income of £40,000 per annum (gross) or less, then you can apply to the Bursary Fund at the College. The fund can help towards course-related costs such as equipment, travel and trips. It should be noted that funds are limited and awards aren’t guaranteed.
We offer additional support for students who are registered as a Young Carer.
If you’re a young parent (16-19), you may be able to get help with childcare costs (up to £160 per child per week). For more information about this support, please contact the Care to Learn helpline on 0800 121 8989 for more information and to apply online. Care2Learn scheme.
16-17 Saver Railcard
If you are 16 or 17 and use the train to travel to College, the 16-17 Saver Railcard gives you half price train fares at any time of the day. At a cost of £30, you can then either purchase a discounted single, return or season ticket. To order, visit this website: https://www.16-17saver.co.uk/
‘Our Pass’ is a free bus travel scheme for 16-18 year olds who live and travel within the Greater Manchester area. Visit www.ourpass.co.uk for more information on the scheme and to apply.
An ‘Our Pass’ will cost £10 and this fee will be reimbursed by the college if you are eligible for the bursary, live more than 1 mile from the college, and use an ‘Our Pass’ for your college journeys.
If you live outside the Greater Manchester area, or have to use alternative transport methods, you may be eligible for financial support for travel. Please contact Learner Services to discuss this with a Financial Support Officer.
Once your Our Pass stops working (the 31st August after your 18th birthday) and you are in full time, further education and live in Greater Manchester, you may qualify for a Scholars Permit up to the end of the academic year when you turn 19. For a one off £5 cost, the pass allows the holder to pay the concessionary fare for bus journeys, or reduced fares on train and tram journeys between your home and college. You can get an application form from Learner Services or Main Reception at College, any Greater Manchester Travelshop, or by visiting www.tfgm.com
If you are over 18 and use only Stagecoach buses, the Stagecoach UniRider Pass may be the most cost effective way of travelling. They offer either an annual pass, or termly (3 month) pass, which is roughly half the price of purchasing a weekly bus ticket. Visit this website for more information: https://www.stagecoachbus.com/promos-and-offers/manchester/unirider
If you use multiple modes of public transport or multiple bus operators, then a System 1 pass may be the best value for you. There are weekly, monthly, termly and annual season tickets for students. These tickets can be used for multiple journeys at any time and are valid anywhere in Greater Manchester, not just between home and college. These tickets can be purchased online from the relevant transport operator or at your local Paypoint outlet. Visit www.paypoint.co.uk for locations.
These cards can be used on virtually all public transport services in Greater Manchester, regardless of which company runs them. If you are aged 16 – 26 and in full time education, you will need to get a System One student membership card to buy student bus passes. These Travelcards can be purchased online at www.systemonetravelcards.co.uk or at your local paypoint outlet.
Visit www.paypoint.co.uk for locations.
There are a range of financial support services available to all students over 19 years old, to support you with the cost of education. The funding you can claim to support your studies will depend on your personal circumstances, where you live and the course you are studying. This includes both study programme awards and loans for the cost of your tuition.
Tuition Fees are payable by adult students unless the following applies:
If you are aged 19 – 23 on Level 3 or 4 course and already hold a Level 3 qualification, you may be eligible for an Advanced Learning Loan to cover the cost of the Tuition Fees. Any exam/registration fees will not be covered by the loan.
If you are aged 24 and over on Level 3 or 4 course you may be eligible for an Advanced Learning Loan to cover the cost of the Tuition Fees. Any exam/registration fees will not be covered by the loan.
If you are in receipt of an Advanced Learning Loan, and you live in a low income household or receiving benefits, you can apply to the Advanced Learning Loan Bursary Fund for additional help with the costs of course related travel, childcare and other costs.
If you are aged 19 and over and are looking to study a Level 3 or above Further Education course, you may be able to apply for a low-interest 19+ Advanced Learner Loan to cover the cost of tuition fees for courses.
Advanced Learner Loans don’t depend on your income, there are no credit checks and you don’t need to repay anything until you’ve finished your course and are earning over £21,000 a year.
Many of the Adult and Part Time Courses available at College offer the 19+ Advanced Learner Loan option. To see if your course qualifies take a look at our Adult and Part -Time Course guide. All courses that have a green arrow indicate they are available on a 19+ Advanced Learner Loan option.
To be eligible to apply for the 19+ Advanced Learner Loan, you need to be:
Repayments Explained
For more information about 19+ Advanced Learner Loans and how to apply, visit Student Finance England and www.gov.uk.
Adult students on courses up to Level 2 from low income households or receiving benefits can apply to the Learner Support Fund for additional help with the costs of course related travel, childcare and other costs. It should be noted that these funds are limited and no awards can be guaranteed to students.
Help with childcare costs
If you need assistance with the cost of childcare while you are at College, you may be eligible for help by applying through the Learner Support Fund or the Advanced Learning Loan Bursary
Awards will be made to eligible students based on income levels in the household and using an Ofsted registered childcare provider to help with the costs whilst on the course.
Council tax exemption
Any full time student aged 18 and over can also apply for Council Tax Exemption from their Local Authority. Council Tax Exemption Certificates are available from the Enrolment Booths within Student Services.
Our Higher Education tuition fees are lower than most UK universities’ fees and represent great value for money. We also offer extra financial support through bursaries and other funds.
Scholarship Awards
The College offers a limited number of Scholarship Awards made up of a cash grant of £1000 for first year full time students and £500 cash grant for first year part time students. The awards are paid in February and May. Students are eligible if their household income up to £25,000 and have to demonstrate a commitment to study through attendance and engagement with study.
Am I eligible for funding?
Funding is available to students on lower incomes to help meet costs associated with their course and coming to college, with several different options available, depending on the type and level of study.
Remember, our Student Financial Support Team is ready and waiting to help with information, advice and support on a range of fees and finance issues related to your study.
Find out more about student finance by visiting Student Finance England
