Course Fees & Financial Help
If you’re considering studying at West London College, you may be thinking about your finances. We are committed to ensuring you get the best possible support for your studies and understand that finances can be one of the biggest obstacles to overcome in order to reach your potential.
At WLC, our course fees, and the financial help available to you, depend on your age, the course you are studying, and your personal circumstances.
COURSE FEES & HOW TO PAY
Funding for courses is set by the UK Government and depends on your age and circumstances. In order to study at West London College, you must meet the current residency requirements – more information can be found on our Enrolment page.
If you will be aged 16, 17 or 18 on 31 August before your further education study programme starts at West London College, your course will be free. You may have to pay additional costs for materials or specialist equipment, which varies by course. Depending on your circumstances, you may be eligible for financial help to cover these costs. You may also be asked to pay for lost college ID cards and educational visits.
If you will be aged 19 or older on 31 August before your course starts, fees will depend on your individual circumstances, such as your current income/benefits, your current qualifications, and the level of the course you are planning to study.
English and Maths – GCSEs and Functional Skills
If you do not already have GCSE English/Maths at grade 4/C or higher, you will be able to continue studying them for free.
English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)
Providing you meet the residency criteria, ESOL courses at West London College will be free.
Entry Level to Level 2 Courses
If you will be aged 19 to 23 on 31 August before the course begins and do not already hold a full Level 2 qualification, your course will be free.
If you will be aged 19 or older, live in London, and are either unemployed* or earn below London Living Wage (currently £27007.50 per year, before tax), your course will be free.
*If you are receiving Universal Credit, your take-home pay must be less than £952 for sole claimants or £1534 per month for joint claimants.
Level 3 Courses
If you will be aged 19 to 23 on 31 August before the course begins and do not already hold a full Level 3 qualification, your course may be free*.
If you will be aged 24 on 31 August before the course begins and do not already hold a full Level 3 qualification (or higher), your course may be free*.
If you will be aged 19 or older, live in London, and are either unemployed** or earn below London Living Wage (currently £27007.50 per year, before tax), and your course is eligible for funding through the Free Courses for Jobs offer, your course will be free.
*The vast majority of full Level 3 courses at West London College are eligible for government funding; however, from time-to-time, we may offer some short programmes that are ineligible. Information will be provided to you if this is the case.
**If you are receiving Universal Credit, your take-home pay must be less than £952 for sole claimants or £1534 per month for joint claimants.
If you are not eligible for your course to be funded, you may be able to apply for the government’s Advanced Learner Loan to cover your course. We also offer payment by instalment for many of our courses. You can find out more information about how to pay here.
Further information about course fees and how we check eligibility is available on our Enrolment page.
If you are studying an Apprenticeship, the responsibility lies with your employer to pay your course fees.
FINANCIAL HELP
There are many types of financial help that could be available to you, including support with books, travel, course materials and childcare.
Once you have enrolled, you will be able to submit an application for financial support using the Bursary application form on PayMyStudent. Please click here to register and access the online bursary form.
If you require assistance completing your application please email studentservices@wlc.ac.uk
Two types of bursaries are available if you are aged 16, 17 or 18 at the start of your course. These can help contribute towards the cost of travel and course-related expenses including books and specialist equipment.
- 16-18 Discretionary Bursary
- 16-18 Vulnerable Bursary
You may also be eligible for free college meals. If you have a child, you may also be eligible for support to cover some of your childcare costs.
To receive financial help, you must have your own bank account to receive support payments.
16-18 Discretionary Bursary
You must be:
- aged 16, 17 or 18 on 31 August in the year you start your course or
- aged 19 and continuing on to the 2nd year of the same study programme that you started before turning 19 or
- aged 19-25 and have an EHCP (Education Health Care Plan)
- You/your partner/parents/carers must be in receipt of a benefit (Universal Credit/Income Support/Job Seekers Allowance/Housing Benefit/Council Tax Benefit/Employment Support Allowance) or
- You must live in a low-income household (total household gross income must be less than £30,000 in the last tax year)
- Evidence of both residency and income proof must be uploaded onto the bursary application form on PayMyStudent and a signed declaration must be submitted before any financial help is agreed.
16-18 Vulnerable Bursary
You may be eligible for a bursary of upto £1200 per year, if you are:
- In care
- a care leaver
- receiving Income Support or Universal Credit because you are financially supporting yourself or financially supporting yourself and someone who is dependent on them and living with them such as a child or partner
- receiving Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payments in your own right as well as Employment and Support Allowance or Universal Credit in your own right.
Evidence of eligibility will be required either in the form of a benefit award notice or written confirmation from the Local Authority confirming your Looked After Child or Care Leaver Status. This will need to be uploaded and attached to your PayMyStudent online application form.
Free College Meals
You must be:
- aged 16, 17 or 18 on 31 August in the year you start your course or
- aged 19 and continuing on to the 2nd year of the same study programme that you started before turning 19 or
- aged 19-25 and have an EHCP (Education Health Care Plan)
Your household must also be in receipt of an income-based benefit from the list below and this evidence must be provided on your PayMyStudent bursary application form.
- Income Support
- income-based Jobseekers Allowance
- income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- the guarantee element of State Pension Credit
- Child Tax Credit (provided they are not entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190, as assessed by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC))
- Working Tax Credit run-on – paid for 4 weeks after someone stops qualifying for Working Tax Credit
- UC with net earnings not exceeding the equivalent of £7,400 pa (after tax and not including any benefits you get)
You will be assessed for free college meals based on the information and evidence uploaded on PayMyStudent.
Different types of bursaries are available if you are aged 19 or older at the start of your course. These can help contribute towards the cost of travel and course-related expenses including books and specialist equipment.
- 19+ Discretionary Bursary
- 19+ Advanced Learner Loan Bursary
If you turn 19 and are studying the second year of the same Level 3 course you started when aged 18 years or younger, you will continue to receive support and entitlements for the 16-18 bursary, providing you still meet the income eligibility criteria.
You may also be eligible for free college meals, if you are aged under 25 and hold an EHCP.
To receive financial help, you must have your own bank account to receive support payments.
19+ Discretionary Bursary
You must be:
- aged 19 or older on 31 August in the year you start your course
- studying on a further education course at Level 2 or below, or be in receipt of a 19-23 fee remission
- You/your partner/parents/carers must be in receipt of a benefit (Universal Credit/Income Support/Job Seekers Allowance/Housing Benefit/Council Tax Benefit/Employment Support Allowance) or
- You must live in a low-income household (total household gross income must be less than £30,000 in the last tax year)
Evidence of both residency and income proof must be uploaded onto the bursary application form on PayMyStudent and a signed declaration must be submitted before any financial help is agreed.
19+ Advanced Learner Loan Bursary
The Advanced Learner Loan bursary is available for those who have received an Advanced Learning Loan but may need some additional support to assist with the costs associated with their course such as course materials, travel or childcare.
To qualify you must:
- be aged 19 years or older on 31 August in the year you start your course
- be in receipt of the Advanced Learner Loan (proof of this must be provided on your bursary application form)
- You/your partner/parents/carers must be in receipt of a benefit (Universal Credit/Income Support/Job Seekers Allowance/Housing Benefit/Council Tax Benefit/Employment Support Allowance) or
- You must live in a low-income household (total household gross income must be less than £30,000 in the last tax year)
Please be advised this bursary can not be used to pay tuition fees, registration or exam fees.
If you qualify for an Advanced Learner Loan but decide to self-fund your course, you will not qualify for a bursary fund.
Free College Meals
If you are aged 19-25 and have an EHCP (Education Health Care Plan) and your household is in receipt of an income-based benefit from the list below, you may be eligible for free college meals;
- Income Support
- income-based Jobseekers Allowance
- income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- the guarantee element of State Pension Credit
- Child Tax Credit (provided they are not entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190, as assessed by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC))
- Working Tax Credit run-on – paid for 4 weeks after someone stops qualifying for Working Tax Credit
- UC with net earnings not exceeding the equivalent of £7,400 pa (after tax and not including any benefits you get)
You will be assessed for free college meals based on the information and evidence uploaded on PayMyStudent.
Asylum Seeker Support
If you are an Asylum Seeker being supported under section VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, you may be able to apply for some support in kind to help with costs associated with your course through the college bursary funds. You need to complete the online bursary form on PayMyStudent and upload the evidence requested.
Emergency Hardship Support
If you are experiencing an unforeseen circumstance during the academic year which has resulted in you being in financial hardship, please speak to a member of the Student Services team or email studentservices@wlc.ac.uk and we may be able to direct you to some support services.
Student Discounts and Zip Oyster Cards
If you live in a London borough and are 18 and under, you can also apply for a Zip Oyster photo card which gives you free or discounted travel around London on buses, the tube, DLR and overground. Find out more here.
As a student, you will be eligible to apply for discount cards and accounts, such as TOTUM, UNiDAYS and Student Beans. These can give you discounts in high street shops and online, including at stores such as Apple, Superdrug and more.
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