Fees and Eligibility

Funding is not available for any individual if any of the following apply:

• Those who are here without authority or lawful status
• Those who are resident in the UK on a student visa unless they are eligible through meeting any other of the categories described above
• Those who are in the UK on holiday, with or without a visa
• Those who are a family member of a person granted a student visa, who have been given immigration permission to stay in the UK and have not been ordinarily resident in the UK for the previous 3 years on the first day of learning
• Those whose biometric residence permit or residence permit imposes a study prohibition or restriction on the individual

Most individuals will be eligible for funding if they:

• Are individual’s resident in areas of England outside of devolved authority areas
• Are aged 19 or older on 31 August within the 2023-24 academic year or are aged 16 to 18 in that academic year
• Fulfil the residency requirements that are set out in one or more of the categories found in the residency eligibility section:

Learners will have an eligible residency status if they meet the conditions laid out in one of the following sections. If you are unsure of your residency eligibility then please speak to a member of staff who will assist you:

UK nationals and other persons with right of abode

UK nationals or other person with a right of abode who have been ordinarily resident in the UK, or the British Overseas Territories, or the Crown Dependencies (Channel Islands and Isle of Man) for at least the previous 3 years on the first day of learning.

All family members of UK nationals must meet the required residency eligibility criteria in their own right, unless they meet the criteria in the section entitled “UK nationals in the EEA and Switzerland”, or the criteria in the section entitled “Family members of an eligible person of Northern Ireland”.

UK nationals in the EEA and Switzerland

UK nationals who have resided in the EEA, Switzerland or EU overseas territories have an eligible residency status if they:

• resided in the EEA or Switzerland, EU overseas territories or Gibraltar by 31 December 2020 (or resident in the UK, having moved to the UK from the EEA, Switzerland, EU overseas territories or Gibraltar after 31 December 2017), and
• resided in the EEA, Switzerland, EU overseas territories, Gibraltar or the UK for at least the previous 3 years on the first day of learning, and
• remained ordinarily resident in the UK, Gibraltar, the EEA, Switzerland or EU overseas territories between 31 December 2020 and the start of the course and
• the course starts before 1 January 2028

Family members of UK nationals, where both the UK national and the family member have resided in the EEA, Switzerland or EU overseas territories, have an eligible residency status if:

• both the UK national and the family member resided in the EEA, Switzerland or EU Overseas Territories by 31 December 2020 (or resided in the UK, having moved there from the EEA, Switzerland or EU Overseas Territories after 31 December 2017), and
• both the UK national and the family member remained ordinarily resident in the UK, the EEA, Switzerland or EU Overseas Territories between 31 December 2020 and the start of the course
• the UK national to whom they are a family member has been ordinarily resident in the UK, EEA, Switzerland or EU Overseas Territories for at least 3 years on the first day of the first academic year of the course
• the course starts before January 2028

A “family member” for these purposes is either:

• the husband, wife, civil partner of the UK national (principal) or
• the child, grandchild, spouse/civil partner’s child or spouse/civil partner’s grandchild of the UK national (principal) who is either
  • under 21, or
  • dependant on the principal and/or his/her spouse/civil partner

EEA and Switzerland nationals in the UK with EU Settlement Scheme

EEA and Switzerland nationals who have obtained either pre-settled or settled status under EUSS, and have lived continuously in the EEA, Switzerland, Gibraltar, or the UK for at least the previous 3 years on the first day of learning.

Although the deadline for most people to apply to EUSS was 30 June 2021, there may be individuals who have reasonable grounds for making a late application to EUSS and there may also be some individuals who have made an EUSS application on time but are still waiting on a final decision on their status from the Home Office, including those that have lodged an appeal. Once a valid application has been made to EUSS (evidenced by receipt of a certificate of application), the applicant will have temporary protection, pending the outcome of that application.

Irish citizens in UK or Ireland

Irish citizens in the UK or Ireland who have been ordinarily resident in the UK and Islands, and/or Ireland for at least the previous 3 years on the first day of learning.

Irish citizens in EEA and Switzerland 

Irish citizens have an eligible residency status if they:

• resided in the EEA or Switzerland by 31 December 2020 (or resident in the UK, having moved to the UK from EEA or Switzerland after 31 December 2017), and
• resided in the EEA, Switzerland, Gibraltar or the UK for at least the previous 3 years on the first day of learning and
• remained ordinarily resident in the UK, Gibraltar, the EEA or Switzerland between 31 December 2020 and the start of the course and
• the course starts before January 2028

Other non-UK nationals

Non-UK nationals who have been ordinarily resident in the UK and Islands for at least the previous 3 years on the first day of learning and:

• have permission granted by the UK government to live in the UK and such permission is not for educational purposes only, or
• have obtained pre-settled or settled status under EUSS

Family members of EU nationals

Family members of an EEA or Swiss national can apply to EUSS after 30 June 2021 if they are joining them in the UK on or after 1 April 2021. They have 3 months to apply to EUSS from the date they arrive in the UK. They will have temporary protection and therefore be eligible for funding during those 3 months and pending the outcome of any EUSS application made during that period (and of any appeal).

A “family member” for these purposes is either:

• the husband, wife, civil partner of the EU national (principal) or
• the child, grandchild, spouse/civil partner’s child or spouse/civil partner’s grandchild of the EU principal who is either:
  • under 21, or
  • dependant on the principal and/or his/her spouse/civil partner, or
• the dependant parent or grandparent of the principal or of the principal’s spouse/civil partner

Family members of an eligible person of Northern Ireland

Family members of an eligible person of Northern Ireland (principal) are eligible for funding if:

• they have been living in the UK by 31 December 2020 and
• they have obtained pre-settled or settled status under EUSS, and
• the eligible person of Northern Ireland (principal) has been ordinarily resident in the UK by 31 December 2020, for at least the previous 3 years on the first day of learning

A “family member” for these purposes is either:

• the husband, wife, civil partner of the EU national (principal) or
• the child, grandchild, spouse/civil partner’s child or spouse/civil partner’s grandchild of the EU principal who is either:
  • under 21, or
  • dependant on the principal and/or his/her spouse/civil partner, or
• the dependant parent or grandparent of the principal or of the principal’s spouse/civil partner

Joining family members under the EU Settlement Scheme

Family members of an EEA or Swiss national can apply to EUSS after 30 June 2021, if they are joining them in the UK on or after 1 April 2021. They have 3 months to apply to EUSS from the date they arrive in the UK. They will have temporary protection and therefore be eligible for funding during those 3 months and pending the outcome of any EUSS application made during that period (and of any appeal).  

The joining family member must also be ordinarily resident in the UK, Gibraltar, EEA, and/or Switzerland for at least the previous 3 years on the first day of learning.

Individuals with certain types of immigration status and their family members

Any individual with any of the statuses listed below, or leave under the listed schemes, is eligible to receive funding and is exempt from the 3-year residency requirement rule:

• refugee status
• Discretionary leave to enter or remain
• Exceptional leave to enter or remain
• Indefinite leave to enter or remain
• Humanitarian protection
• leave outside the rules
• Ukraine schemes:
  • individuals with leave to enter or remain in the UK under the Ukraine Family Scheme
  • individuals with leave to enter or remain in the UK under the Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme (Homes for Ukraine)
  • individuals with leave to enter or remain in the UK under the Ukraine Extension Scheme
• the husband, wife, civil partner or child of anyone in the first 7 bullet points of this list
• Section 67 of the Immigration Act 2016 leave
• Calais leave to remain
• Afghanistan schemes:
  • British Nationals evacuated from Afghanistan under Operation Pitting
  • British Nationals evacuated from Afghanistan by the UK government before 6 January 2022

In relation to the above categories, you must have seen the learner’s immigration permission. This would include the biometric residence permit (BRP) and in some cases an accompanying letter from the Home Office.

Children of Turkish workers

A child of a Turkish worker is eligible if both the following apply:

• the Turkish worker is ordinarily resident in the UK on or before 31 December 2020 and has Turkish European Community Association Agreement (ECAA) rights or extended ECAA leave and
• the child has been ordinarily resident in the UK, EEA and/or Turkey for at least the previous 3 years on the first day of learning and is resident in the UK on or before 31 December 2020

Asylum seekers

Asylum seekers are eligible to receive funding if they:

• have lived in the UK for 6 months or longer while their claim is being considered by the Home Office, and no decision on their claim has been made, or
• are receiving local authority support under section 23C or section 23CA of the Children Act 1989 or the Care Act 2014

An individual who has been refused asylum will be eligible if:

• they have appealed against a decision made by the UK government against granting refugee status and no decision has been made within 6 months of lodging the appeal, or
• they are granted support for themselves under section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, or
• are receiving local authority support for themselves under section 23Cor section 23CA of the Children Act 1989

Persons granted stateless leave

A person granted stateless leave is a person who:

• has extant leave to remain as a stateless person under the immigration rules (within the meaning given in  section 33(1) of the Immigration Act 1971); and
• has been ordinarily resident in the UK and Islands throughout the period since the person was granted such leave

A stateless person must:

• be ordinarily resident in the UK on the first day of the first funding year of the course; and
• have been ordinarily resident in the UK and Islands throughout the 3-year period preceding the first day of the first funding year of the course

Certain family members are also eligible under this category if:

• the spouse or civil partner of a person granted stateless leave (and who was the spouse or civil partner of that person on the leave application date), who is ordinarily resident in the UK on the first day of the first funding year of the course, and who has been ordinarily resident in the UK and Islands throughout the 3-year period preceding the first day of the first funding year of the course; or
• the child of a stateless person or of the stateless person’s spouse or civil partner (and who was the child of that stateless person or the child of the stateless person’s spouse or civil partner on the leave application date), was under 18 on the leave application date, is ordinarily resident in the UK on the first day of the first funding year of the course, and has been ordinarily resident in the UK and Islands throughout the 3 year period preceding the first day of the first funding year of the course

“Leave application date” means the date on which a person is granted stateless leave made an application to remain in the UK as a stateless person under the immigration rules (within the meaning given in section 33(1) of the Immigration Act 1971).

What is funded?

Adult Education courses are for learners aged 19+, however funding is available for 16-18-year-olds on some accredited courses. Please ask for details.

Fee remission is available in accordance with ESFA co-funding rules.

• ‘Fully Funded’ – the course is free to learners
• ‘Co-funded’ – the learner pays 50% of the full fee
• ‘Loan funded’ – the learner pays 100% of the full fee and can apply for an Advanced Learning Loan. Learners in receipt of a loan who withdraw before the end of the course will be liable to pay the balance of the fees owed directly to LASALS.
• ‘Not funded’ – the course costs the listed full fee for the qualification or, for Community Learning, £10 per hour plus any materials / model costs.

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
• They receive Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• They receive Universal Credit, and their take-home pay as recorded on their Universal Credit statement (disregarding Universal Credit 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)
• Are released on temporary licence, studying outside a prison environment, and not funded by the Ministry of Justice
• Receives other state benefits and their take home pay (disregarding Universal Credit 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) and wants to be employed, or progress into more sustainable employment, and the learning is directly relevant to their employment prospects and the local labour market needs

We will fully fund learners who are employed and cannot contribute towards the cost of co-funding fees, if we are satisfied the following applies

• The learner is eligible for co-funding
• The learner earns less than £20,319 annual gross salary. You may also fully fund learners who meet the low wage criteria for qualifications included in the level 3 FCFJ offer
• We have seen evidence of the learner’s gross annual wages that supports this. This could be a wage slip within 3 months of the learner’s learning start date, or a current employment contract which states gross monthly/annual wages.

As part of the Lifetime Skills Guarantee, a targeted level 3 adult offer has been developed to support adults without an existing full level 3 qualification and, from 1 April 2022, adults who meet the definition of ‘low wage’ or ‘unemployed’. This offer is also known as the free courses for jobs offer.

The offer includes level 3 qualifications which will support the development of new skills for adult learners and improve the prospects of eligible adults in the labour market. In particular, eligible adults aged 24+ can now access fully funded level 3 provision from the list of level 3 free courses for jobs qualifications

We will fully fund individuals as part of this offer where they:

• are aged 19 or above on 31 August within the 2023 to 2024 funding year
• have not achieved a full level 3 qualification, or above, which meets the requirements set out in the full level 3 section
• have not achieved a qualification available through the level 3 adult offer, unless that qualification is a short qualification
• enrol on the level 3 adult offer qualifications approved for funding
• We will also fund individuals as part of the offer where they meet the definition of being unemployed or the low wage criteria and enrol on the level 3 FCFJ qualifications approved for funding, including individual who already have a level 3 qualification or higher.

We will fund eligible learners to take one ‘short’ qualification without exhausting their eligibility, followed by one further qualification in the level 3 FCFJ offer.

Full level 2

Full level 2 is the level of attainment which, is demonstrated by:

• a General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) in 5 subjects, each at grade 4 (C) or above, or
• a Technical Certificate at level 2 which meets the requirements for the 16 to 19 performance tables

If a learner, aged 19 to 23, has achieved a level 2 qualification that was, at the time they started, or still is, classed as a full level 2, any subsequent level 2 qualifications will be fully funded if they meet the definition of unemployed or meet the eligibility criteria for learners in receipt of low wage.

Full level 3

Full level 3 is the level of attainment which is demonstrated by a:

• General Certificate of Education at the advanced level in 2 subjects
• General Certificate of Education at the AS level in 4 subjects
• QAA Access to Higher Education (HE) Diploma at level 3
• Technical, or applied general qualification at level 3, which meets the requirements for the 16 to 19 performance tables
• Core maths at level 3

If a learner has achieved a level 3 qualification that was not classed as a full level 3 at the time they started it but has since been classed as a full level 3 and wants to enrol on any subsequent level 3 qualification, of any size, they may apply for an advanced learner loan (provided the qualification is designated for funding, and subject to learner eligibility conditions), or pay for their own learning. From the 1 April 2022 there is an exception to this rule; a learner will be fully funded under the level 3 adult offer if they meet the definition of unemployed or meet the eligibility criteria for learners in receipt of low wage.