Student Finance

If you’re under 19, full time courses are FREE. If you’re 19 or over, depending on your circumstances, tuition fee on certain courses may be FREE. You may still have to pay for exam/registration or materials costs but the Walsall College Bursary may be able to help with the cost of these (if you are studying 6 hours per week or more). For Higher Education course fees please click here

You get state benefits such as Job Seeker’s Allowance (JSA), Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) or in the Work Related Activity Group (WRAG) – you must be aged 19 or over and applying for a course up to Level 2

You are enrolling on a full Level 2 qualification, aged 19-23 (at the start of your course) and don’t already hold a full Level 2 qualification or higher

You are enrolling on a full Level 3 qualification, aged 19-23 (at the start of your course) and don’t already hold a full Level 3 qualification or higher

Course Type	19-23 Years of Age		24 Years of Age +
	Employed	Unemployed on active benefits, JSA/ESA WRAG or Universal Credit or wider offer undertaking skills training	Employed	Unemployed on active benefits, JSA/ESA WRAG or Universal Credit or wider offer undertaking skills training
English & Maths, Adult Basic Skills up to Level 2	FREE	FREE	FREE	FREE
ESOL	Fee payable*	FREE	Fee payable*	FREE
Progression funding Entry Level/Level 1 excl. S4L without a L2	FREE	FREE	Fee payable*	FREE
First full level 2	FREE	FREE	Fee payable*	FREE
Additional full level 2	Fee payable*	FREE	Fee payable*	FREE
First full level 3 or above	FREE	FREE	Apply for Advanced Learner Loan or fee payable*
Additional full level 3	Apply for Advanced Learner Loan or fee payable*	Apply for Advanced Learner Loan or fee payable*	Apply for Advanced Learner Loan or fee payable*
West Midland Combined Authority (WMCA) residents aged 19+, earning less than £17,550 (£9.00 per hour) will be able to access fully-funded (Adult Education Budget (AEB)) courses** at Level 1 and Level 2, including English for speakers of other languages (ESOL). *The fees listed in our publications take into account the standard government subsidy and we make every effort to ensure they are accurate. Please note that if you are employed and don’t meet the subsidy eligibility criteria for these courses, the fee may be higher. **These rules do not apply to apprenticeships, traineeships and advanced learner loans or to other education funded by the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) and to training services funded by the European Social Fund.
For further information and an explanation of fees and funding please contact the Enrolment Team on 01922 657000

Our Enrolment Team can help. They will be able to give you all the general advice you’ll need on 01922 657000.

The Walsall College Bursary can help with travel, equipment, exams, childcare or the cost of studying in general.

You will be expected to make a £10 contribution to printing and copying costs. Your learner pass will give you access to printing facilities and will be preloaded with a minimum of £15 worth of printing (dependent on your area of study).

You can pay by either cash, cheque, credit or debit card.

Instalment payments are available for courses costing £100 or more. Speak to a member of our Student Finance Team at the Customer Advice and Support Centre who will work out an instalment plan with you, at no extra cost. An initial payment must be made on enrolment.

One of the following forms of ID:

1. Passport, Driving Licence, National Insurance card, Bank credit or debit card, Results slips/exam certificates
2. Payment of your £10 contribution for photocopying/printing
3. Payment of your fees, if you’re not eligible for concessions

If you are unemployed: To claim concessions, you will need to bring along proof of relevant benefits dated within three months of enrolment.

If your employer is paying for your course: Bring along a letter, on company letter-headed paper, confirming that they can be invoiced for your fees. If you are a non-E.U. student please bring along proof of residency (e.g. Passport or Visa).

We’re here to help. Drop in or call our Student Support or Enrolment Teams on 01922 657000.

Walsall College Fees Policy

Walsall College is now offering a cashless payment system.

Your student ID card is a 'Smart Card'. When pre-loaded with a cash amount it can be presented as a means of payment at many of the College tills:

• College canteen (Wisemore and Green Lane)
• Costa
• Graduate Academy
• LRC (Wisemore and Green Lane)

The cards need to be credited in advance to be able to purchase anything.

Money can be loaded onto the card using loading machines located in the atriums at Wisemore and Green Lane campuses.

Parents can also upload money. They will need their own account. This can be accessed via a portal from the College website.

Students who qualify for free college meals will have a daily allowance of £4.50 (from 6th June 2022) credited to their Smart Card.

visit cashless.walsallcollege.ac.uk to top up your card.

As soon as you have loaded it with a cash amount, or been allocated free College meals the card will be ready for use. If you have been allocated free College meals, your allowance will be available from the first Monday after you have been notified of your award.

With less need to carry cash, the risk of it being lost or stolen is reduced and it is much faster to get served.

Students are required to wear their ID badge around their neck at all times for identity purposes and to gain access to the buildings. It is your responsibility to have it with you at all times.

If the card is lost or stolen, it needs to be reported to the Student Services desk as soon as possible so the card can be blocked from further use. You can also de-activate your card through your online account. The balance from the time of reporting the card lost will appear on the new card.

If you lose or forget your card you will have to either purchase a new card, or go home and fetch it.

Money can be loaded onto the card using loading machines located in the atriums at Wisemore and Green Lane campuses.

At Walsall College we offer all of our students the opportunity to boost their brainpower by starting each day of study with a free breakfast in the college canteen.

All of our students can have two slices of toast with fruit juice.

According to many experts, as well as being part of a balanced diet, eating a healthy breakfast has a strong link to improved academic performance; the energy and nutrients a healthy breakfast provide helps students concentrate better.

The offer is available Monday to Friday:

Wisemore and Green Lane - between 8am and 10am

Hawbush - between 9am and 10am

Portland Street - between 10am and 11am

Students aged between 16 – 18 may be eligible for free college meals if they or their parent/carer receives one of the following benefits;

• Job Seekers Allowance (Income Based)
• Income Support
• Child Tax Credit (but not Working Tax Credit) provided annual income, assessed by the HMRC does not exceed £16,190 (please note: This amount is subject to change in April every year)
• Employment Support Allowance (Income Related)
• Guarantee Element of State Pension Credit
• Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• Working Tax Credit run-on - paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
• During the initial roll out of the benefit, Universal Credit

19-25 year olds who are subject to a Learning Difficulty Assessment (LDA) OR Education Health Care Plan (EHC Plan) may also be eligible for free college meals.

Successful applicants will receive £4.50 per day (from 6th June 2022) (credited to their student card) this will be redeemable at Wisemore, Green Lane and Portland Street Campuses. This allows students to purchase any food or drink that is available at these sites including Starbucks and Costa. Students who receive free meals will still also be able to take advantage of the college’s free breakfast scheme, which is available to all students.

Students aged between 16-18 who are or whose parents are receiving one or more of the following benefits will need to complete the online bursary form and provide evidence of their household income (the whole bursary form needs to be completed not just the fcm application).

If aged between 19-25 years old and are subject to a Learning Difficulty Assessment (LDA) OR Education Health Care Plan (EHC Plan) then please complete the following form (link to the 19-25 fcm app).

These Bursaries are here to help Walsall College students who may be experiencing financial hardship to complete their course. Funds are awarded to students to help them cover the essential costs of attending College, such as transport and equipment, where no other financial support is available.

1. The Vulnerable Bursary – this is specifically for students who have been defined as ‘vulnerable students’
2. The Discretionary Bursary – this is for students who are not defined as ‘vulnerable students’ You can only apply for one Bursary, please see below for details.

You can only apply for a Vulnerable Bursary of up to £1200 if you are in one of the groups that have been defined by the Government as being a ‘vulnerable group of students’ and meet the eligibility criteria. This includes young people who are living apart from their parents and are:

• Looked after (in care) or have recently left care (Care Order in force)
• In receipt of Income Support (or Universal Credit) in their own right (not their parents)
• Disabled and in receipt of both Employment & Support Allowance (Universal Credit) and Disability Living Allowance (Personal Independence Payments) in their own right (not their parents)

You will need to provide up to date evidence to confirm receipt of your Benefit, or a recent letter from Social Services confirming your care status.
Funds will be allocated to provide a bus pass, equipment costs and monthly payments – paid directly into your bank account. You will therefore need to provide your bank account details. You will be issued with guidance notes to explain the reporting procedure in case of authorised absences.
All awards are made subject to attendance of at least 90%, good progress and behaviour and may be reduced or withheld if standards are not met.

You can apply for this Bursary if you are not identified as a ‘vulnerable’ student as long as you meet the eligibility criteria. Your award will depend on your personal circumstances, such as where you live, the course you are studying, household income (maximum £24,000) and when you apply. You may be awarded one or more of the following categories:

Category	Criteria
Bus Pass	Students must meet the bursary criteria and live 1.5 miles or more away from the College or be on a placement which is 1.5 miles away from their home address. Available for collection and at the beginning of each new term. You can collect your bus pass from the CASC Desk at the campus you study at with a signed declaration of attendance and your student ID Card. Students who are applying for NX West Midlands bus passes must have the NXBus M-Tickets app installed on their mobile devices in readiness for September. You will need to create an account within the app using your Walsall College Email Address which is your student number followed by @student.walsallcollege.ac.uk The links for the app are as follows; Android Phones iPhone and iOS The app needs to be on the students phone not that of any parents or guardians. If you require an Arriva bus pass and not one from Network West Midlands you will need to provide 2 Identical passport style photographs for each term’s bus pass and do not need to worry about the above detail regarding the app. Students who require an NX Bus Pass but do not have access to a smartphone can have a Swift Card ordered but will still need to visit the CASC Desk to complete this process. Any students who live in an area where there is no bus service available to get to College will be made a travel payment.
Equipment	A payment towards the cost of equipment, depending on your course. Paid after the October half term holiday, subject to satisfactory attendance.
Bursary Payment to help with College costs, such as stationery, books, lunches etc.	3 payments (1 each term after the half term holiday) subject to satisfactory attendance and the following household income limits:- Under £16,000 - Payment 1: £100; Payment 2: £120; Payment 3: £130 (Total £350) £16,001 - £23,000 - Payment 1: £70; Payment 2: £80; Payment 3: £100 (total £250) £23,001 - £30,000 - Payment 1: £50; Payment 2: £70; Payment 3: £80 (total £200)

Equipment and Bursary Payments are paid directly into your bank account. You will need to provide us with your bank account details. While we recognise that some students face financial pressures, the funding you are applying for comes from a government fund and is public money. It is not a right. The College has a duty to ensure that the funds are awarded fairly to students most in need. Funds are cash limited and funding cannot be guaranteed. Early application is essential.
All awards are made subject to attendance of at least 90%, good progress and behaviour and may be reduced or withheld if standards are not met.

To be eligible you must:

• be 16 or over and under 19 on 31st August 2022
• be enrolled to a full time course or traineeship
• have ‘home’ student status or have been granted full ‘refugee’ or ‘asylum seeker’ status (British Citizens normally have ‘home student’ status)
• have been ‘ordinarily resident in the UK, EU or EEA continuously for the last 3 years before the start of your course, with ‘settled status’ which means having indefinite leave to enter or remain (ILE/ILR)
• live in a household where the total gross household income is £32,500 or less

• Students on Higher Education Courses
• Students on Worked Based Learning/Waged Apprenticeships
• Students aged 19 or over on 31 August 2022 (Separate 19+ Bursary Funds are available)

• Check that you the meet the eligibility criteria
• Apply online through the Online Bursary Applications System.

Fully completed applications will normally be processed within 10 working days. You will receive an award notification letter informing you of your award from the Bursary Fund and how this will be provided. Please keep this for future reference.
No awards will be made to you until you are fully enrolled on your course. If your application is not successful you will be notified by letter. You will then need to decide if you are able to enrol to your course without financial support from the Fund. Please contact the Student Support Team, quoting your receipt number, if you do not receive a letter within 2 weeks of handing in your application form.

You have the right to appeal if your application is refused or your award is withheld. You must submit your appeal, in writing, within 10 working days of the date of your refusal letter. Additional information will be required to support your appeal.
Further information and advice is available from the Student Support Team in the Customer Advice and Support Centre. Please contact us if you have any questions or need help to complete this form. For further information about Student Support telephone 01922 657000, email admissionsandfinance@walsallcollege.ac.uk or visit www.gov.uk.

The 19+ Bursary Fund is in place to help Walsall College students who may be experiencing financial hardship to complete their course. Funds are awarded to students to help them cover the essential costs of attending College, such as transport, equipment and exam fees, where no other financial support is available.

The amount of funding available for tuition fees is extremely limited. All applications for tuition will be considered on an individual basis to determine if there are exceptional circumstances before an award can be made. Please provide information on the Additional Information section of the form so that a decision can be made. Please note that you may be required to pay all, or part of your fees.

All students have to pay the first £50 towards their exam fees. We do not fund Accreditation Fees or Professional Membership Fees.

You must live 1.5 miles or more away from the College Campus you are attending OR attending a regular placement that is essential to, and an integral part of, your course which is more than 1.5 miles from your home. You must provide 2 identical passport sized photographs each term when collecting your bus pass. Bus passes must be collected as soon as you receive your award letter, and during the first two weeks of each new term. Bus passes not collected promptly will be cancelled.

This depends on the course you are attending. Awards will be paid after 6 weeks attendance (usually after October half term) subject to satisfactory attendance. Students enrolled to part-time courses of 6 hours or more per week will receive 50% of the full time student award.

For students enrolled to Level 2 or Level 3 courses. A maximum of £600 paid in 3 instalments to support you with the costs of studying. Your income must be below £3,000 and you must not be in receipt of benefit. Students who have to give up benefits because they are studying a full time course can also apply. You will need to provide evidence of your income and/or that your benefit is being withdrawn. Payments will be made after the half term holidays but will depend on when you apply and satisfactory attendance.

To be eligible you must:

• be 19 or over on 31st August 2022
• be enrolled to a course of 6 hours or more per week that is approved for funding by the Education & Skills Funding Agency – we will check this before making any awards
• have ‘home’ students status or have been granted full ‘refugee’ or ‘asylum seeker’ status (British Citizens normally have ‘home student’ status)
• have been ordinarily resident in the UK, EU or EEA continuously for the last 3 years before the start of your course, with ‘settled’ status which means having indefinite leave to enter or remain (ILE/ILR)
• not exceed the following income threshold limits:

Joint income if living   with spouse/partner OR single    applicant living independently	Single applicants   living with parents or guardians
Up to £30,000	Up to £10,000

• Students on Higher Education Courses
• Students on Work Based Learning/Waged Apprenticeships
• Students aged 19 and over at the start of their course studying at level 3 or above. (Students can apply to the Advanced Learner Loans Bursary Fund if they have taken out the Advanced Learner Loan for their fees)
• Students aged under 19 on 31 August 2022 (students can apply to the 16-18 Bursary Fund)
• Students aged 24 and over studying a level 3 or above

• Check that you the meet the eligibility criteria
• Apply online through the Online Bursary Applications System.

Please speak to a member of the Student Support Team if you need help to fund childcare – if you are awarded childcare funding you can apply for a bus pass from the 19+ bursary fund. Incomplete forms, or forms submitted without the required evidence, will not be accepted.

Fully completed applications will normally be processed within 10 working days. You will receive an award notification letter which will tell you what you have been awarded from the Bursary Fund and how this will be provided. No awards will be made to you until you are fully enrolled to your course.
If your application is not successful you will be notified by letter. You will then need to decide if you are able to enrol to your course without financial support from the Fund. Please contact the Student Support Team, quoting your receipt number, if you do not receive a letter within 2 weeks of handing in your application form.

You have the right to appeal if your application is refused or your award is withheld. You must submit your appeal, in writing, within 10 working days of the date of your refusal letter. Additional information will be required to support your appeal.
Further information and advice is available from the Student Support Team in the Customer Advice and Support Centre. Please contact us if you have any questions or need help to complete the form.
For further information about admissions and finance telephone 01922 657005, email admissionsandfinance@walsallcollege.ac.uk or visit www.gov.uk.
Independent financial advice is available at  www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk
Your Local Authority may have information about funding available to help with the costs of adult education.

The amount you will get depends on:

• the type of course you take
• how much the fees are for the course
• the minimum loan you can get is £300.

Courses at Level 3 or above qualify (such as a Certificate/Diploma).

To get a loan you must be:

• 19 or older on the first day you start your course and the start day of your course must be on or after the 1st August 2022 (there’s no upper age limit)
• living in the UK on the first day of your course, and have lived in the UK, the Channel islands or the Isle of Man for 3 years immediately before the start date of the course
• Studying at this College or a training organisation in England approved for public funding.

If you are aged 19 – 23 and do not already have a full Level 3 qualification, you will be entitled to receive free tuition and won’t need to apply for an Advanced Learner Loan. If you are aged 19 – 23 and already have a full Level 3 qualification, you can apply for an Advanced Learner Loan.

You can apply for more than one Advanced Learning Loan (up to 4 in total), You can also receive a loan for courses of the same level and type (e.g. Level 3 Diploma in Hair and Level 3 Diploma in Barbering). You’ll be able to take out further loans to complete different types or levels of eligible courses.

You can apply for apply for an Advanced Learner Loan here. You will be able to request the course code from our student finance team from May for courses starting from 1st September 2022.

You will need a National Insurance number before any money can be paid and should have this available to enter on your loan application form. You need your passport details or another form of identity to apply – e.g. your birth certificate.

You pay back your loan (plus interest) when you have finished your course and start earning more than £25,000 a year. If your income drops below this amount your repayment will stop. Each month you pay back 9% of any income over £25,000.

If you leave or change your course after 2 weeks you will have to pay back any money that has been paid to the College.

If you get a loan to cover tuition fees for an Access to HE course (e.g. a course that will prepare you for Higher Education) and then successfully complete a higher education course, you will not have to repay the remaining loan for the Access course.

For more details about Advanced Learning Loans contact the Student Support or Advice and Guidance Teams on 01922 657000.

The Advanced Learner Loans Bursary Fund is used to help Walsall College students, in receipt of an Advanced Learner Loan, who may be experiencing financial difficulty to complete their course, in particular those with learning difficulties or disabilities, those with parental responsibilities and ex-military personnel. While we recognise that students face financial pressures, the funding you are applying for comes from a government fund and is public money. It is not a right. The College has a duty to ensure that the funds are awarded fairly and to students most in need.

- You must have had an Advanced Learner Loan approved by the Student Loans Company for your tuition fee. You will need to provide evidence of this. - You must be enrolled to a course of 6 hours or more at level 3 (or above). - Your gross income must be within the following income threshold limits for the Fund. Joint income if living with spouse/partner OR single applicant living independently - Up to £30,000 Single applicants living with parents or guardian - Up to £10,000

Apply online through the Online Bursary Applications System

We aim to process applications within 10 working days. You will receive an award notification letter which will indicate your award and how this will be provided. No payments will be made to you until you are fully enrolled to your course. If your application is not successful you will be notified by letter. You will then need to decide if you are able to enrol on your course without financial support from the Fund.

You have the right to appeal if your application is refused. You must submit your appeal, in writing, within 10 working days of receipt of your refusal letter. You will be required to submit additional information to support your appeal. Further information and advice is available from the Student Support Team at the Student Services Desk. Telephone 01922 657005 and ask for the Student Support Team Email: admissionsandfinance@walsallcollege.ac.uk

Independent financial advice is available at www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk

Student Finance England offer means tested loans/grants for Higher Education, so they may be able to offer HE students some money towards their course.

Once students have applied for courses through UCAS, it is important that they begin to complete their application for student finance. Applicants can do this via the link: www.gov.uk/studentfinance

It is really important that applicants apply for funding as soon as possible in order to ensure their funding is in place. It can take at least six weeks to process applications. Applicants don’t need a confirmed place and can use their preferred course and change the details later.

For students who live elsewhere in the UK further information about financial support can be found on the following government websites:

• Northern Ireland: www.studentfinanceni.co.uk
• Scotland: www.saas.gov.uk
• Wales: www.studentfinancewales.co.uk

Walsall College does not make provision directly for International Students.

With high levels of local and regional deprivation, the College recognises often an acute need for financial support which enables students to fully access and participate in their studies. Additional financial support has been directly linked to improved retention of students who had been flagged as at risk of achieving, helping to reduce the gaps in access, success and progression.

The HE Bursary of £800 per academic year is automatically granted to the HE students who are eligible for it. This is classified as a bursary, and is managed differently and separately to the Financial Hardship Fund. Students are assessed for the HE Bursary based on their household income. In 2019/20 we amended the household income limit from £24,000 to £30,000, following the Government increases in the National Minimum Wage. Applicants to our HE provision are encouraged to apply for the HE Bursary at the point of enrolment and are supported in doing so on an individual basis. Evidence of household income is assessed as part of the bursary application process and if evidence meets the criteria, the bursary is given automatically.

The Financial Hardship Fund is not automatically granted, as this is only made available to students who can demonstrate they are experiencing severe financial difficulty. The College also offer ‘in-kind’ services such as through reduced on-site gym membership and free breakfasts and subsidised place at the College nursery (Childcare Bursary), subject to availability.

All bursaries and hardship funds are reviewed annually in accordance with the College’s Bursary and Free Meals Policy and Procedure.

Those HE students who may be eligible for The Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) are supported in their application by the College’s Inclusive Support Department.

HE students will be potentially eligible to receive support from the Bursary award, only once your higher education loan has been approved by the Student Loans Company for your tuition fee. You will need to provide evidence of this. Payments will be made on a termly basis. Payment 1: £300, Payment 2: £350, Payment 3: £150 (Total £800). Part time courses will be eligible for 50% of this amount.

Childcare is not available through the bursary; however, you can get additional funding for this through your higher education loan.

Apply online through the Online Bursary Applications System

If you require any support with your application for funding please contact our Admissions and Finance Team in the atrium. Alternatively, please give us a call on 01922 657000 and ask to speak to a member of the team.

Higher Education students with a support need can apply for Disabled Students Allowance (DSA) using the following link -  https://www.gov.uk/disabled-students-allowances-dsas/overview

Those HE students who may be eligible for The Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) are supported in their application by the College’s Inclusive Support Department.

The support provided is determined by an external assessor and outlined in the students individual access report. 

HE Course Level Information

Please search course level information on our Higher Education course information pages

The Office for Students is an independent regulator of fair access to higher education in England. An access agreement sets out a university or college’s fee limits and the access measures it intends to put in place e.g. outreach work and financial support.

The Access and Participation Plans for Walsall College cover all full time Home & EU students admitted in the academic year. The College’s Mission and Strategic Plan outlines a clear commitment to widening and increasing participation in Higher Education, regardless of any potential barriers associated with previous experience, background or any other factors.

Click here to view the Access and Participation Plan 2020/21 to 2024/25 for Walsall College
Click here to view Condition C3 of the Student Protection Plan