Further education fees and funding

Funding your course may be easier than you think. Please check the page of the course you are interested in as fees for some courses/cadet training routes are agreed with the sponsoring company. To see if you qualify for free funding, see the table below:

Are you...	Age?	Wanting to Study...	What will you pay
A school leaver?	16-18	All courses	All courses are FREE
In receipt of the following benefits: Job Seeker’s Allowance (JSA)? Employment Support Allowance (ESA) in the WRAG? Universal Credit? OR Unemployed (or on low wages) and on other benefits and looking to engage with a course that will allow you to seek employment? Must be receiving Universal Credit and earning less than 16 times the National Minimum wage per week (or less than £330 per month) and in one of the following Jobcentre Plus (JCP) groups: All Work Related Requirements Group Work Preparation Group Work Focused Interview Group **Must be earning less than 16 times the National Minimum Wage a week (or less than £330 per month)	19-23	ESOL course Entry Level Level 1 Level 2 Level 3	The majority of courses are FREE*
	24+	ESOL course Entry Level Level 1 Level 2	The majority of courses are FREE*
	24+	Level 3 Level 4 Level 5 Level 6	You are eligible to apply for an Advanced Learner Loan to cover the full cost of course fees
Not in receipt of benefits? Thinking of studying your first entry level or level 1 course?	19+	Entry Level Level 1	Course fees apply
Not in receipt of benefits? Thinking of studying your first level 2 course?	19+	Level 2 (Eligible qualifications)	Majority of courses are FREE*
Not in receipt of benefits? Thinking of studying a level 2 course, having achieved a level 2 qualification?	19+	Level 2 (Eligible qualifications)	Course fees apply
Not in receipt of benefits? Thinking of studying your first level 3 course?	19-23	Level 3 (Eligible qualifications)	The majority of courses are FREE*
	24+	Level 3 (Eligible qualifications)	You are eligible to apply for an Advanced Learner Loan to cover the full cost of course fees
Not in receipt of benefits? Thinking of studying a level 3 course having already achieved a level 3 qualification?	19+	Level 3 (Eligible qualifications)	You are eligible to apply for an Advanced Learner Loan to cover the full cost of course fees
Thinking of studying Basic Maths or English having previously not attained a grade A*-C?	19+	Basic Maths and/or English	All tuition fees are free
Thinking of studying GCSE Maths or English having previously not attained a grade A*-C?	19+	GCSE Maths and/or English	All tuition fees are free
Thinking of studying at degree level?	All ages	Advanced Certificate Advanced Diploma Foundation Degree Honours Degree	Course fees apply (Tuition Fee Loan may be available
Thinking of studying a commercial part time or short course?	All ages	All levels	These courses do not qualify for fee waivers or financial support

Please note: Commercial part-time and short courses that are associated with a cost do not qualify for fee waivers or financial support.

Maintenance Loans for students on Advanced Certificate/Diploma route Cadetships

If you have not previously achieved a relevant Level 3 qualification prior to starting your Advanced Certificate/Diploma programme, you will study FE Level 3 at Phase 1 in your first year. This part of your programme is not eligible for a maintenance loan. However, once you have reached Phase 3 in the second year, and enrol to the Advanced Certificate part of your programme, you may be eligible for a maintenance loan should you wish to apply. Please refer to the Student Finance website for more information https://www.gov.uk/student-finance-register-login

Financial support

Additional financial support is available to help you with practical costs such as travel and childcare. Full details of this support is available on the main Blackpool and The Fylde College website.

Scholarship

There are two Merchant Navy scholarships available to serving seafarers, managed by the Marine Society.

The Slater Fund, managed by the Marine Society with Nautilus International, offers Slater Scholarships of up to £18,500, with an additional discretionary £1,500 for completing the programme.

Any Merchant Navy rating, Electro Technical Officer (ETO), Workboat, Tug or Yacht crew that wish to study for the STCW Officer of the Watch, deck or engine qualifications. Consideration is also given to those who already hold the Class 2 or Class 1 Fishing ticket and are looking to convert to the OOW Unlimited.

Please note the fund does not support those aiming for Chief Mate unlimited, Master of Yachts <3000gt or any Master certificate if you already hold the OOW unlimited.

You can find out more at https://www.marine-society.org/slater-scholarship

The Worcester Scholarship is aimed at officers who wish to take academic qualifications such as a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Maritime Operations or Marine Engineering. In certain circumstances, it can be used for advanced professional qualifications where there is no support available anywhere else or for those who are overqualified for a JW Slater Scholarship.

You can receive up to £1000. The amount awarded depends on what you are studying and the cost. You may also be eligible for an Interest-free loan – please refer to the interest-free loans page.

You can find out more at https://www.marine-society.org/worcester-scholarship