Aged 16-18
You may be eligible for full funding & free course fees if you’re aged 16 to 18 years on 31 August in the calendar year your course starts.
Aged 19 & Over
Level 1 and 2 Qualifications
Low wage earners
Those who are employed and earning less than £25,000 (from 1 August 2024), are eligible to study courses up to level 2 fully funded.
Those who are unemployed
If you are currently unemployed and in receipt of certain means-tested state benefits such as Universal Credit, Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support or Job Seekers Allowance, the Government will fund you to complete any of our funded courses up to and including Level 2.
Free Maths and English
For those wanting to study adult literacy and numeracy and do not have a grade 4 (a grade C) or functional skills in English and Maths level 2 qualification, can study these subjects for free.
First Level 1 or 2
If you are aged 19 to 23, you might be able to study a course at this level for free if you have not studied at this level before.
Level 3 Qualifications
If you are 19 or over and do not already have a level 3 qualification (equivalent to an advanced technical certificate or diploma, or A levels) or higher, you can access a free level 3 qualification as part of the Government’s Lifetime Skills Guarantee. Not all level 3 courses are eligible for funding via the Lifetime Skills Guarantee, but many of our courses are.
Low Wage/Unemployed Entitlement
If you are aged between 19 and 23 and you do not currently hold a full level 3 qualification (and meet residency criteria) you can study a full level 3 course for free.
Level 3 Free Courses for Jobs
The Level 3 Free Courses for Jobs initiative is aimed at those who are unemployed or earning less than £25,000 (with effect from 1 August 2024). Those who fall into this category can study a level 3 course for FREE regardless of their age or previous qualifications.
The National Skills Fund only covers certain courses. Achievement Training offer the following courses under this initiative.
- Diploma for IT Users (ITQ)
- Diploma for Working in the Early Years Sector (Early Years Educator)
- Technical Diploma in Childcare and Education (Early Years Educator)
- Diploma for Residential Childcare (RQF)
- Diploma in Adult Care
Advanced Learner Loans
If you are aged 19+ and want to take a course at level 3 or above (and have previously achieved a course at the same level), you may be able to get help from the Advanced Learner Loan Scheme.
Those wanting to study a government loan funded course (Advanced Learner Loan)
Loan eligibility doesn’t depend on your income and there are no credit checks. You don’t pay anything upfront for your course fees and will not be required to start repaying the loan unless you earn more than the repayment threshold. You can apply for up to 4 loans in total and can get more than one loan at a time providing it is for a course at the same level as your existing loan. If your loan is for an Access to HE programme and you progress and complete HE study, you will not have to pay back your FE loan. You may be eligible for money from the Loan Bursary Fund if you need help with some costs while studying – example: childcare, materials, travel or emergency accommodation related to your course.
To see what you could be entitled to, try the eligibility calculator here.
Repayments
If you start an undergraduate or postgraduate course after 1 August 2023
Repayment plan 5 is a new repayment plan, being introduced for students starting undergraduate and Advanced Learner Loan courses on or after 1 August 2023.
You won’t be expected to make repayments to your plan 5 student loan until April 2026 at the earliest, even if you leave your course early.
You’ll only start making repayments if your income is over the repayment threshold. The repayment threshold for the 2026-27 tax year will be £25,000 a year, £2,083 a month or £480 a week in the UK. If your income falls below the repayment threshold, your repayments will stop and only restart when your income is over the threshold again.
You can also make additional voluntary repayments to SLC at any time.
You’ll repay 9% of your income over the repayment threshold, which is currently £25,000 a year, £2,083 a month or £480 a week in the UK. If your income changes, either rising or falling, your repayment amount will automatically change to reflect this.
Learner Support can help pay for things you need to attend your course or study that are not covered by your course fees.
To be eligible Learner Support students must be:
- 19 or over (in the calendar year your course starts).
- Studying for a qualification at level 3 or below
- In financial hardship – you’ll need to provide evidence of any benefits / low income.
You must be 20 or over to get funding for childcare costs. If you’re 19 and want help with childcare costs, you can apply for Care to Learn instead. You can still apply for Learner Support for help with other costs, like travel.
*Please note, the courses eligible for students to use their free entitlements are specific and published by the Government on a regular basis. These lists can also be subject to change.
Term time only. The term starts in September and finishes in July.
Bursary Fund
You may also be eligible for money from the Loan Bursary Fund if you need help with some costs while studying, e.g childcare, travel or trips related to your course. You apply to your training provider directly for the Bursary Fund. You can apply as soon as you’ve received a letter confirming your Advanced Learner Loan has been approved.
For more information visit: Advanced-learner-loan
Or call on 01752 301407
When you have selected the course you would like to enrol on, the course tutor will help you to apply for the loan through the finance department at ATL. It is very straight forward, you will need to know the start date of the course, the title and the cost, but we will help you every step of the way.
Student loans: a guide to terms and conditions 2024 to 2025