Free and Subsidised Training

See below for information on the fees and funding opportunities at Scarborough TEC.

16-18 fees

Tuition, examination and registration fees are free for all 16-18 year old students on full-time further education courses as these are funded by the Government.

Aged 19 and over Further Education courses

Free Courses and Fee Discounts

Most of our courses are subsidised by Government funding. Any student who falls into one of the categories below will be eligible for FREE or discounted tuition fees.

Improve your English and maths for free

Our students, aged 19 or over at the start of the course do not pay any course fees for GCSE English or maths or Functional Skills in English & maths (excluding Adult Basic Skills Certificates in ESOL) if you do not already have a grade C or above in that subject.

Free courses for 19-23 year olds

If you are aged 19 to 23 (at the start of the course), without a full Level 2 or Level 3 qualification then you can study with us in any of our subject areas for free on the following types of courses:

  • Entry or Level 1 qualifications (excluding basic skills) where a step up from basic skills is needed in order to progress to a first full Level 2 course.
  • First full Level 2 qualifications.
  • First full Level 3 qualifications.

Cheaper courses for those over 24 looking to study a qualification up to and including Level 2

Our students, aged 24 and over who do not have an Entry, Level 1 or Level 2 qualification can get big discounts off their course fees if you meet one of our eligibility criteria, we call this ‘fee waivers’ or if this isn’t you, you may be able to study with our help but you will have to make a contribution to the tuition fee.

English for Speakers of Other Languages

If English isn't your first language you can improve your English skills by studying with us.

Improve your English skills

If you're unemployed and 19 to 23 years old you can study for free.
If you are in work you will pay the full tuition fee
If you are over 24 and unemployed we can provide course fee discounts.

Course fee discounts

You can get a huge 80% discount on course fees if you are on one of the following benefits and not able to have your course fully funded.

Fee waivers

Pension Guarantee Credit
Working Tax Credit
Income Support
Council Tax Benefit ( but not for sole occupancy)
Other disability benefit
Housing Benefit
Contribution related ESA

Easy accessible loans for paying course fees for Level 3 courses

For students aged 19 and over who need to pay Level 3 course fees then the Advance Learning Loan is for you. It’s a national loan scheme that means you can study Level 3 and higher now and pay later so you need not worry about finding the upfront costs of the course.

Courses that do not attract Government support

Some of our courses are not subsidised by Government, these are clearly marked on our website and in our course materials. Whilst these courses need to be paid for in full, they are great value and we always strive to ensure they are affordable. As one of our specialist advisors can advise you on our easy access payment scheme.

Easy Payment Scheme

Don’t worry if you think you might not be able to afford to pay for your course – we have payment plans and will always do our best to get you the help you need to train the way you want.

Students paying tuition fees of between £50 and £100 can split the cost of payments over two instalments with 50% paid upfront. Tuition fees of more than £100 can be paid via direct debit in 3 monthly instalments with 25% paid upfront.

One–to-one help with fees

Understanding course fees, discounts and funding can be difficult, but don’t worry, we are here to help, you can call 0800 315 002, contact us via facebook or email us at [email protected]

Advanced Learning Loans

Find all the information you need to know about the advanced learning loans at Scarborough TEC

What is the Advanced Learning Loan?

The Advanced Learning loan is the government's non-means tested or credit checked helping hand for anyone over 24 years wanting to study for a Level 3 qualification

Learner support

We're here to help you and have a wide range of information, advice and guidance and support services

Committed to supporting all of our learners

At Scarborough TEC we're committed to supporting all of our learners, we therefore provide a number of services on a wide range of personal, social, and academic levels.