College Fees

There is a range of funding available for students who need a little extra help during their studies, from help with childcare costs to support for accommodation costs.

After applying for your course, you can apply for funding as part of your registration process. We will ask about your household income – including all forms of benefits except Disability Living Allowance, PIP or Child Benefit – and ask you to supply supporting documents such as P60s, wage slips, tax credit notices or self-assessment accounts.

For further information please see below or contact our Student Funding team on studentfunding@sparsholt.ac.uk or 01962 797267


  • Updated for the 2023/24 Academic Year 

    There are no course fees for anyone enrolling at the College on a full-time course, if they are a UK resident (to check residency refer to information on non-UK residents) and under 19 on 31/8/23*

    Anyone aged 19 or over or who is not a UK resident (to check residency refer to information on non-UK residents) or living in a Devolved Funding Area (to check your area and/or postcode refer to information on Devolved Funding Areas) will usually need to pay for their tuition, exam and registration fees though they may be eligible for tuition fee remission^ depending on:

    • the course they enrol on
    • the qualifications they already have
    • if they are in receipt of certain state benefits

    To find out more contact our Admissions team on 01962 797213/797445 or

    e-mail courses@sparsholt.ac.uk.  For courses in our 23/24 Part-time Guide, please check the Fee codes listed – these are also on the Part-time course pages on our website.

    For information on International Fees and Funding, please visit our International page here.

    *for courses in our 23/24 Part-time Guide, learners aged 16–18 on 31/8/23 and who are eligible to enrol on a course should contact Admissions to ask about fees

    ^If applicable, all fee remission is subject to availability of Government funding at the start date of a course and eligibility criteria.

    All fees quoted on our website and in our PT Guide, are correct at the time of print and may be subject to change.

     

    Updated: 31/5/23 JB

  • Updated for the 2023/24 Academic Year 

    From 1 August 2021, EU, other EEA and Swiss nationals and their family members who are not covered by the Withdrawal Agreements** are no longer eligible for home fee status, undergraduate and postgraduate financial support and advanced learner loans from Student Finance England***

    EU, other EEA and Swiss nationals, and their family members who are covered by the Withdrawal Agreements continue to have access to home fee status and student financial support on broadly the same basis as before. Generally this covers those who:

    • were living in the UK prior to 31 December 2020^ having exercised a right to reside under EU law, the EEA Agreement or the Free Movement of Persons Agreement, and;
    • continue to live in the UK after 31 December 2020.

    Such persons will generally have applied for pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) before 30 June 2021, and evidence of this will be required before enrolling.

    **These eligibility changes do not apply to Irish citizens living in the UK or Ireland whose right to study and to access benefits and services is preserved on a reciprocal basis for British and Irish citizens under the Common Travel Area arrangement.

    ***If you are a non-UK resident and want to apply for an Advanced Learning Loan – you might find this information useful:

    Student finance: how you’re assessed and paid 2023 to 2024 – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

    ^those aged 19+ at the start of the course, will need to have pre-settled or settled status and lived continuously in the EEA, Gibraltar or UK for at least the previous 3 years on the first day of learning

    Ukrainian Visa Schemes

    All Ukrainian adults and their family members supported through the Ukraine Family Scheme and Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme are immediately eligible for FE 19+ funding and are exempt from the 3-year residency requirement as per the current AEB Funding Rules.

    Updated: 30/5/23 JB

  • Devolved Funding Areas

    Updated for the 23/24 Academic Year 

    Due to the devolution of adult education funding, we are unable to fund learners from postcodes that are within the mayoral combined authorities (MCA’s) and the Greater London Authority (GLA) listed below.  Use this URL to check your postcode:

    Last updated 28/4/23

    Devolved Area Funding – check postcode

    If you are having difficulty working out if you live in a devolved funding area, please contact Admissions on courses@sparsholt.ac.uk or inforegandover@sparsholt.ac.uk

    If your postcode is in the list so in one of the devolved areas, and you wish to enrol on a course that has a fee code of A, B, C, F, I, K, L, M, please contact us for information on tuition fees either courses@sparsholt.ac.uk or inforegandover@sparsholt.ac.uk

    These are the Mayoral Combined Authorities and Greater London Authority; they are responsible for administering their own funding.

    Map of the mayoral combined authorities (Greater London is not a ‘combined authority’, but is included here for completeness) where existing and ‘promised’ deals are located. Devolution Map | DevoConnect


    The following devolved areas are responsible for administering their own funding.

     

    Cambridge and Peterborough

    Greater London

    Greater Manchester

    Liverpool City Region

    North of Tyne Combined Authority

    North East

    South Yorkshire

    Tees Valley

    West Midlands

    West Yorkshire

    West of England

     

    Updated:  30/5/23 (JB)

     

  • Students are invoiced for all fees at enrolment and will be expected to settle the payment immediately unless prior arrangements have been made to pay by installment. We offer an interest free instalment plan over a ten-month period. Our Finance Team will be happy to assist students in financial difficulties to negotiate payment plans – call 01962 797597.

    All prospective students are sent up-to-date fee information once the details are finalised. In the event of new regulations affecting course fees, applicants will be appropriately informed.

    If you are experiencing financial difficulties and considering withdrawing your application as a result, please speak to our Student Admin Team first on 01962 797213/797445 to discuss the options open to you.

    Read our Refund and Cancellation Policy

  • If you’re under 19 on 31 August in the year you start your course and are a UK resident, you’re automatically exempt from tuition fees. If you’re 19 or over you may be exempt from tuition fees if you’re 19–24 and have a learning difficulty (you’ll need to provide your Education, Health and Care Plan, EHCP). You’ll need to fill in an exemption form (SR34) which will automatically be sent to you with your offer letter.

    For entry, Level 1 and 2 courses 

    You may be exempt from tuition fees if:

    • You’re in receipt of Jobseekers’ Allowance (JSA) including receipt of National Insurance credits only
    • You’re in receipt of Employment Support Allowance (ESA) Work Related Activity Group (WRAG)
    • You’re unemployed, in receipt of state benefits other than JSA and ESA (WRAG) and want to enter employment and need skills training
    • You’re in receipt of ‘other’ state benefits and either not employed but want to be employed or employed and earning less than £345 a month and are able to demonstrate that the course you’re applying for is going to help you get a job or improve your current employment situation
    • You’re earning less than £18,525.00 annual gross salary (we will need to see evidence, i.e wage slips that are within 3 months of your course start date)
    • You’re applying for an English and/or Maths course and don’t already have GCSE grade A*–C
    • You’re aged 19–23 with a highest attainment of Level 1 or below and you want to study an entry or Level 1 course in order to progress to a full Level 2 qualification
    • You’re aged 19–23 and applying for your first full Level 2 qualification (for example you don’t already have 5 GCSEs, grades A*–C, Level 2 Certificate or Diploma) For Level 3 courses

    You may be exempt from tuition fees if:

    • You’re aged 19–23 and applying for your first full Level 3 qualification (that is if you don’t already have a Level 3 Certificate, Subsidiary Diploma, Diploma, Extended Diploma, 2 A Levels, 4 AS Levels for example)

    If you are unsure if your prior qualifications are a full Level 2 or Level 3, refer to sparsholt.ac.uk/information/apply

    If you have any further queries, please contact our Student Funding team on 01962 797267 or email studentfunding@sparsholt.ac.uk

  • All full time Sparsholt College students at our main campus are required to pay a small fee of £89 towards the extensive on-site facilities we offer you. Many courses offer free trips to places of interest to enhance your learning experience and the money also covers the cost of minibuses for these trips. Some trips may carry additional costs not covered by the Extra Curricular charge and these will require separate payment.

    This payment contributes towards the many extra-curricular activities offered by the College and is payable by all students, whether paying tuition and examination fees or not. A one-off higher payment of approximately £550 applies to our Outdoor Adventure course due to the nature of their course activities.

  • If you’re 16–18 and in care, a care leaver, or are in receipt of Income Support and support yourself or any dependents financially, or receive both Employment Support Allowance (ESA) and Disability Living Allowance (DLA), you may be eligible for a bursary of up to £1,200 to help you meet the costs of coming to college.

    The link to the application form can be found under the ‘Support to Study Bursary’ section.

    The Sparsholt FE Bursary Policy 23/24 can be found here

  • We provide a discretionary fund for learners that do not meet the criteria for the 16-18 Bursary Fund or are aged over 19.

    If your household income is under £35,000 the College’s Support to Study Bursary may be able to help with the costs of travel, books, equipment or any other cost which may make it difficult for you to attend college. You could receive up to 70% off transport costs, as well as being able to pay the remaining balance on a monthly basis. If your household income is under £28,000 you may be eligible for the transport cost to be fully covered by the fund. The income threshold of £35,000 is increased by £1,650 for each dependent child living in the same house as the bursary applicant.

    Due to changes in funding guidance, students who are continuing their studies in the next academic year (23-24) and have received financial support from the bursary during the previous academic year (22-23), are no longer required to complete a new, full bursary application.

    All you need to do is complete the Declaration Form (which can be reached by clicking the link below), sign the self-declaration (both student and parent/guardian must sign) confirming that your household circumstances have not changed from your application last year, and return the form to us.

    The Sparsholt Bursary Declaration Form for Returning Students can be found here

    The Sparsholt FE Bursary Policy 23/24 can be found here

    The 23/24 Application form can be found here.

    If you need any further assistance please call 01962 797267.

  • The College’s Residential Bursary can help students who need to live on site because they are not on a travel route to reduce their accommodation costs as well as being able to pay the remaining balance on a monthly basis. As a general rule, to qualify you need to be living in or have moved into rented or college accommodation within the locality of the College in order to study here, and to not have similar local provision within 15 miles of your home. For example, if you are a 16 year old and your household income is under £35,000, you could receive a discount of up to £4,000 on accommodation costs – or up to £4,500 if your household income is under £28,000.

    Help towards costs is available if your household income is below £35,000. The income threshold of £35,000 is increased by £1,650 for each dependent child living in the same house as the bursary applicant.

    The link to the application form can be found under the ‘Support to Study Bursary’ section.

    The Sparsholt FE Bursary Policy 23/24 can be found here

    For further information please contact our Student Funding Team on 01962 797267

  • The eligibility criteria for Advanced Learner Loans is being expanded so that they are available to learners aged 19 and over and for study at level 3 to level 6. Visit our Advanced Learner Loans page for full details.

    If you are approved for an Advanced Learner Loan then you can also apply for our 19+ College Bursary Fund. This can be used to help with travel, books, equipment and childcare costs. 

  • Are you under 20 and have a child? You could be eligible for help from the Ofsted-registered Care to Learn Loan Scheme. You can find out more by visiting www.gov.uk/care-to-learn or from the National Careers Service.

    If you are over 20 and your household income is less than £35,000 you may be eligible for childcare support through the College’s Support to Study Funds.

    The on-site Farley outdoor nursery provides a unique day care experience where children are encouraged to spend much of their time outside.

  • If you’re aged 16–18 (or 19–24 and with a Learning Difficulty Assessment and Education, Health and Care Plan) and you or your parents already receive certain benefits, you could also be eligible for free college meals. To check your eligibility and find out more, please visit Hampshire County Council’s website: www.hants.gov.uk/educationandlearning/freeschoolmeals/furthereducation

  • Are you in the Armed Forces and hoping to study a qualification at Level 3 or above? If so you could be eligible for financial support through the Ministry of Defence’s Enhanced Learning Credits Scheme. You can find out more here

  • City and Guilds offer a bursary for all Further Education applicants planning to study on a City and Guilds or ILM (Institute of Leadership and Management) qualification. To apply, you need to be able to demonstrate genuine financial need and be wishing to study in the UK as a current resident. To gain access to the full application, you must first register online via the City and Guilds website, available here

  • For full information on Cancellations and Refunds click here

  • The 16 to 19 tuition fund 2021 to 2022 academic year

    Sparsholt College Group will use Tuition Fund monies to provide students who have not achieved a GCSE Grade 4 or 5 with additional small group tuition in groups of up to 7 individuals focusing upon supporting English, Maths and vocational courses.

    In addition, students identified as at risk of economic disadvantage will be offered a tailored programme of one-to-one support identified in consultation with their progress coach and developed in response to their individual needs.

    Additional support will be captured in learning agreements, timetabled, and registered.