Student Finance

Student loans are available to cover the costs of more than degree study. It may seem like a lot of money, but when you land that high flyer job, you’ll probably not notice the repayments.

If you are 24 or over, or if you are 19-23 and already have a Level 3 qualification (e.g. A Levels) you can apply for an Advanced Learner Loan to fund your Level 3 or Level 4 course.

Advanced Learner Loans were introduced by the Government to help you pay for your tuition fees. You will only repay your loan when you are earning more than £25,000 a year.

The terms are designed to be attractive to students:

• Available to anyone aged 19 and over, studying at Level 3, 4, 5 or 6*
• Nothing to pay back until you earn more than £25,000 per year
• No credit checks
• Household income is not taken into account
• Borrow up to the full cost of the course

Special terms for Access to Higher Education courses

If you are studying an Access to Higher Education Diploma, Student Finance England will ‘write off’ any outstanding Advanced Learner Loan balances taken out to pay for an Access course once you complete a higher education course. So you do not have to repay your Access course loan.

To qualify for this ‘write off’ you must have fully completed both courses. The Higher Education course must be eligible for funding by Student Finance England, although it is not compulsory to take out a loan.

Further information

It's important you consider your circumstances and look into all options for paying for your course before choosing to take out a loan. You can get impartial money advice from the Money Advice Service.

Courses that are eligible for an Advanced Learner Loan are dependent upon Government legislation and are therefore subject to change.  We will discuss eligibility at the time of enrolment.

Study is hard enough without struggling to pay for things you need for your course - safety clothing, the cost of getting here, even finding someone to look after your children. Fees aside there are all sorts of other costs you might have to meet in your course. Some courses require PPE (safety clothing), and other materials.

For new and continuing students, you can now apply for financial support (Bursary) for courses starting from September.

Our discretionary fund provides support to learners who are experiencing financial difficulty with meeting the costs of learning.

To be eligible to apply for Financial Support, you must meet these criteria:

• You must be an enrolled student as defined by West Suffolk College.
• You must have been resident in the British Isles (or the European Union for purposes other than education) for the last three years.
• Your household income must be below £30k for 16-18 or £30k for 19+ (if your income is higher, you may still be able to apply for funding, depending on your family circumstances.

Financial support is dependant upon Government legislation and is therefore subject to change. Whatever your circumstances, you can always consult us before applying for any course.

Apply for Financial Support (Bursary)

16-18 Financial Support (Bursary)

How to make an application for financial support

This How To Guide has been recorded for April 2024 and supports students who are joining the College this September.

19+ Financial Support (Bursary)

Aside from tuition fees, there are often costs for materials or equipment, transport or childcare when returning to study as an adult.  There is support available depending on your household income. 

Our financial support (bursary) for those aged 19+ is available to help eligible students who are enrolled on a government-funded or advanced learner loan-funded course and are from a low income household. 

If your household income is less than £30,000, you may be eligible for support with a range of study costs including kit, equipment, travel, childcare and lunches. 

It's paid every four weeks and is related to your attendance at college. Travel costs up to £1200 per year and childcare costs up to £35 per day all help a return to study without financial hardship. 

Students in receipt of benefits may also qualify for lunch allowance on the days that you attend your classes.

For help and advice contact our student finance team on 01284 716 319 or visit our Student Hub at the University and Professional Development Centre.

Advanced Learner Loan

You can also apply for an Advanced Learner Loan to help with the costs of a course.

Encouraging Self-Help By Giving Students The Opportunity To Widen Their Horizons