Courses

Fees

Full-time Course Fees

All full-time students at the College are required to pay a non-refundable administration fee. The administration fee covers a number of administration services including the issue of the Library Card, Student Identity Card, Bus Pass (if appropriate), the processing of examination entries and access to all computer facilities etc. The fee must be paid during enrolment.

Students who have enrolled on full-time courses are not required to pay tuition or examination fees for the main course on which they have enrolled. If you wish to enter examinations outside this programme of study however, you may need to pay additional fees. It is advisable that you check beforehand whether you will need to pay examination fees, as they can be a considerable sum.

Students on full-time courses may be able to apply for funding to help with the cost of learning. To find out more visit our Learner Services section.

Part-time Course Fees

Part-time courses listed on the website and in the prospectus include the appropriate course fee to be paid at the time of enrolment. The fee that is indicated includes an administration fee that every student enrolling for a course MUST pay in order to be registered as a student at the College. On payment of the administration fee, all students will be issued with a College Identity Card, entitling the student to benefit from College facilities.

Students on part-time courses may be able to apply for funding to help with the cost of learning. To find out more visit our Learner Services section.

Eligibility for Reduced Fees

Students in receipt of state benefits or on a low household income may qualify for a reduction in course fees at the rate indicated for each course. When claiming reduced fees, students must complete and return a NPTC 36 Form and produce proof of benefits/income. Forms are obtainable from the Finance Office, Neath campus or by downloading here.

Please note: Students can receive a maximum of two courses per academic year at the reduced fee rate.

Examination and Registration Fees

Part-time students are required to pay registration/examination/assessment fees where appropriate. For courses that attract additional fees, these are included in the total fee payable and must be paid at the time of enrolment.

Please note: Students who have qualified for reduced fees will be exempt from paying the first £25 of these fees where the reduced fee is £45. Where the reduced fee is £12/£30 in full, the student must pay all examination and registration fees.

Paying by Instalments

An instalment plan is available to any student where the course fee is in excess of £100. One third of the payment MUST be paid at enrolment, along with registration and examination fees. Please note that there is a £10 administration charge for this service payable with the first instalment. The remaining two instalments will be invoiced at the beginning of December and February.

Refunding Fees

Should the College cancel or move a class to a different day/time/venue, and this is unacceptable to the student, the course fees, along with any other fees paid will be refunded.

Students wishing to withdraw from a course can only claim a refund under special circumstances. The £40 administration fee will be deducted from any refund due.

Those in receipt of reduced course fees would not be entitled to a refund on course fees. Any examination/registration fees not already paid to the awarding bodies however, would be refunded.

For further information on refunding fees, please refer to the College's Fees Policy.

Non-payment of Fees

If fees are not paid, the College will need to take necessary steps to recover the outstanding amount, which may lead to debt recovery action. In the event of the third party (e.g. employer, failing to pay), the student will become liable for the cost of the course.

Higher Education (HE) Course Fees

Tuition Fees

Students undertaking full-time HE courses are required to pay course fees. You may, if you wish, take out a tuition fee loan, which is repayable only after graduation and once you are earning more than £15,000 per annum.

Student Loans

All students in full-time higher education are eligible for a loan, which is determined by your household income. You will begin to repay your loan in the April after you have finished or left your course, and the amount you pay will be linked to your income.

Awards and Grants

Assembly Learning Grant (ALGHE) - This grant is available to help with the cost of HE and is assessed on income. You do not have to repay this grant. For those on the lowest household income, this may be as much as £2,835 per year.

Financial Contingency Fund (Student Support Fund) - Application forms and advice are available from Learner Services. The financial contingency fund provides help for students who may need extra financial support to help complete their course.

Please note: The above apply only to students taking directly funded College courses - for all other HE courses, please contact the partner university.

How to Apply for Financial Support (Full-time Higher Education Courses)

The first step in applying for all types of financial support for full-time courses is to complete the PN1 form, which is available from your Local Education Authority (LEA) or Learner Services. This should be completed and returned together with all supporting documentation to your LEA as soon as possible. This will ensure you receive notification about your assessment as soon as possible and that your financial support is in place before your course starts. Do not wait for your place at College to be confirmed - fill in and return the PN1 without delay, contact Learner Services with any queries you have.

How to Apply for Financial Support (Part-time Higher Education Courses)

Financial support for part-time students is available from several sources and may include help with course fees and costs. Eligibility is dependent on your individual personal circumstances and financial status. To find out more about your entitlement, please contact Learner Services for an appointment.

Other Financial Support

In certain circumstances, extra help is available, for example:

• If you have children
• If you have adult dependants
• If you have a disability
• If you have a specific learning difficulty

Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA)

The DSA is available for full- and part-time Higher Education students with disabilities. The allowance can be used to help with the extra costs you may have as a result of attending your course and as a direct result of your disability. This allowance is available in addition to other forms of financial support and is not repayable. As with all student finance, you must apply for the DSA through your LEA, who will assess your support needs individually. A guide entitled 'Bridging the Gap' provides more detailed information, and is available from Learner Services or your LEA. If you would like further information on this or any other area of student finance, you can contact Learner Services.

If you would like further information on this or any other area of student finance, you can contact Learner Services on 01639 648404 (Neath Campus) or 01639 648504 (Afan Campus)