Fees

Your course fees, if any, will depend upon your personal circumstances, such as your residential status (home or international), age, and whether you are in receipt of benefits, and then finally on the course itself and how it is funded.

In order to calculate your fees, we assess the information you supply on your application and enrolment forms. In addition, you will be required to provide documentation to verify your status. This may include evidence of your eligibility for benefits or visa/immigration papers, depending on your personal circumstances.

Click here for more information on financial support.

Further Education

Course Fees and Financial Support

Students aged under 19

All Further Education (FE) courses from Entry Level to Level 3 are free of charge to UK residents who are under 19 on 31 August in the academic year they start their course.

Students from outside the UK may also be eligible for funded study if they meet residency requirements, such as holding:

Settled or Pre-Settled Status under the EU Settlement Scheme
Another eligible immigration status that allows access to publicly funded education in the UK

Some courses may require a contribution towards specialist materials or resources.

Financial support for 16–18 learners

If you need extra support, the College’s Learner Support Fund may help with:

Travel
Meals
Equipment
Course materials

You should apply as soon as you have been offered a place.

Students aged 19 and over

If you are aged 19 or over on 31 August in the year you start your course, you may need to pay tuition fees. However, many learners in London qualify for free or reduced-cost courses.

In London, adult education is funded through the Greater London Authority via the Adult Skills Fund, which supports eligible learners to gain new skills and qualifications.

Course fees may include tuition and exam costs. Some courses may also require payment for specialist materials.

Fee concessions and funding

You may be eligible for full or partial fee remission if:

You are studying your first qualification
Many courses are fully funded if you are aged 19+ and studying your first Level 2 or Level 3 qualification through the Adult Skills Fund.
You are unemployed or looking for work
You may not have to pay course fees if you are unemployed and receiving a work-related benefit such as Universal Credit, or if you are actively seeking employment.
You are on a low income
In London, you may be eligible for free or reduced fees if your annual income is below the threshold set by the Greater London Authority (this is typically higher in London than the national threshold).
You receive certain benefits
Learners receiving means-tested benefits may be eligible for fully funded courses, depending on eligibility criteria.
You are an asylum seeker or receiving financial support
You may be eligible for concessionary fees, depending on your residency status and GLA funding rules.

Additional information

Many adult courses in London are fully funded or subsidised through the Adult Skills Fund
You may still need to pay for specialist materials or equipment
Eligibility rules depend on your personal circumstances and the funding available for your course

Higher Education

All students must pay the full fee for HE courses. A student loan facility is available for Higher Education courses. Further information can be found below or at gov.uk/apply-for-student-finance or www.slc.co.uk, along with how to apply, or you may contact the HE Information and Advice team on 020 7258 7221.

Student loans & grants

If you are a UK student planning to study a full-time or part-time higher education course you may be eligible for a tuition fee loan to cover the cost of your course. If you study full-time you may also be eligible to receive a maintenance loan and a grant to assist you with living costs.

These loans do not require repayment until you have finished your course and you are earning more than £25,000 per year, although you can start repaying them sooner if you wish.

Full-time students

Tuition fee loan

The amount paid to the College will be the actual cost of your course for each year of study up to a maximum of £6,165. You can apply online at www.gov.uk/student-finance.

Interest on your student loans

You’re charged interest on your loan from the time the first payment is made to the College until you pay your loan back in full. The amount of interest you’re charged varies. Find out more about repaying your student loan https://www.gov.uk/repaying-your-student-loan.

Maintenance Loan for living costs

The loan is paid directly into your bank account at the start of each term. You have to pay the loan back. Find out more about Maintenance Loans and how to apply https://www.gov.uk/student-finance/new-fulltime-students.

Part-time students

The amount paid to the College will be the actual cost of your course to a maximum of £6,165 per year. Your course needs to be at least 25% of a full-time course to qualify for a loan.

For information about part-time student financing, visit www.gov.uk/student-finance/parttime-students

Short, Commercial & Professional Courses

For commercial and professional courses, you will be required to pay the full course fee. Certain professional courses may be funded, depending on what qualifications you already have or if you are in receipt of work-based benefits.

For more information, please email admissions@ucg.ac.uk

Free Courses for Adults

We offer a wide range of courses for adults looking to gain new skills, progress in their career or move on to higher-level study. Thanks to government funding, many courses are fully funded depending on your age, qualifications and personal circumstances.

Courses that may be free include:

English & Maths (Functional Skills and GCSEs)
Free for adults aged 19+ who do not already hold a GCSE grade 4/C or above in the relevant subject.

ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages)
May be free if you receive certain benefits or meet low-income criteria. London residents earning below the Greater London Authority threshold may qualify for fee remission (eligibility evidence required).

Entry Level, Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 qualifications
You may be eligible for free tuition if you:

Are aged 19–23 and do not already hold a full Level 2 or Level 3 qualification
Are aged 24+ and unemployed
Meet low-wage eligibility criteria

(A full Level 2 is equivalent to five GCSEs at grade 4/C or above. A full Level 3 is equivalent to two A Levels or an Access to HE Diploma.)

Eligibility is subject to funding rules, assessment and evidence at enrolment.