Tameside College

Tuition fees are payable by all students. Discounted fees are not available.

If you are a Greater Manchester resident, and meet the unemployed criteria, or are employed where the low wage flexibility applies, (or are aged 19-23 and non GM resident) and don’t already hold a qualification equivalent to 5 GCSEs at grade 4 (C) or above, and you need to study at Entry or Level 1 to progress to Level 2, tuition fees will be waived.

If you are a Greater Manchester resident, and meet the unemployed criteria, or are employed where the low wage flexibility applies, (or aged 19-23 and non GM resident) and don’t already hold a qualification equivalent to 5 GCSEs at grade 4 (C) or above, tuition fees will be waived.

If you are aged 19-23, meet the unemployed criteria, or earn less than £25,000 annual gross salary, and already hold a qualification equivalent to 5 GCSEs at grade 4 (C) or above, tuition fees will be waived.
If you are aged 19-23 and don’t meet the unemployed criteria, and already hold a qualification equivalent to 5 GCSEs at grade 4 (C) or above, tuition fees are payable.
If you are aged 19-23 and do not already hold a qualification equivalent to 5 GCSEs at grade 4 (C) or above, full fees are payable.
If you are aged 24+ and meet the unemployed criteria, or earn less than £25,000 annual gross salary, tuition fees will be waived.
If you are aged 24+ and don’t meet the unemployed criteria, or you earn more than £25,000 annual gross salary, tuition fees are payable.

If you are aged between 19-23 and you don’t have a qualification equivalent to 2 A-Levels, tuition fees will be waived. If aged 19-23, and you do have a qualification equivalent to 2 A-Levels at the start of the course see the section on Advanced Learner loans, or tuition fees are payable. If you are aged over 23 at the start of the course see the section on Advanced Learner loans, or tuition fees are payable.

Tuition fees will be waived if:
(Not in paid employment)
You are unemployed, seeking work and in receipt of a means tested benefit.
Or economically inactive – (GM Residents only). If you are unemployed and seeking work, but are not in receipt of a means tested benefit.

(In paid employment)
You receive a means tested benefit accepted by the college; are working less than 20 hours per week and have an income of £892 per month (individual claims) or £1,437 per month (household claims).
OR,
You earn less than £25,000 annual gross salary
AND the course you are studying will help you find or improve your employment

This also applies to all courses labelled level 1 or 2F.

If you are aged 19+ at the start of the course please refer to the section on Advanced Learner loans.

GCSE maths, GCSE English and functional skills maths and English course fees are free if you haven’t already obtained a grade 4 (C) or above in these subjects.

These courses are available to all adult learners, no matter your employment status, but if you are:
Not in paid employment and receiving a means tested benefit - please bring with you current dated benefit documentation.
In paid employment but with an annual gross salary of less than £25,000 - please bring with you a wage slip dated within 3 months of the start of the course.

These courses are available to all adult learners, no matter your employment status, but if you are:
Not in paid employment and receiving a means tested benefit - please bring with you current dated benefit documentation.
In paid employment but with an annual gross salary of less than £25,000 - please bring with you a wage slip dated within 3 months of the start of the course.
If you are aged 19-23 as well as meeting the benefit criteria you will also need to hold a full level 2 qualification.

If you are 19 and over, undertaking an Entry Level, Level 1 or Level 2 ESOL course, you will be exempt from paying fees if you receive an active benefit (e.g. Universal Credit, ESA, JSA or Child Tax Credit) and are seeking work, or are employed where the low wage flexibility applies.