Lifelong Learning Fees, Charges and Refunds

Course fees can be made up of a registration fee, course fees and examination or assessment fees.

Registration fees

A registration fee of £7.40 applies to all of our courses with a qualification. The registration fee is included in the overall course fee. A registration fee does not apply to:

English and Maths Skills for Life
Family Learning
Widening Participation and taster courses

Examination/accreditation fee

Courses with a qualification (accredited courses) also have an examination or accreditation fee. This fee is included in the course fee for the majority of courses. Where there are separate examination charges you will pay for these during the course.

Learners who receive an income based benefit (see Concessionary status) pay £10 towards the cost of the examination/accreditation fee.

If you drop out of your coure and are in receipt of an income based benefit you may be re-charged the full cost if Lifelong Learning has already paid an examination fee on your behalf.

You will not be able to enrol onto any accredited course unless you wish to achieve an award and complete the course. This is a requirement of our external funding agreement with the Skills Funding Agency.

Books and equipment

You may need stationery, textbooks or other materials for some subjects. Please refer to the course information sheet or ask your tutor at your first class before buying any items. You may be able to borrow books from the library.

Concessionary status

Learners who receive the following income based benefits on courses with a qualification pay a £7.40 registration fee and a £10 contribution to the examination fee for each course.

Learners in receipt of income based benefits on most courses without a qualification pay a reduced (concessionary) fee.

If you are in receipt of benefit, proof of this must be shown when you enrol for your course. Please bring original documents as we are unable to accept photocopies.

All our courses are for adults aged 19 years and over.

Benefits that qualify for concessionary course fees are:

Housing Benefit or Council Tax Rebate (excluding single person discount)
Income Support
Job Seekers Allowance (income based)
Working Tax Credit with a household income of less than the designated threshold (£15,276 per annum). Child Tax Credit is not eligible.
Pension Guarantee Credit (Saving Credit only is not eligible).
Unwaged dependant of someone in receipt of the above benefits.
Learners studying for their first full Level 2 qualification will be charge the concessionary rate. You will be asked to complete a self declaration form.
Category D offender

Refunds

Normally we only give a refund if your class closes or if you give advance notice before the course start date that you will not be taking up your place on a course. Other requests for refunds will be considered in exceptional circumstances. There is more information on this in the Policy and Procedure for Refund of Fees.

Although we will do our best to provide our courses and services as published, we may need to alter, postpone or cancel courses or services or any aspects of them without incurring liability. For example, a course may close because of low numbers. We make every effort to find a suitable alternative for you should this happen.

We do not make refunds if you do not attend your class.