Course fees and financial help

You might be entitled to a reduced course fee or financial help, depending on your personal circumstances.

If you are unemployed or your individual income is less than £31,772 and your course leads to a qualification, you could be entitled to financial help. We can support you with the cost of:

  • Travel to and from your classes – bus/train/taxi fares or petrol and parking
  • Course materials such as books, pens, folders etc.
  • Childcare while you learn, even if your course is online
  • Course fees if you can’t get your course for free

Advanced Learner Loans

If you are aged 19 or over, you can apply for an Advanced Learner Loan to pay for some of our courses at Level 3 or 4.

An Advanced Learner Loan isn't like other loans because:

  • It doesn't depend on your income
  • It doesn't have to be paid back until you earn more than £27,295
  • Repayments are linked to how much you earn, not how much you borrow
  • It won't affect your credit rating
  • Your current credit rating doesn't affect the application

Find out more about Advanced Learner Loans and how to apply

Check if you are eligible for support

Use our online checker to see what financial support you could be eligible for.

Check if you're eligible

Contact us

For advice or more information, call 0344 800 8020 (option 5), or email adultlearning@norfolk.gov.uk to speak to one of our friendly Learner Services team.

Frequently asked questions

We’ll need to check the course you’re enrolling on, your age and your income.

You may be entitled to a free or reduced cost place if you’re working and earning less than £20,319 annual gross salary, or are actively looking for work and are receiving benefits including: 

  • Job seeker’s allowance (JSA)
  • Employment support allowance (ESA)
  • Universal Credit/Working tax credit with income of less than £18,000
  • Income support
  • Housing Benefit
  • Pension guarantee credit
  • Carer’s allowance
  • Council tax reduction

In some cases you must be actively looking for employment.

You will need to provide evidence of any current benefits or credit statements you receive within 3 months of the start date of your course or a current employment contact which states gross monthly/annual wages. Other terms and conditions also apply. 

Yes some of our courses are free. To be eligible for a free place on some courses will depend on your personal circumstances:

  • English and maths courses are free if you have not already achieved GCSE grade C/4 or Level2 in Functional Skills in that subject. We offer Functional Skills English or maths from Entry to Level 2 
  • If you are studying for a level 2 course and are aged between 19-23 and this is your first full level 2 qualification (depending on the subject you study)
  • If you are studying for a level 3 course and are aged between 19-23 and this is your first full Level 3 
  • If you are working and earning less than £20,319 annual gross salary, or if you are receiving benefits

Other terms and conditions also apply. If on receiving your learner agreement, we see that you are/are not eligible for a free place our Learner Experience team will be in contact with you.

Class Cancellations

We reserve the right to cancel courses that fail to recruit minimum numbers. If this becomes necessary, we will contact you by post, telephone, email or text. Please let us know if your contact details change.

Course Refunds

It is not the policy of Norfolk County Council to refund fees automatically when a change in circumstances prevents or discourages a learner from continuing with a particular class.

Read our course fees policy.

You might have additional costs to pay.

Call us on 0344 800 8020 option 5 or email adultlearning@norfolk.gov.uk for advice.