A to Z:

Fees and Financial Support

You may be entitled to a reduction in fees dependant upon your age, whether receiving a means tested benefit or having a low  income. You may also be able to claim support for additional costs associated with an accredited course, subject to you meeting specified criteria and providing proof of eligibility. Please contact your local office for further details.

 

Fees and Payments

A place on a course is not booked until the fee has been paid. If you book over the phone and wish to pay by cheque we will reserve your place for seven days to allow time for your cheque to arrive.

You can also pay by:

  • Debit card or Maestro (Switch) cards
  • Mastercard/Visa (a 1.8% charge will be made for credit card transactions)

In some cases courses can be paid for in instalments. Please contact your local office for details.

The costs of books and other materials are not included in course fees unless otherwise stated.

Help with Course Fees

Minimum Fees

On courses leading to qualifications

Reduced fees are offered on most qualification courses (course codes in A) if learners meet the eligibility criteria.

Learners who receive any of the following benefits can join most qualification courses for an administration fee of £30 (50% is refunded on completion of the qualification)

  • Jobseeker's Allowance (must have a letter stating how much you receive)
  • Housing Benefit
  • Income Support
  • Income Related Employment & Support Allowance
  • Council Tax Benefit
  • Pension guarantee credit
  • Working tax credit where the household income is less than £15,276
  • Offender serving sentence in the community
  • Unwaged dependant of someone claiming one of the above

We will need to see proof of the entitlement dated within the last 3 months.

On courses which do not lead to qualifications

Reduced fees are offered for most courses which have codes ending with N if learners meet the eligibility criteria.

Learners who receive any of the following benefits can join most courses which have codes ending with a letter N with a 50% reduction of the tuition fee element of the course fee

  •  Jobseeker's Allowance (must have a letter stating how much you receive)
  •  Housing Benefit
  •  Income Support
  •  Income Related Employment & Support Allowance
  •  Council Tax Benefit
  •  Pension guarantee credit
  •  Working tax credit where the household income is less than £15,276
  •  Offender serving sentence in the community
  •  Unwaged dependant of someone claiming one of the above where the household income is less than £15,276

We will need to see proof of entitlement, dated within the last 3 months.

  • All applications for reduced fees must be made at the time of enrolment. We will need to see and copy proof of the entitlement
  • To maintain entitlement 50% of the course must be completed including the start and end date, a fee will be applied if these conditions are not met.
  • If you are 60 years of age or over and not in full time employment you may be entitled to a 15% reduction of the tuition fee element of the course fee of courses ending in A or N

Please contact your local office for further details.

Learner Support Fund

If you enrol on an accredited course and would like support with fees and additional costs associated with the course please contact your local office for further details.

Reduced Fees

You may be entitled to a reduced fee (80% of full fee) if the following applies:

  • You are over 60 and do not work for more than 16 hours per week and do not qualify to pay the minimum fee.

If you are entitled to pay the reduced fee you will still be responsible for supplying the books and materials needed for your course and for the registration, assessment and examination fees.

Refund Policy

If you have paid by telephone or post you are legally entitled to a “cooling off” period of seven working days, during which time you may choose to cancel your course enrolment.  Written notification must be received at the BASCL local centre where you enrolled within seven working days of the initial booking.  To request a full refund you should complete a ‘Request for Refund’ form which is available from you local BASCL office.

We may cancel courses if insufficient enrolments have been received or if other circumstances beyond our control arise. In these circumstances we will give you a full refund as quickly as possible. Alternatively you may be offered an amalgamated/alternative course.

In exceptional circumstances and at our discretion a learner withdrawing from a course after this seven-day period may be offered a credit voucher; this will be subject to an administration charge, which is currently £15*. If a request relates to a medical condition it will need to be supported by a medical certificate and will be subject to the £15* administration charge and deductions for any attendance. If a supplement has been included in the original cost this may not be refunded.

There is no obligation for BASCL to refund course fees unless the services you received are unfit for purpose.

*Figure correct as at September 2010.

For further information: email: sparkacl.response@centralbedfordshire.gov.ukor call: 0808 100 3140.