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Funding your future

Funding your Future

Government funded courses

The UK government offers funding options for many adults and adult learning courses.  To find out which courses are available for funding, please see the list at the bottom of this page.  You can also check on the individual course page, where it will say ‘funding options available‘, next to the fees section for relevant courses.

Below is an explanation of the different funding options available, so that you can see what you are eligible for and how to take up these funding options.

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a line of learners smiling in an adult learning leisure course

Free Essential Skills

Free Essential Skills courses are: GCSE English and Maths, ESOL and Essential Digital Skills.

You will be fully funded if:

  • you do not already hold a grade c/4 or above at GCSE
  • You have not already completed an ESOL course and/or Essential Digital Skills course

If you are earning less than £35k

Your course could be fully funded. You will need to provide evidence of income

If you are earning more than £35k and aged 19-23

If you do not already hold a full Level 2 or Level 3 qualification, your course could be fully funded.

If you do already hold a full Level 2 or Level 3 qualification:

For Level 2 you will pay the fee advertised

For Level 3 you will be able to apply for an Advanced Leaner Loan

If you are earning more than £35k and aged 24+

For Level 2 you will pay the fee advertised

For Level 3 you will be able to apply for an Advanced Leaner Loan

Please see a full list of fully funded courses here.

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Please see a full list of fully funded courses here.

How to access funded courses

If you think you fall into one of the categories above, we offer a range of courses that are funded by the Government, meaning you would pay nothing. Applying for this funding is done when enrolling on your chosen programme.

It is important to remember evidence is required at enrolment to show you are eligible. When criteria require you not to hold a given qualification, evidence does not need to be provided, but a self-declaration will need to be signed to confirm you do not hold the qualification.

Adult Learning Bursary

The College may be able to offer financial support with course related costs to students who are experiencing hardship. If your household income is £50,000 or below, financial support can be available to allow you to continue with your learning. This bursary can reimburse you fully for costs such as:

  • Childcare costs
  • Travel to and from the College to study
  • Resources required for study including equipment, membership fees and stationery
Find out more
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two adult learners in class, one looking down and one looking up

Non-funded courses

If you are wishing to apply for one of our courses that is not eligible for funding, you will need to pay the full fee listed on the website. 

The balance will be due at the time of enrolment. All fees are payable on enrolment. However, for accredited courses costing over £150 an instalment plan may be offered if you are enrolling at one of our receptions. The instalment plan requires a 50% deposit at enrolment followed by two direct debit payments of 25% each in the following two months.

Fees are paid annually for courses lasting more than one year.

There may be some additional items that you will need to bring to a course. This will be stated on the full course information. If your course costs over £500, we will ask you to pay a deposit to secure your place after our interview.

Course cancellations and refunds

You will get a refund if you have already paid for a course which:

  • We have to cancel
  • We agree with you is not suitable after initial assessment and we cannot offer you an alternative.

We reserve the right to rearrange course dates, times and venues but will make every effort to tell you as soon as possible.

Focus on a male adult learner who is smiling at other learners

Contact us

Contact our Adult Advice Hub now with any questions you might have about Adult Education with with Exeter College. The hub is open 9am-9pm Monday to Thursday and 9am-4pm Friday.

The Hub is open term time for bookable appointments and drop-ins and also offer bookable appointments in the College holidays.

Click here to book an
Appointment Online
Email us at:
adultadvice@exe-coll.ac.uk
Call us at:
01392 400170

Please see a full list of fully funded courses here.

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    • 20 Nov 2024
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    • Digital and Data Centre 12 Mar 2025
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    Open Event – April

    Open Events are the perfect way to find out more about life at Exeter College. Our Open Events are for school leavers, those looking for an Apprenticeship and adult learners interested in professional or degree level courses or leisure courses. Taking place on Wednesday 23 April 2025, 4.00-7.00pm, an Open Event is a chance for anyone interested in joining us to…

    • 23 Apr 2025
    • 16:00 - 19:00
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