Registration and tuition fees

Aged under 19

If you are under 19 on the 31st August prior to the start of your course, then your tuition and registration fees will normally be free.

Aged 19+

When you are 19 or over on 31 August prior to the start of your course, you become liable for tuition, registration and exam fees. However, you may not actually have to pay fees as your course may be fully funded.  Eligibility for a fee waiver will be determined by our Enrolment Team at the time of your enrolment.

If you are a home fees student, studying a government funded course, e.g. GCSEs, ESOL, Diplomas, Certificates, up to and including Level 3 you may be able to get your course free if you are in one of these groups:

1. You are employed and:

• Your own earned income is less than £25,000 per year (not including your partner's income)

2. You are unemployed and one or more of the following apply to you:

• • Receive Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), including those receiving National Insurance credits only
  • Receive Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
  • Receive Universal Credit, and take home pay is less than £892 a month (for a single claimant) or £1437 a month (for joint claimants)
  • Are released on temporary licence, and not funded by the Ministry of Justice.
  • Not receiving any benefits, want to be employed, and you are applying for a course that is directly relevant to your employment prospects and the local labour market needs

3. You may also be fully funded if:

• You receive another state benefit (not included in the list above) and your take home pay is less than £892 a month (single claimant) or £1437 a month (joint claim), and you wish to progress to more sustainable employment

4. You fall into one of the below groups:

• You are aged 19-23 and studying at Entry or Level 1 in order to progress to a full Level 2 qualification, and you do not already hold a full Level 2 qualification
• You are aged 19-23 and studying for your first, full Level 2 qualification
• You are aged 19-23 years and studying for your first, full Level 3 qualification
• You are 19-24 and subject to an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP)
• You are 16-24 on a traineeship and do not have a full Level 3 qualification
• You are 19 or over and studying GCSE maths or English (or functional skills English or maths from Entry to Level 2) and you do not already  have a pass grade (A*-C or 9-4)

Advanced Learner Loan

There may be a tuition fee loan available to you if you are 19 and over and wish to study at Level 3 or above.

The system operates in a similar way to Higher Education student loans. Repayments are due after the course is completed and you are earning £25,000 or over (For new students starting in 2023). 

You can apply online via Student Finance England once you have received a learning and funding information letter from the college. The letter contains course reference numbers/tuition fee amounts and other information needed to make the application. 

If you study on an Access to Higher Education course and go on to complete a higher education course then the balance of your Advanced Learner Loan will be waived.

Find out more 

If you are unsure whether you will need to pay fees, please contact Hannah on 01603 773797 or email financialadvice@ccn.ac.uk. 

Bursaries and other financial support

16-19 Bursary Fund

You may be eligible for financial support from the 16-19 Bursary Fund if you are under 19 when you start your course, and your net household income is less than £40,000. For families with multiple siblings, the threshold will be increased by £1000 per additional child, up to a maximum of £48,000 per year.

The aim of the fund is to help cover some of the financial costs of coming to college such as travel, equipment, food allowance and essential study trips.

Vulnerable Young Person's Bursary

If you are under 19 and in one of the following categories, and you have a financial need, you may be eligible for up to £1200. These groups of students are unlikely to be receiving financial assistance from parents or carers.  We will assess the student’s financial need to enable them to participate in learning, e.g. travel costs, study trips, lunches, equipment costs etc.  If these costs are met from other sources of support, then we may not be able to award any money.  

• in care*
• a care leaver*
• estranged from your parents and receiving Income Support/Universal Credit in your own right
• receiving both Disability Living Allowance/Personal Independence Payment and Employment Support Allowance (or Universal Credit if it replaces DLA/PIP and ESA.)

* you may be a classed as 'in care' or 'a care leaver' if you are or have been looked after by the local authority under section 20 or 31 of the Children act 1989

Advanced Learner Loan Bursary

This hardship fund is designed to help Advanced Learner Loan students with costs, such as travel, equipment and childcare.

If you are single and have a net household income of less than £19,360, you will be eligible to apply for the college bursary. If you are married or live with a partner, you will be eligible if your combined income is below £25,120.

Proof of eligibility for the Advanced Learner Loan and details of household income will be required. 

Free college meals

You will be eligible for free college meals if you are aged 16-19 or 19-24 with an EHCP, are studying on a further education course and you/your parents are in receipt of:

• Income Support
• Income Based Job Seekers Allowance
• Universal Credit with income under £7,400 pa
• Income Related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Guaranteed Element of State Pension Credit
• Child Tax Credit (not Working Tax Credit) with an annual gross income of no more than £16,190
• Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999

If you are eligible for the scheme you will receive £5.00 for each day that you attend college.

You can apply for a bursary or free college meals here. 

Help with accommodation costs

We can help with some residential costs depending on your circumstances.

The residential bursary fund is for 16 to 18 year olds who are studying on full time land-based courses, or sports excellence rugby and golf, and helps towards the cost of your on-site accommodation.

The land based course must not be available locally to your home and/or you must be required to attend at unsociable hours on a regular basis.

Applications for Further Education students can be made on our bursary online system.

Help with childcare

Help with the cost of childcare may be available depending on your age and your household income.

• If you are 19 or under, you can apply to the Care to Learn scheme. Please see the Care to Learn website for more information.
• If you are 20 or over and on a low income, then you may be eligible for help from the 19+ Bursary.

Benefits

Please note that studying full-time can affect your benefits.

The regulations governing students and benefits are complicated, so please seek advice from Job Centre Plus, Citizens Advice or MAP Youth Services.

If you are under 20 and a Further Education student studying over 12 hours per week your parents may be able to claim Child Benefit, Child Tax Credit or the child element of Universal Credit.

Find out more 

Non-government support for Students on Land based courses

Other organisations kindly provide funding for students on Agricultural/Land based courses.

Their application criteria differ to government funded bursaries. You can apply direct to these funds, or we may suggest you apply to them, contact Jordan Duggie on 01603 773063 or jordan.duggie@ccn.ac.uk.

Student travel

You can find out more information about travel options to Easton College here.  

Travel Assistance from Norfolk County Council

If you are a Norfolk resident, you may be eligible for assistance if you are:

• aged under 19,
• studying at least 14 hours per week
• living more than three miles from the college (and travelling on a core route for Easton College)

From September 2023, a yearly contribution of either £594 or £444 will be expected depending on household income. This contribution can be paid in termly or half-termly instalments.

If you are aged 19-25 and have an EHCP (Education Health Care Plan) you may also be eligible for a free travel pass.

Find more details of Norfolk's subsidised post-16 travel scheme here or call 0344 800 8020

Travel Assistance from Suffolk County Council

Find more details of Suffolk's subsidised post-16 travel scheme here or call 0345 606 6173. 

Contact the Finance Adviser

For more information about any of the above, please contact Jordan, Rachel or Mantas on 01603 773322 or email financialadvice@ccn.ac.uk.