Funding For Access to Higher Education Courses

There's more than one way to fund your access course!

Credit card - spread the cost over 30 months! If you have a credit card then this is the quickest and easiest way to restart or continue your education - you can purchase your course and get started - no application forms or selection process to worry about. Many students apply for low interest or even interest-free credit cards to fund their education. These days credit card companies are competing for your business and can offer up to 30 months interest-free! We recommend the man off the telly Martin Lewis' website www.moneysavingexpert.com if you want to find the best deals.

BNPL - Buy now pay later is the most popular payment option for our courses. Get started on your course and worry about the fees later. We think it would be a shame if our students were put off changing their lives and their families lives because they were too focused on the money. We'll get you settled onto your course and then work with you to sort the funding later.

Advanced Learner Loans or Individual Learner Accounts are only available to students studying at their local college but are not available to online students currently.

We can assist our students with their University funding - more information can be obtained about this via Student Finance England.

     

    Other forms of funding that some students have obtained:

    Enhanced Learning Credits (ELCs). The MOD's Enhanced Learning Credits Scheme is an initiative to promote lifelong learning amongst members of the Armed Forces. AccessCoursesOnline.com is part of the Cambridge Online Education Group which is an approved learning provider on this scheme (our Provider ID is 4217) and our courses can be found on the ELC database. If you have ELCs and want to use them to study with us, Visit the ELC website - click here.

    Standard Learning Credits (SLC) - Armed Forces Personnel can apply to use the Standard Learning Credits towards the cost of their learning for GCSE and Level 2 Progression Awards. If you want to use Standard learning credits to study with AccessCoursesOnline.com, you must take advice from your local Education Officer to understand the eligibility of using SLC for a course and how to apply. SLC is a refund scheme and operates as an annualised allowance from 1 Apr to 31 Mar and cannot be carried forward from year to year. SLC funds are paid to claimants upon completion of learning and you will be required to provide proof of payment and proof of completion or attendance.

    Student Cash Point offers information on grants, loans, bursaries, scholarships and awards available to students in the UK. Millions of pounds worth of funding is available annualy from the government, charitable trusts and universities. The funding covers course costs, rent, and living expenses. Register today for FREE to see if you can obtain some funding.

    The Queen's Nursing Institute https://www.qni.org.uk/for_nurses/financial_and_personal_assistance/alternative_help
    Financial Assistance for Nurses.

    The British Council www.britishcouncil.org
    The British Council website includes sources of funding for students, teachers, young people and adult learners.

    EGAS - The Educational Grants Advisory Service www.egas-online.org
    EGAS, Family Welfare Association, 501-505 Kingsland Road, London E8 4AU.
    EGAS was set up to help secure funding for students, particularly those who are disadvantaged. It mainly helps students who are "taking their first steps on the educational ladder, regardless of age." They primarily assist students who cannot receive statutory funding, with priority to lone parents, the disabled, refugees, and people from under-privileged backgrounds or in exceptional circumstances. EGAS can advise on possible sources of funding. You will need to send a SAE and in return EGAS will send you an Information Form to complete.

    Lawrence Atwell's Charity (The Skinners' Company) https://www.skinners.org.uk/grants-and-trusts/atwell/
    Atwell is supporting young people from low-income backgrounds; to help them move into work, develop vocational qualifications, and improve their life chances. The charity does this through two main programmes of funding; our Individuals Programme and our Charities Programme.

    The Princes Trust https://www.princes-trust.org.uk/
    If you're trying to get into a job, training or education, but lack the funds, see if you're eligible for a Prince's Trust Development Award.

    Turn2Us https://www.turn2us.org.uk/
    A free service that helps people in financial need to access welfare benefits, charitable grants and other financial help. Online, by phone and face to face through our partner organisations.

    Grants for Individuals.org .uk https://www.grantsforindividuals.org.uk/Default.aspx
    This website contains details of over 3,500 trusts operating both nationally and locally. These trusts collectively have £362 million available each year. Prior to the launch of this website, the content has featured in A Guide to Grants for Individuals in Need and its sister publication The Educational Grants Directory. First published in 1987 and 1988 respectively, they have for many years been seen as the standard reference guide on charitable funds for individuals in need. They have been very popular with Citizens Advice, school/university welfare offices, other welfare organisations, libraries and other reference points. We aim to include all publicly-registered charities which give at least £500 a year to individuals, although most give much more than this. However it costs money to subscribe, we would suggest that you go to your local library and see if you can access it from their web-based resources.

    UKCISA (UK Council for International Student Affairs) www.ukcisa.org.uk
    This website gives help and advice to prospective students from overseas. The site includes details of charitable trusts which give support international students, as well as links to other useful sites, such as the British Council.

    RDInfo www.rdinfo.org.uk
    Produced by Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, this site is a comprehensive digest of health-related research funding and training opportunities. Includes information on charitable trusts as well as other funding bodies and travel awards.

    Charity Commission https://www.charitycommission.gov.uk/find-charities/
    The Charities Register is maintained from information supplied by charities and provides key facts and figures about their work and finances.

     

    Citizens Advice Bureau
    Local Citizens Advice Bureaux provide free, confidential and impartial advice on every subject. They provide advice and information; advocacy and negotiation; and representation. They can help with most debt problems; benefit entitlement; housing and employment issues. You can find the location of your nearest Citizens Advice Bureau from your local library or in your local telephone directory.