Online Learning

• Students in receipt of Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) including NI Contributions only
• Students in receipt of Employment Support Allowance (ESA)
• Students in receipt of Universal Credit whose take-home pay as recorded on their Universal Credit statement (disregarding benefits) is less than £952 a month (learner is sole adult in their benefit claim) or £1534 a month (learner has a joint benefit claim with their partner). This must be evidenced and dated within 3 months of the learning start date.
• The learner wants to be employed and the College is satisfied that the learning directly relates to their employment prospects and the local labour market needs.
• Students who are in receipt of other state benefits not listed above and whose income (disregarding benefits) is less than £952 a month (learner is sole adult in their benefit claim) or £1534 a month (learner has a joint benefit claim with their partner). This must be evidenced and dated within 3 months of the learning start date.
• Students in custody who are released on temporary licence (RoTL) and studying outside a prison environment and not funded through Ministry of Justice
• Students earning less than £25,750 annual gross salary (£2,145 monthly or £495 weekly). This must be evidenced with a wage slip or contract of work dated within 3 months of the learning start date or a current employment contract which states gross monthly/annual wages.

Students in the following categories also receive full funding for DfE funded qualifications based on the qualifications they hold on entry:

• Students aged 19-23 who do not currently hold a full Level 2 taking a legal entitlement qualification at Level 2 (classroom or workplace)
• Students aged 19-23 who do not currently hold a full Level 3 who are currently taking a legal entitlement qualification (classroom or workplace).

If applying for a Level 2 course:

• Learners must be aged 19 years or over at the beginning of the current academic year (31/08/2025)
• Must be a permanent resident in England and live in a post code outside of a “Devolved” area
• Earnings evidence may be requested upon enrolment.

If applying for a Level 3 course:

• Learners must be aged 19 years or over at the beginning of the current academic year (31/08/2025)
• Must be a permanent resident in England and live in a post code outside of a “Devolved” area
• If you are aged 19-23: You qualify if the course you are applying for will be your first full Level 3 qualification OR if your earnings are below £25,750 gross annually (before tax). If unemployed you must be in receipt of Universal Credit and your take home is below £952 as a single claimant or below £1534 if part of a joint claim
• If you are aged 24+: Your earnings must be below £25,750 gross annually (before tax). If unemployed you must be in receipt of Universal Credit and your take home is below £952 as a single claimant or below £1534 if part of a joint claim.

Please be prepared to provide earnings and income evidence upon enrolment.

This transfer of funding from central government to combined authorities has created fundamental changes to areas that we as an education and training provider can operate in.

We regret that we can no longer offer FREE courses in:

• Greater Manchester Combined Authority
• Liverpool City Region Combined Authority
• West Midlands Combined Authority
• West of England Combined Authority
• Tees Valley Combined Authority
• Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority
• Greater London Authority
• South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (formerly Sheffield City Region)
• West Yorkshire Combined Authority
• North East Mayoral Combined Authority
• York & North Yorkshire Combined Authority
• East Midlands Combined County Authority
• Cornwall Council.

If you are unsure if your postcode falls into one of the combined authorities, please email distancelearning@ucscollegegroup.ac.uk or call 01823 366 612 and we’ll be able to help you.