Part Time Fees Explained

Explanation of Fees

We appreciate that sometimes it may be difficult to understand what fees you have to pay when you are looking at part time courses. Therefore this ‘part time fees explained’ page should help you to understand what fee you are likely to need to pay.

If you are over 19 and wish to study a part time course at HSDC, you would normally be required to pay for the course. There are various reasons why you may be entitled to a reduced fee, or in some cases, a free course; this is dependent on your financial circumstances.

Course Fee & Exam Fee

The fees shown on our website are broken down into Course Fee and Exam Fee; if you are liable to pay fees, it would be the total of both.

Types of Fees

On our website, the fees are shown as:

Fully funded 

The Government will fund the full cost of the course if you:

• are in receipt of a state benefit (evidence will be required)
• earn under £20,319/per annum (evidence will be required)
• are studying a GCSE English or Maths and you have not already gained a grade C or 4 in these subjects

There are a few qualifications that attract full funding from the Government if you are under 24 and have not already achieved that level of qualification before – please ask our Admissions Team for further details.

Co-funded 

The Government makes a 50% contribution towards the cost of the course.  The figure quoted would be the fee that you would be liable to pay unless you:

• are in receipt of a state benefit (evidence will be required)
• earn under £20,319.00/per annum (evidence will be required)

in which case the course would be free.

Please note, in some cases the course could be free regardless of Financial circumstances

Non-funded 

The Government makes no contribution to the cost of the course.

• In the main, this fee would apply if you are an overseas student.

There are a few courses that are run to meet the needs of the local community and these would need to be paid for in full regardless of financial circumstances or residency.

Loan-funded 

The Government provides the opportunity to obtain an Additional Learner Loan to study on these courses.  No other fee concession is available for these Level 3 courses.  https://www.gov.uk/advanced-learner-loan

Access to HE courses

If you study an Access course with HSDC and an Advanced Learner Loan covers the cost of your studies, Student Finance England will ‘write off’ any outstanding Advanced Learner Loan balances you owe for an Access to HE course once you complete a higher education course*. This means you do not have to repay it. Find out more on our Advanced Learner Loan page.

*The higher education course must be eligible for student finance.