Free Courses

16-18 Students (Age at 31st August)

• All Full Time Courses

19-23 Students (Age at 31st August)

• Students studying their first level 2 course (Some level 2 courses are not included, so please check with Student Services)
• Students studying their first level 3 course (Some level 3 courses are not included, so please check with Student Services)
• Unemployed, looking for work and on an acceptable benefit studying a level 1 or 2 course (see list of benefits below)

24+ Students (Age at 31st August)

• Unemployed, looking for work and on an acceptable benefit studying a level 1 course (see list of benefits below)
• Unemployed, looking for work and on an acceptable benefit studying a level 2 course (see list of benefits below)

Apprenticeships

• Apprenticeships are free of charge for the learner (you are actually paid a salary!)
• There is no upper age restriction to enrol onto an Apprenticeship programme, so long as you are 16+ years old.
• Working hours are usually between 30-40 hours per week which includes your release to College.
• There may be a fee for the employer willing to support you, but this depends on a few factors.

Please contact 01530 519 001 or apprenticeships@stephensoncoll.ac.uk if you have any further questions regarding an Apprenticeship programme.

List of benefits

• Jobseeker's Allowance
• ESA (WRAG) (Work Related Activity Group)
• Universal Credit (Must be unemployed and required to undertake skills training)
• Wider Benefits – see list below

Wider benefits that are acceptable

In all cases the learner must:

• Be unemployed (i.e. not in any paid employment)
• Want to enter employment but need skills training to do so
• Sign the waiver agreement confirming the above
• Show current proof of the benefit

Attendance Allowance

Bereavement Allowance

Child Benefit

Child Tax Credit

Child's Special Allowance

Council Tax Benefit, administered by local authorities

Disability Living Allowance [Being replaced by Personal Independent Payments] (If paid to learner)

Graduated retirement benefit

Guardian's Allowance

Housing Benefit, administered by local authorities

Income Support

Pensions payable under the Industrial Death Benefit scheme

Reduced Earnings Allowance, see industrial disablement benefit above

Retirement Allowance, see industrial disablement benefit above

War Widow's pension

Widow’s pension

Widowed Parent's Allowance

Working Tax Credit. (If paid to spouse, not the learner)

Reference: Funding Rules Version 2020-21

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