Funding Your Course

Online courses:

To book and enrol on one of our courses, you must have an English postcode (not in a devolved area listed below) and have been a resident in the UK for the past 3 years.

Some exceptions may apply if you are living in England with evidence of the right to remain and are from an EEU/EEAU country (completion of a questionnaire will be required).

We no longer receive funding for courses for learners living in devolved areas so full cost fees would apply to courses if you live in these areas. Devloved areas are:

Cambridgeshire
Peterborough
Greater Manchester
Greater London
Liverpool City Region
Tees Valley
West Midlands
West of England.

For courses booking from 1 August onwards, devolved areas also include:

West Yorkshire
Barnsley
Doncaster
Rotherham
Sheffield
Newcastle-Upon-Tyne
North Tyneside
Northumberland

Our course fees are detailed below.

Adult and Community Learning courses:

All our adult and community learning courses cost £4.50 per hour. Courses are free if you are in receipt of the following eligible benefits:

Income-based Job Seekers Allowance (excluding contribution-based)
Housing Benefit or Council Tax support (excluding single person's discount)
Employment Support Allowance
Income Support
Incapacity Benefit
Working Tax Credit
Pension Credit (excluding savings credit)
Unwaged Dependents of those in receipt of the above benefits
Identified elements of Universal Credit

However, if you have a financial barrier which may prevent you from enrolling on the course you may be eligible to apply for learner support. For more information please contact learning@inspireculture.org.uk or telephone 0115 804 3611.

Family Learning courses:

All our Family Learning courses are free.

Maths and English courses:

Our Maths and English courses are free to anyone who doesn't already have these qualifications at GCSE A*-C or 4-9.

Level 1 or 2 Accredited courses:

Courses are free if you earn less than £17,374.50 (or £18,525 from 1st April 2022) or on means-tested benefit.
Payment help is available if you earn more that £17374.50 (or £18,525 from 1st April 2022) but are on a low-income. We may be able to help pay part or all of your course fees. E-mail learning@inspireculture.org.uk for an application form or if you have any questions
Co-funded fees are available if you are on a higher-income. The government will pay approximately half of your course fees. The cost to you will be £108.00.

How to pay:

Unless you qualify for a free place, payment should be made in full at the time of booking online or by phone. Please make sure you complete our e-enrolment form prior to the start of your course to confirm your place.

If you would like to pay by phone, please call us on 01623 677 200.

Some courses may ask you to bring materials or ask for a small payment to cover material costs. If so, this information will be on the course details page on our website.

At the first session, you'll be asked for some details as part of your enrolment, please bring proof of benefits if you're hoping to qualify for a free place.

View and download our Fees Policy for 2021 to 2022.

Flexible payment options:

Flexible payment options for many of our Adult Further Education Courses and Qualifications are available or through a 19+ Advanced Learner Loan.

If you are aged 19 or over on the day your course starts you will qualify for an Advanced Learner Loan.

We can support and guide you through the loan application if you study with us. The loan isn’t means tested and you won’t pay anything back until you are earning at least £27,295 a year.