We endeavour to keep course fees up to date on the website, however these may change subject to government policy. Please see individual courses for details.
Please note: A learner's age is calculated as their age on 31st August in the academic/funding year of study, not at the date of enrolment/course start.
Learners Aged 16 to 18 years-old only*
If you are aged 16 to 18 years-old (*or up to 25 years-old if you have a statement of special education needs or education, health and care plan) you will not usually need to pay fees.
However, where a course is a college certificate or marked as 'full cost' fees will apply.
Higher Education Courses
As our Foundation Degree courses are delivered in partnership with the University of Sunderland the up to date fees are shown on the university's website, they are not FREE. Please visit The University of Sunderland website, find the course and check the fees.
Advanced Learner Loans are available, subject to eligibility.
Learners Aged 19 to 23 years-old only
For some Level 2 courses you will not have to pay any tuition fees if you are over 19 but under 24 at the start of your course and haven’t already got a full Level 2 qualification, such as five GCSEs at grade C or above or an NVQ Level 2. Also may be subject to where you live.
For some courses below Level 2 you will not have to pay any tuition fees if you are over 19 but under 24 at the start of your course and haven’t already got a full Level 2 qualification, such as five GCSEs at grade C or above or an NVQ Level 2. Also may be subject to where you live.
For some Level 3 to 6 courses you will not have to pay any tuition fees if you are over 19 but under 24 at the start of your course and do not already have a full Level 3 qualification, such as two or more A Levels or an NVQ Level 3. Also may be subject to where you live.
An Advanced Learner Loan is available for individuals who already have a Level 3 qualification.
More details on Advanced Learner Loans can be found here.
Learners in receipt of low wage
You may qualify for full funding, if you are employed and cannot contribute towards the cost of the certain course fees.
The earnings threshold which enables learners to be fully funded is below £25,000 (as of 1st August 2024), regardless of whether you are currently in paid employment or not.
Please note: The College must see evidence of the learner's gross annual wages in these circumstances. This could be a wage slip or a Universal Credit statement within 3 months of the learner’s learning start date, or a current employment contract which states gross monthly/annual wages for example.
Learners Aged 24 years-old and above
For some level 3 to 6 courses an Advanced Learner Loan is available, we will notify you if you are able to apply for a loan. You may also pay for your course yourself in 10 instalments.
More details on Advanced Learner Loans can be found here.
Learners Aged 19 years-old or over
Learners who are not employed, are aged over 19 and wish to study a course at Level 2 or below and are actively seeking employment and are in receipt of the following benefits:
- Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) including those receiving National Insurance credits only
- Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Universal Credit, and their take-home pay as recorded on their
Universal Credit statement (disregarding Universal Credit payments and other benefits) is less than £345 a month (learner is sole adult in their benefit claim) or £552 a month (learner has a joint benefit claim with their partner) - Or are released on temporary licence, studying outside a prison environment, and not funded by the Ministry of Justice
The College may also use its discretion to fully fund other learners if both of the following apply. The learner:
- Receives other state benefits (not listed above) and their take-home pay (disregarding Universal Credit payments and other benefits) is less than £345 a month (learner is sole adult in their benefit claim) or £552 a month (learner has a joint benefit claim with their partner)
- and wants to be employed, or progress into more sustainable employment, and their take-home pay (disregarding Universal Credit payments and other benefits) is less than £345 a month (learner is sole adult in their benefit claim) or £552 a month (learner has a joint benefit claim with their partner), and you are satisfied identified learning is directly relevant to their employment prospects and the local labour market needs.
Adults Living in the North of Tyne Combined Authority area
IMPORTANT: If you live in the North of Tyne Combined Authority area, please read the below course fees guidance carefully.
Due to strict rules on how Adult Skills Fund (ASF) is managed by combined local authorities, the following rules currently apply to anyone aged 19 or over who lives in the North of Tyne Combined Authority area and would like to study at East Durham College in Peterlee or Houghall in Durham:
- If you are aged 19+, live in the North of Tyne Combined Authority area and are currently UNEMPLOYED, unfortunately, we are not able to offer any of our courses for free. You can only enrol if you pay the full course fee yourself.
- If you are aged 19+, live in the North of Tyne Combined Authority area and are EMPLOYED, you may qualify for fee remission and be able to study with us for free if you complete some additional paperwork for alternative funders.
These rules apply to all courses running from July 2023 to the end of July 2024.
Adults living in the Tees Valley Combined Authority area
IMPORTANT: We do not currently have a contract with Tees Valley to enable the College to access the funding they hold for adult training and education. We are therefore unable to enrol Tees Valley based adults on to any of our courses.
English & Maths
English and maths is funded for anyone aged 19 or above if they do NOT have a GCSE at grade C (grade 4) or higher on the day they enrol. May be subject to where you live.
Full Cost Short Courses
Unfortunately, the landbased short courses (chainsaws, pesticides, mowers etc) offered at our Houghall Campus are classed as full cost courses and are not eligible for any funding/discounts on the course fees.
Distance Learning Courses
We regret that we are unable to provide distance learning courses for free to people living in the following devolved combined authority areas:
The Tees Valley, North Yorkshire, Greater London, Greater Manchester, Liverpool City, Cambridge & Peterborough, West Midlands and West of England.
Your postcode will be checked upon application to ensure you are eligible to this course for Free.
We are based in the devolved area of the North East Combined Authority (NECA) and can only offer our distance learning courses to people living in the seven local authority areas of County Durham, Gateshead, Newcastle, North Tyneside, Northumberland, South Tyneside and Sunderland. Unfortunately, we are unable to offer our free courses to Tees Valley residence. If in doubt, please contact us and we will investigate it for you.
Our courses are a level 2 / level 3 NCFE / CACHE qualification and are FREE to everyone, you can be employed or unemployed, you just need to meet the eligibility requirements below:
General Eligibility
- Aged 19 or over during the academic year (starting 31st August 2024) in which you wish to study.
- Lived in the UK/EU/EEA continuously for 3 years.
- Live in the devolved area of Northeast Combined Authority, this will be checked by our team upon application.
- Not to have completed the course before.
- Not currently completing a flexible learning course with us, or any other training provider.
- Have a good level of English to understand, engage and meet the course requirements.
Specific Level 2 Eligibility
- 19-23 eligible to use free first full level 2 legal entitlement.
- 19+ free to all learners (full or co-funded at provider level based on earnings threshold of £25,000).
Specific Level 3 Eligibility
- 19-23 eligible to use free first full level 3 legal entitlement.
- 19+ Free Course for Jobs (FCFJ) who meet the earnings threshold of below £25,000.
If you do not live in the North East Combined Authority area or earn over the £25,000 earning threshold, please contact us, we can still offer our level 2 and level 3 courses on a commercial / full cost basis.
Proof of benefits and income
Proof of benefits and income must be produced at enrolment. Your place on any course is not secured until all requested evidence has been received and checked against eligibility criteria and a signed learning agreement is completed, with payment (where applicable).
Any Questions?
Please call Student Services on 0191 518 8222 to discuss your personal circumstances and options.
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