Financial support for adult learning courses

If you receive certain benefits you can get either a 70% discount on GoLearn! adult learning courses or may be entitled to attend for free. Even if you’re not receiving benefits, you may still be entitled to help.

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GoLearn courses

Discover a new passion in 2023 with hundreds of GoLearn! adult learning courses, available in community venues across Leicestershire.

You can enrol online or by calling us on FREEphone 0800 988 0308. Alternatively you can email us at adultlearning@leics.gov.uk for more information.

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Support for Ukraine: English Courses

GoLearn! and Leicestershire County Council are offering FREE ESOL courses (English for Speakers of Other Languages) for Ukrainian refugees in Leicestershire. Details for how to make contact are on the Support for Ukraine page. Contact can be made by a friend, sponsor, support worker or the refugee themselves.

Course fees

What is the reduced cost?

The Reduced Cost is a 70% reduction in course fees available to any learner who receives certain benefits or is on a low household income.

To be eligible for the Reduced Cost, you will need to receive one or more of the following benefits:

  • Attendance Allowance
  • Incapacity Benefit
  • Carers Allowance
  • Housing Benefit
  • Council Tax Benefit
  • Pension Guarantee Credit
  • Income Support
  • Working Tax Credit
  • Universal Credit (dependant on take-home pay)
  • Disability Living Allowance/Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

If you do not receive any of the benefits listed above, you may still be eligible for the Reduced Cost if you have a household income less than £21,766.88* before tax.

If you think the course will help you to find work, or more sustainable employment, and you receive one of the benefits listed previously, your course may also be FREE, depending on your take-home pay. Please discuss this on enrolment.

Could my course be FREE?

If you receive one of the benefits listed below you will be eligible to do your course for FREE:

  • Jobseeker’s Allowance
  • Employment and Support Allowance
  • Universal Credit (dependant on take-home pay)

If you do not receive the above benefits, but your course is accredited (meaning you will gain a qualification up to and including Level 2) then you may be able to get your course for FREE. You will need to be in work, whether part-time or full-time, but earning less than £18,525** gross salary.

If you are unsure if you are eligible for any discounts or reduced fees, please contact our Enrolment Team by calling FREEphone 0800 988 0308 or emailing us at adultlearning@leics.gov.uk. We can discuss your personal circumstances in confidence and advise you of what support we can give.

* Income could come from earned wages, pensions, or benefits not listed above.
** This figure, referred to as the ‘Low Wage Concession’, changes annually on the 1 April in line with the national living wage.

Paying with instalments

If you feel that you might struggle to pay your course fee all at once, you're also able to pay in instalments – if the total cost of your course is above £50. Instalment plans need to be put in place manually, so if you wish to pay by instalments, please contact us on FREEphone 0800 988 0308 or by email at adultlearning@leics.gov.uk to enrol on your course. It's not currently possible to set-up an instalment plan using our online enrolment process.

The number of instalments you can pay in, varies depending on the amount you need to pay and the length of the course. The table below details the numbers of instalments you can pay for a course in: 

Course fee Length of course
Payable by the learner 5 weeks or less 6 weeks or less 10 weeks or less

£50 - £125

2 instalments  
(60%, 40%)
2 instalments  
(60%, 40%)
2 instalments  
(60%, 40%)
£126 - £200 2 instalments  
(60%, 40%)
3 instalments  
(50%, 25%, 25%)
3 instalments  
(50%, 25%, 25%)
£201+ 2 instalments  
(60%, 40%)
3 instalments  
(5%, 25%, 25%)
4 instalments  
(40%, 20%, 20%, 20%)

The cost of your course, as detailed in the table above under the ‘Course fee’ heading, is based on the final cost of the course which is payable by you. So it is the final fee payable after any fee reductions or Early Bird/New Year discounts have been applied. It does not include any materials of exam fees which will need to be paid upfront. 

Instalments are applied on a course by course basis, rather to the total amount you need to pay for multiple courses. In agreeing to pay by instalments you will need to sign and return a terms and conditions. Our Business Support team will advise you of how to make your ongoing payments when you enrol. If you are unsure, or need advice on paying by instalments, please feel free to contact us on FREEphone 0800 988 0308 to speak to a member of our team.

Learner Support Fund

What is the Discretionary Learner Support Fund?

At GoLearn, we know that course fees alone aren’t the only financial cost learners face. Our Discretionary Learner Support Fund (DLSF) is available to help cover the hidden cost of learning like childcare, transport, resources, and exam fees.

The application form for the DLSF can be found in the leaflet below or requested from your local Business Support team. You will need to complete one application per course in advance of being reimbursed and please be aware that eligibility criteria do apply.

You can complete the form by manually typing your details into this document, before saving it on your computer and emailing it to us at adultlearning@leics.gov.uk. Alternatively, you can print the form and bring it with you to your class.

Course fee loans

24+ Advanced Learning Loan

If you’re 24 or older, you can apply for a 24+ Advanced Learning Loan to help with the fees charged by colleges and training organisations.

The course must have started on or after 1 August 2013 and be an eligible level 3 or above course. For more information and how to apply, see Advanced Learner Loan (GOV.UK)