If you are aged 16-18 on 31 August in the year you are looking to study a further education course with us, and meet the residency requirements, your course will be free.
You can find full details of the current residency requirements on our enrolment page.
You may also be asked to pay for exam/coursework resits, forgotten/lost college ID cards and educational visits.
If you are aged 19 or older on 31 August in the year you join CCCG, your course fees will depend on your current qualifications and the level of the course you are planning to study.
Most of our Entry Level, Level 1 or Level 2 courses are free, regardless of your age or income, as long as you meet the residency requirements. We will also need to check proof of income/employment, or evidence of benefits, if you are unemployed, at enrolment. You can find full details of the current residency requirements on our enrolment page.
If you are aged between 19 and 23, and do not already have a full Level 3 qualification, you may be able to study a Level 3 course for free – we will need to check proof of prior qualifications and if you are in receipt of JSA/ESA/UC/IS or a low wage. Please see our enrolment page for further information.
You may also be able to study some of our Level 3 courses* for free if you meet the following criteria:
We will need to see current evidence of your benefits or low wage.
*2 year Extended Diplomas, A Levels and Access to HE Diplomas are excluded.
If you are not eligible for funding, to study a course at Level 3 or higher, you will need to pay course fees. You may be eligible to apply for an Advanced Learning Loan to cover these fees, or you can choose to pay your fees directly to the college. Some courses may have an additional fee which is not covered by the Advanced Learner Loan; further details are available on each course page.
If you choose to pay your course fees yourself (for some, or all of your course), you may be eligible to pay in instalments – 25% of the total course fees at enrolment, with the balance spread equally across 5 monthly instalments of 15% each on the first of the consecutive months. If you are enrolled on a short course and you are eligible for an instalment plan, this will be revised so that all fees are paid at least one month prior to the end date of the course.
Please see our enrolment page for further information on the above.
You may also be asked to pay for exam/coursework resits, forgotten/lost college ID cards and educational visits.
If you’re planning to study a Higher Education course, such as a BA (Hons)/BSc (Hons), FdA/FdSc, HNC or HND, you may be eligible to apply for a Student Finance England loan to cover the cost of your tuition fees and a Maintenance loan to help with your living costs – please check the individual course page for costs and further information. Funding is not available for international students.
In order to apply for a Student Finance England loan, you will need to meet the college’s residency requirements. You can find full details of the current residency requirements on our enrolment page.
If you have a disability you may also be eligible for further financial support through Student Finance England. Please see the disabled student allowance section in Financial Support below.
If you’re planning to study part-time, your eligibility will depend on how much of your course you complete each year compared to an equivalent full-time course.
You’ll usually only get student finance if you’re doing your first higher education qualification – even if your previous course was self-funded. You should discuss your previous HE history with the Student Finance England (SFE) team if you have already studied a higher education programme, e.g. a HNC or Foundation Degree, or if you changed course, stopped your studies or are repeating a year. If you are studying a course at a lower level than you already have, you will not be able to apply for a Student Finance England tuition fee loan. You may be eligible for a maintenance loan.
We set the tuition fee for each course at the college, and your loan is paid directly to us. Course fees are per year and additional costs may be necessary on some programmes; details of additional costs are available on each individual course page.
You can find all the information and a step-by-step guide to applying for undergraduate student finance here. The step-by-step guide takes you through each stage of the process, including checking if you’re eligible, finding out how much you could get, preparing your application and applying.
You start to repay your loan once you are earning £27,295 (find out more here), but you’ll be charged interest on the loan once we confirm your registration and/or attendance to SFE. You will need to apply online and do not need a confirmed place on a course to do so. If you withdraw from your course, you may have to start repaying any maintenance loan you received immediately. You would need to contact SFE for further guidance.
External independent financial advice for HE students can be found online, on websites such as DiscoverUni and SaveTheStudent.
Apprentices do not pay to study an Apprenticeship – the responsibility lies with the employer to pay.
Please see our Apprenticeship page for full information.
Some of our students may be eligible for financial support to help whilst they are studying, including bursaries and more.
Discretionary Bursary
You may be eligible for discretionary bursary if you are aged between 16 and 19 and have a household income up to £30,000 per year. Discretionary bursaries are means-tested and are intended to support you with books, transport or course equipment costs. The amount of bursary you will receive is based on your household income. You may also be eligible for a discretionary bursary if you are aged between 19 and 24, with an Education & Health Care Plan (EHCP). You can apply online through PayMyStudent.
16-19 Vulnerable Young Person Bursary
You may be eligible for £1,200 across the academic year, if you are aged between 16 and 19 and living in care (or are a recent care leaver) or living independently and in receipt of Disability Living Allowance/PIP and Income Support/ESA/Universal Credit. This bursary is intended to support you with course related costs, such as travel, books or equipment. You can apply online through PayMyStudent.
Care To Learn
If you are a parent aged under 20, you may be eligible to receive up to £175 per week for each child (£160 if you live outside London) as part of a government scheme. You can apply online through gov.uk
Free College Meals
You may be eligible for free college meals if you are aged 16-18 and in receipt of a college bursary. £2.41 will be added to your college ID or paid into your bank account for days you are timetabled to be in college.
Oyster card
If you live in a London borough and are 18 and under, you can also apply for a Zip Oyster photo card which gives you free or discounted travel around London on buses, the tube, DLR and overground. Find out more here.
Financial Support From Your Borough Council
Many London boroughs offer financial support to young people who stay in education and training. Contact your local borough council for more information about financial support available to young people in education.
Student Discount Schemes
As a student, you will be eligible to apply for discount cards and accounts, such as TOTUM, UNiDAYS and Student Beans. These can give you discounts in high street shops and online, including at stores such as Apple, Superdrug and more
Some of our students may be eligible for financial support to help whilst they are studying, including bursaries that are dependent on the number of hours you are at college each week, your immigration status and household income.
19+ Bursaries
If you are single with an income of below £21,547 per year, or part of a family with a combined income of below £31,000 per year, you could be eligible for a bursary. You can get up to £800 to assist you with any costs associated with your course. Please remember you will need to meet the college’s standards on attendance and punctuality in order to receive payment. You can apply online through PayMyStudent.
Advanced Learner Loan Bursary
You may be eligible for a bursary of £200 per month for course related costs if you have been approved for Advanced Learner Loan by the college, have an income of up to £21,952 (household income £26,000) a year. You may be eligible for up to £70 a day for childcare (children under five have an income of up to £21,952 (household income £26,000) a year and have been approved for Advanced Learner Loan.
Childcare Support
If you are aged 20 or older, you may be eligible for support with childcare. This will depend on how many hours per week you are in college for your course. If you are already in receipt of help from another scheme, such as the 2+ 15 hours grant, you would not be eligible for support.
18+ Student Oyster Card
If you live in a London borough, are 18 or older and studying a course for 15 hours or more per week, you can also apply for an 18+ Student Oyster photo card which gives you discounted travel around London on buses, the tube, DLR and overground. Find out more here.
Student Discount Schemes
As a student, you will be eligible to apply for discount cards and accounts, such as TOTUM, UNiDAYS and Student Beans. These can give you discounts in high street shops and online, including at stores such as Apple, Superdrug and more.
In addition to a Maintenance loan to help with your living costs, you may also qualify for other financial support if you are on a low income, are disabled or have children. Find out more here.
Disabled Students’ Allowances
If, you have a disability or additional needs, you may be eligible for Disabled Students’ Allowances (DSAs) to cover any extra study costs. This can include mental health conditions, epilepsy or dyslexia. DSA does not depend on your household income and you will not need to pay it back. You should apply for your DSA at the same time as your student loan to ensure you have all the necessary financial support you need by the start of your course. Find out more and how to apply here.
Disability Rights UK has factsheets about DSA and other useful information for HE students here.
18+ Student Oyster Card
If you live in a London borough and are 18 or older and a full-time student, you can also apply for an 18+ Student Oyster photo card which gives you discounted travel around London on buses, the tube, DLR and overground. Find out more here.
Student Discount Schemes
As a student, you will be eligible to apply for discount cards and accounts, such as TOTUM, UNiDAYS and Student Beans. These can give you discounts in high street shops and online, including at stores such as Apple, Superdrug and more.
Apprentice Oyster Card
If you live in a London borough and are 18 or older and an apprentice, you can also apply for an Apprentice Oyster card which gives you discounted travel around London on buses, the tube, DLR and overground. Find out more here.
Student Discount Schemes
As a student, you will be eligible to apply for discount cards and accounts, such as TOTUM, UNiDAYS and Student Beans. These can give you discounts in high street shops and online, including at stores such as Apple, Superdrug and more.