Depending on your circumstances, you could be eligible for financial support whilst studying with Wirral Met.
- Course Fees and Funding
Please note: if you meet the eligibility criteria below you will need to provide evidence about your personal circumstances before your enrolment can be processed.
Entry Level and Level 1 courses
These courses are free to those aged 19-24 with an EHCP (Education, Health and Care Plan).
These courses may also be free if you are any of the following:
- Unemployed and in receipt of a state benefit
- A resident of the Liverpool City Region (Wirral, Liverpool, Sefton, Knowsley, St Helens or Halton)
- If you live outside of the Liverpool City Region and earn less than £25,750 per year.
Level 2 courses
These courses are free to those aged 19-24 with an EHCP (Education, Health and Care Plan).
These courses may also be free if you are any of the following:
- Unemployed and in receipt of a state benefit
- Studying a full Level 2 course, are aged 19-23 and have not already successfully studied a full Level 2 qualification
- A resident of the Liverpool City Region (Wirral, Liverpool, Sefton, Knowsley, St Helens or Halton)
- If you live outside of the Liverpool City Region and earn less than £25,750 per year.
Level 3 courses
These courses are free to those aged 19-24 with an EHCP (Education, Health and Care Plan).
These courses may also be free if you are any of the following:
- Aged 19-23 and do not already have a full level 3 qualification
- Aged 19+, do not already have a full Level 3 qualification and are choosing to study a course funded by the Lifetime Skills Guarantee (free course for jobs funding)
- Fee Payment Options
Students must demonstrate that satisfactory arrangements are in place for the payment of fees at enrolment
Students can choose to pay fees either in full or in instalments.
At the point of enrolment, the full amount due or the first instalment must be paid, otherwise the course cannot be commenced.
Course Duration (in weeks) Initial Payment Number of Monthly Instalments 1-10 Fees Payable in full at enrolment Fees Payable in full at enrolment 11-16 25% of course fee 3 instalments 17-23 25% of course fee 4 instalments 24 or more 25% of course fee 6 instalments Failure to meet an instalment payment will result in the full balance of fees becoming due immediately.
Students whose fees are sponsored by employers, Student Loans Company, agents, local authorities or other organisations must provide written evidence of this at enrolment. The written evidence (e.g. letter or email) must contain contact details of who will pay the fees, and the address to which the invoice will be sent. In the absence of this evidence, the enrolling student will be liable for fees.
Failure to Pay Fees:
Once an enrolment has been processed, the student is liable for fees and payment is expected. Continued attendance on a programme of study is dependent upon payment of fees.
Non-payment of fees or failure to agree acceptable terms of payment will result in one or more of the following:
- Examination entries not being processed
- Access to the course being denied
- Withdrawal from the programme
- Qualification withheld
- Future enrolment on courses at Wirral Met being refused
All outstanding fees will be subject to debt recovery processes with an external provider. Once outstanding fees have been referred to debt recovery, an administration charge of 16% is applied and any right of appeal against the debt is forfeited.
Examination and Registration Fees:
If you do not attend an examination for which the College has paid examination/registration fees on your behalf, the College may invoice you for the cost of the examination.
Additional Costs:
It may be necessary for you to pay for other costs e.g. overalls, protective clothing, specialist equipment or fees for trips.
Fee Appeals and Requests for Refunds:
In the event that the College cancels a course, any monies paid by students will be refunded.
If students have mitigating circumstances for non-attendance which they feel warrant a refund, they should write to the Fee Appeals Unit at the address below. A reduction in fees will be considered, but is not guaranteed, by a panel of managers on a case by case basis.
The Fee Appeals Unit
Wirral Met College
Wirral Waters Campus
Tower Road
Birkenhead
CH41 1AAFor further information please see Higher Education Fees, Discounts & Payment Policy.
- Bursaries and Loans
Advanced Learner Loan:
Don't let the cost of studying put you off achieving your goals - An Advanced Learner Loan can help you to pay tuition fees so you can study now and pay later.
Most learners aged 19 and over, studying at Level 3 to 6, will qualify for these loans from the UK Government. It’s easy to apply, your household income isn’t taken into account and there’s no credit check. You won’t have to pay anything back until your income is over the repayment threshold.
If you’re undertaking an Access to HE Diploma and then go on to complete an eligible HE qualification, the outstanding balance of your Advanced Learner Loan may be written off. To qualify for this write off you must have fully completed both courses. You do not need to take out a loan for the HE course. However, it must be eligible for funding by Student Finance England. The HE course does not have to relate to the Access to HE course you complete
19+ Learner Support Fund:
19+ Learner Support Fund and Advanced Learner Loan Bursary offers support to students who may encounter financial barriers to learning, giving financial help towards the cost of travel, meals, equipment, educational visits and other course related costs.
Childcare Support:
20+ Childcare Support Fund provides financial aid to students who would be unable to attend college without financial support towards childcare costs.
This fund is for childcare provision and can only be used to support you with the cost of Ofsted registered childcare which may be in a nursery, crèche, out of school club or from a childminder.
For further details, please contact our Student Finance team
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 0151 551 7777.Click here to access our Student Financial Support Application Form.
Student Discounts
Being a student unlocks thousands of discounts and perks in many high street shops.
Students and apprentices can enjoy all the perks of student discounts with TOTUM.
TOTUM unlocks a wide range of discounts, perks and offers for students.
Unidays is a free, digital platform which offers exclusive benefits and discounts to its members, from over 800 brands. It is available to all college students.
Student Beans is the #1 student discount platform. Operating since 2005, it offers a world of student discounts, from over 1000 stores online and in-store.