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Fee Remission Guide EMCCA: Home

Fee Remission Guide

Further Education (FE)

Fee Remission Guide - Academic Year 2025/2026

East Midlands Combined County Authority Adult Skills Fund (ASF) Devolved Area Learners

This Policy is correct as at time of publication. It may be subject to change at any time in line with any future updates made by the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA). Lincoln College cannot be held responsible for any changes that may subsequently arise. Learners should contact Lincoln College prior to enrolment to ensure there has been no change to the fee remission categories.

Who is Eligible for EMCCA ASF Fee Remission?
  1. To receive EMCCA ASF Fee Remission learners must meet the EMCCA ASF Funding Rules and Residency Requirements.
  2. EMCCA ASF fee remission is available to individual’s whose postcode shows their home address (not term-time address) is in the devolved EMCCA area .  This covers the counties of Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Derby City and Nottingham City.
  3. Learners must be aware funding is limited and that fee remission may only be given when funding is available. Should this not be the case, learners may have to pay full course fees or, where the course is at level 3 or above, apply for an Advanced Learner Loan.

Who is Not Eligible for EMCCA ASF Fee Remission?
  1. EMCCA ASF fee remission is not available to individual’s whose postcode shows their home address (not term-time address) is not in the devolved EMCCA area of Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Derby City and Nottingham City.
Please consult the Lincoln College Further Education Fee Remission Policy for Department for Education (DfE) Adult Skills Fund (ASF) for learners whose postcode shows their home address (not term-time address) is within a non-devolved area such as Lincolnshire, North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire.

Additional Information
  1. Staff must consult the college’s 2025/26 Course List with Fees to confirm whether a learning aim is eligible for fee remission.
  2. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that their hours of study do not conflict with the rules of the benefit they receive. They should contact the Job Centre for advice.
  3. Learners can self-declare that their benefits meet one of the categories to get fee remission. Physical proof of receipt of benefit is not required.

Other Possible Sources of Fee Support For Learners Not Eligible for Fee Remission
  1. 19+ Advanced Learner Loan. See https://www.gov.uk/advanced-learner-loan for full details.
  2. Enhanced Learning Credit Scheme for serving and former members of His Majesty’s Armed Forces. See ELCAS - Enhanced Learning Credits Administration Services for further details.

Continue

Are you a UK National who has been ordinarily a resident in the UK for at least the last 3 years on the first day of learning?

Yes
No

How old will you be on the 31st August 2025?

Under 19 (or I have an Active EHCP)
Aged 19-23
Aged 24+

What level course do you intend to study?

GCSE or Functional Skills English/Maths
Essential Digital Skills Qualification (ESDQ)
ESOL
Level 1 or Below
Level 2
Level 3
Level 4 or Above (Further Education Funded Courses Only)

What Level Course do you intend to Study?

GCSE or Functional Skills English/Maths
Essential Digital Skills Qualification (ESDQ)
ESOL
Level 1 or Below
Level 2
Level 3
Level 4 or Above (Further Education Funded Courses Only)

Is your highest level of achievement in GCSE English and/or maths between grades 1 to 3 or grade D to ungraded, or have been assessed as having an existing skill level lower than grade 4 (even if you have previously achieved a GCSE or equivalent qualification in English or maths)?

Yes
No

Have your digital skills been assessed at below Level 1?

Yes
No

Do you meet the EMCCA ASF definition of unemployed?

For funding purposes, a learner is defined as unemployed if one or more of the following apply, they:

  1. receive Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), including those receiving National Insurance credits only
  2. receive Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
  3. receive Universal Credit (UC), and their take-home pay as recorded on their UC statement (disregarding UC payments and other benefits) is less than £952 a month (learner is sole adult in their benefit claim) or £1,534 a month (learner has a joint benefit claim with their partner)
  4. are released on temporary licence, studying outside a prison environment, and not funded by the Ministry of Justice
  5. receive one of the state benefits listed below and their take-home pay (disregarding UC payments and other benefits) is less than £952 a month (learner is sole adult in their benefit claim) or £1,534 a month (learner has a joint benefit claim with their partner),
  • Attendance Allowance
  • Bereavement Support Payment
  • Carer’s Allowance
  • Disability Living Allowance
  • Guardian’s Allowance
  • Industrial Injuries Benefit
  • Pension Credit
  • Pensions paid by the Industrial Death Benefit scheme
  • Personal Independence Payments
  • Severe Disablement Allowance
  • War Widow(er) Pension
  • Widowed Parent’s Allowance

6.   are not receiving any of the above benefits, want to be employed, and the identified learning is directly relevant to their employment prospects and the local labour market needs.

Learners who meet the definition of unemployed in points 5 or 6 will be required to sign a self-declaration to confirm they want to enter employment or more sustainable employment. The college must be satisfied that the learning is directly relevant to their employment prospects and the local labour market needs.

Yes
No

Have you previously achieved a Full Level 2 qualification?

A Full Level 2 is equivalent to 5 or more GCSEs at grade 4 or above (A* to C), 2 or 3 AS Levels, 1 A Level, Level 2 Diploma etc

Yes
No

Are you employed or self-employed and earn less than £25,7500.00 annual gross salary?

Yes
No

Have you previously achieved a Full Level 2 qualification?

A Full Level 2 is equivalent to 5 or more GCSEs at grade 4 or above (A* to C), 2 or 3 AS Levels, 1 A Level, Level 2 Diploma etc

Yes
No

Is the qualification you intend to study included in the list of Full Level 2 courses below?

Yes
No

Have you previously achieved a Full Level 3 qualification?

A Full Level 3 is equivalent to 4 AS Levels, 2 A Levels, Level 3 Diploma etc

Yes
No

Is the qualification you intend to study included in the list of Full Level 3 courses below?

Yes
No

Is the qualification you intend to study included in the Free Courses For Jobs - Level 3 Adult Offer?

Yes
No

You may be entitled to Fee Remission.

You are aged 19-23 on the day you start your course studying provision up to and including Level 1 to support progression to a first Full Level 2 qualification.

If you do not intend to progress to a first Full Level 2 you will be liable for fees.

If you require more information, please contact our Course Enquiry Line on 030 030 32435 or email enquiries@lincolncollege.ac.uk

You may have to pay for additional costs such as equipment, books and uniform – check the Financial Support pages on the website as you may be eligible support through our Learner Support Funds.

Start Again

You may be entitled to Fee Remission.

To receive Fee Remission under this category the Level 2 qualification must be a Full Level 2 qualification.

If you are unsure if the course you wish to study is a Full Level 2, please contact our Course Enquiry Line on 030 030 32435 or email enquiries@lincolncollege.ac.uk

You may have to pay for additional costs such as equipment, books and uniform – visit the Financial Support pages on the website as you may be eligible support through our Learner Support Funds.

Start Again

You may be entitled to Fee Remission.

To receive Fee Remission under this category the Level 3 qualification must be a Full Level 3 qualification.

If you are unsure if the course you wish to study is a Full Level 3, please contact our Course Enquiry Line on 030 030 32435 or email enquiries@lincolncollege.ac.uk

You may have to pay for additional costs such as equipment, books and uniform – visit the Financial Support pages on the website as you may be eligible support through our Learner Support Funds.

Start Again

You may be entitled to Fee Remission.

Learners aged 19 and above who are studying a qualification which is included in the ESFA’s Free Courses for Jobs (FCFJ) – Level 3 Adult Offer, AND meet the criteria shown in points A or B below:

  1. have not achieved a Full Level 3 qualification, or

  1. you have previously achieved a full level 3 qualification or higher AND

  1. are eligible for co-funding, and earn below than £2,816.40 monthly and £33,796.80 annually, or
  2. meet the EMCCA ASF definition of unemployed

For funding purposes, a learner is defined as unemployed if one or more of the following apply, they:

  1. receive Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), including those receiving National Insurance credits only
  2. receive Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
  3. receive Universal Credit (UC), and their take-home pay as recorded on their UC statement (disregarding UC payments and other benefits) is less than £952 a month (learner is sole adult in their benefit claim) or £1,534 a month (learner has a joint benefit claim with their partner)
  4. are released on temporary licence, studying outside a prison environment, and not funded by the Ministry of Justice
  5. receive one of the state benefits listed below and their take-home pay (disregarding UC payments and other benefits) is less than £952 a month (learner is sole adult in their benefit claim) or £1,534 a month (learner has a joint benefit claim with their partner),
  • Attendance Allowance
  • Bereavement Support Payment
  • Carer’s Allowance
  • Disability Living Allowance
  • Guardian’s Allowance
  • Industrial Injuries Benefit
  • Pension Credit
  • Pensions paid by the Industrial Death Benefit scheme
  • Personal Independence Payments
  • Severe Disablement Allowance
  • War Widow(er) Pension
  • Widowed Parent’s Allowance

6.   are not receiving any of the above benefits, want to be employed, and the identified learning is directly relevant to their employment prospects and the local labour market needs.

Learners who meet the definition of unemployed in points 5 or 6 will be required to sign a self-declaration to confirm they want to enter employment or more sustainable employment. The college must be satisfied that the learning is directly relevant to their employment prospects and the local labour market needs.

If you are not eligible for the Free Courses for Jobs – Level 3 Adult Offer, you may be able to apply for an Advanced Learner Loan.

If you require more information, please contact our Course Enquiry Line on 030 030 32435 or email enquiries@lincolncollege.ac.uk

You may have to pay for additional costs such as equipment, books and uniform – visit the Financial Support pages on the website as you may be eligible support through our Learner Support Funds.

*Bi) To receive this category of fee remission the member of staff confirming the learner’s entitlement to fee remission at enrolment must have seen evidence of the learner’s gross annual wage. This could be a wage slip or a Universal Credit statement within 3 months of the learner’s start date, or a current employment contract which states gross monthly/annual wages. Where a student’s employment hours or salary are variable, three recent payslips are required, or official documentation to evidence current annual income e.g. contract of employment.

Start Again

You may be entitled to Fee Remission.

If you require more information, please contact our Course Enquiry Line on 030 030 32435 or email enquiries@lincolncollege.ac.uk

You may have to pay for additional costs such as equipment, books and uniform – visit the Financial Support pages on the website as you may be eligible support through our Learner Support Funds.

Start Again

You may be entitled to Fee Remission.

Learners may be required to sign a self-declaration to confirm they want to enter employment or more sustainable employment. The college must be satisfied that the learning is directly relevant to their employment prospects and the local labour market needs.

If you require more information, please contact our Course Enquiry Line on 030 030 32435 or email enquiries@lincolncollege.ac.uk

You may have to pay for additional costs such as equipment, books and uniform – visit the Financial Support pages on the website as you may be eligible support through our Learner Support Funds.

Start Again

You may be entitled to Fee Remission.

To receive this category of fee remission the member of staff confirming your entitlement to fee remission at enrolment must have seen evidence of your gross annual wage. This could be a wage slip or a Universal Credit statement within 3 months of your start date, or a current employment contract which states gross monthly/annual wages. Where your employment hours or salary is variable, three recent payslips are required, or official documentation to evidence current annual income e.g. contract of employment.

If you require more information, please contact our Course Enquiry Line on 030 030 32435 or email enquiries@lincolncollege.ac.uk

You may have to pay for additional costs such as equipment, books and uniform – visit the Financial Support pages on the website as you may be eligible support through our Learner Support Funds.

Start Again

You are likely not to be eligible for Fee Remission.

You may be able to spread the cost with an instalment plan – which means you won't have to pay it all at once or alternatively, you may be able to apply for an Advanced Learner Loan to cover all of your course fees.

If you require more information, please contact our Course Enquiry Line on 030 030 32435 or email enquiries@lincolncollege.ac.uk

Start Again

You are likely not to be eligible for Fee Remission.

You may be able to spread the cost with an instalment plan – which means you won't have to pay it all at once. If you require more information, please contact our Course Enquiry Line on 030 030 32435 or email enquiries@lincolncollege.ac.uk

Start Again

Please contact our Course Enquiry Line on 030 030 32435 or email enquiries@lincolncollege.ac.uk to check if you are eligible for fee remission.

Start Again