Fees and funding
On this page you’ll find out about any fees associated with our courses and what funding options and financial support may be available to you to help you pursue your education goals.
Free courses
The majority of our courses are free for Manchester residents aged 19+. During your assessment and enrolment appointment, we will assess your eligibility.
However, if you meet the requirements below, it’s likely that you’ll be eligible and will not have to pay any fees for your course.
- Employed and earning less than £25,000
- Unemployed and in receipt of an income-based benefit
- Studying for your first full Level 2 on an eligible legal entitlement course.
Course fees
Our fees vary depending on the specific course that you are interested in taking. You can find information about course fees on each individual course web page.
How to pay
If you are required to pay for your course, you can do this in person at one of our adult learning centres. You can pay by Visa or Mastercard credit or debit cards.
If you need help making payment, our business support team are on hand to help.
Financial Support
We understand that pursing further education can be a financial commitment which is why we wanted to highlight the various financial support that’s available to help you overcome any barriers to learning.
Free courses for jobs scheme
Funding is available through the Free courses for jobs scheme for anyone aged 19+ who wants to earn a higher wage, improve their job prospects, and gain the skills employers value by taking a Level 3 course. You can study for a free Level 3 qualification through this scheme if you:
- Are aged 19 or over and do not already have a Level 3 qualification
- Already have a Level 3 qualification or higher, but are unemployed
- Already have a Level 3 qualification or higher but earn below the National Living Wage annually (£22,308 from April 2024).
Advanced Learner Loan
If you’re planning to take a Level 3 course or above at MAES, an Advanced Learner Loan could help support you with the cost of your course, and the good news is that you don’t have to start paying this back until you’re earning over £25,000 a year (effective August 2024).
Other ways we can support you financially...
If you are claiming benefits or on a low income, we may be able to provide financial support to help you while you are studying with us. This support includes:
Travel: If you live more than two miles away from the centre that your course is being taught at, we can help with your transport costs. We’re able to provide bus tickets to help you with the cost of travel to and from your place of study.
Childcare: If you’re the parent or carer to children under the age of three, who are not in school, we may be able to help with the cost of childcare while you attend your course.
DBS: If you’re studying a course with us and a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check is required for your work placement, we can help you pay for it.
