FUNDING YOUR TUITION
16-18 YEARS OLD
If you are 16 to 18 years old on the 31st August and starting a course in September, and you’re a UK national or a ‘Home’ student, your course is free with no tuition fees to pay. For more information on the definition of a Home student please visit the UK Council for International Student Affairs website.
19+ YEARS OLD
If you are aged 19 or older at the start of your Level 3 or Level 4 Diploma course, you will be required to pay the full course fee. Advanced Learner Loans are available for students aged 19 and over*. You don’t need to have your income assessed to be eligible. You’ll only start paying it back once you’re earning over £25,000. You’ll pay back 9% of anything you earn over this amount.
For more details about the Advanced Learner Loans and to apply, please visit the government website.
*Advanced Learner Loans are not available for any Level 2 courses or Level 3 Award in Facial Electrotherapy.
COURSE DEPOSITS
If you are aged 19 or older and applying for a Level 3 or Level 4 course, a deposit is required to secure your place. This must be paid on the LCBT portal within two weeks of accepting your offer.
You’ll need to pay:
- £350 if you are paying privately (£300 of which will be taken off the final balance)
- £50 if you are taking out an Advanced Learner Loan
Your deposit is non-refundable if you change your mind about studying with us. If the course is cancelled, your deposit will be refunded in full.
KIT FEE
All Level 2 and Level 3 courses have a fee for the beauty, hair, or make-up kit you’ll use as part of your studies. The kit fee is payable at enrolment. Please refer to the relevant course page for the specific kit fee that applies for your chosen course.
PAYING YOUR FEES
All tuition fees and kit fees must be paid during the online enrolment process.
- If you are paying privately, your tuition fee balance is due at enrolment. This will be your course fees, minus your initial deposit.
- If you are paying by Advanced Learner Loan, you will need to provide your unique learner loan reference during online enrolment.
If you wish to pay via alternative methods, such as cheque, credit card or direct debit, please contact our finance team. Tuition fees are subject to change, and the amount due will be confirmed at the time of enrolment.
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
We welcome international applicants with approval from UK Visas and Immigration on our courses. If you’re an international student, you will pay the full course fee and do not qualify for concessionary fees or Advanced Learner Loans.
If you are an EU resident living in the UK with settled status, you are not considered an international student. You’ll need to provide evidence of your settled status – for example, your share code – when you apply.
EU residents not living in the UK with settled status are classed as international students and may require a UK Student Visa to study at LCBT. You can check if you need a UK Student Visa on the government website.
We are unfortunately unable to provide visa sponsorship for any of our courses and can only accept international students if you already hold valid immigration permission allowing you to study in the UK.
For more information about applying to the London College of Beauty Therapy as an international student, please contact applicant.services@lcbt.co.uk
ADVANCED LEARNER LOANS
An Advanced Learner Loan is available for students aged 19 or over who are studying for a higher level than their existing qualifications*. Loans cover your tuition fees only (you will have to pay any kit fees separately) and the minimum amount you can borrow is £300.
*Advanced Learner Loans are not available for any Level 2 courses or Level 3 Award in Facial Electrotherapy.
REPAYING YOUR LOAN
You won’t need to start repaying your loan until the April after you complete or leave your course, and only if your income is over the £25,000 repayment threshold. You’ll pay back 9% of any money you earn over £25,000. On a salary of £30,000, you would pay back approximately £37 per month. You can also make voluntary repayments at any time.
You’ll have to pay back the Advanced Learner Loan plus any interest. Interest is charged from the date the first payment is made to your learning provider. During your course and for one month after you leave, interest is charged at the Retail Price Index (RPI) + 4.3% (information correct as of October 2024). After that, interest is linked to your income.
Any outstanding balance is automatically written off 30 years after your scheduled qualification end date.
ELIGIBILITY
Your eligibility for an Advanced Learner Loan doesn’t depend on your income, and there are no credit checks.
To be eligible, you must be:
- Aged 19 or older on the first day of your course
- Currently living in the UK and have been living in the UK for at least three years before starting your course
- A UK citizen or have a ‘settled status’ – meaning there are no limits on how long you can stay in the UK
- Enrolled on a Level 3 or Level 4 Diploma*
You can check if you’re eligible using this Eligibility Checker Tool
*Advanced Learner Loans are not available for any Level 2 courses or Level 3 Award in Facial Electrotherapy.
HOW TO APPLY FOR AN ADVANCED LEARNER LOAN
You can apply for an Advanced Learner Loan online once you’ve secured your place on an eligible course. Applications usually open around the end of June for the following September intake.
After paying your deposit, we’ll send you a Learning & Funding Information Letter (LAFILS), with all the information you’ll need to complete your loan application.
Before taking out a loan, you should consider all your options. If you want advice on managing your finances, visit the Money & Pensions Service for impartial advice.
For more information on loans and how to apply, please visit the following government websites:
For information and advice on learning, career and funding options, visit the National Careers Services website.
BURSARIES
LCBT is committed to providing education opportunities for all. We offer a range of bursaries to support the most disadvantaged students. We only accept applications for bursaries after you have completed enrolment and funds are distributed amongst those most in need. You can apply for a range of means tested and age targeted support can include a contribution towards travel costs, laptop loans and Free School Meals, but limited funds are available.
When you apply for a bursary, you’ll need to provide us with evidence so we can assess your eligibility for the bursary. We’ll need to do this every year you are studying with us.
16 TO 19 BURSARY FUND
We have a several bursaries available for students aged 16 to 19, funded by the Education & Skills Funding Agency (ESFA). Each year, the ESFA sends a fixed amount to cover all bursary types, which include:
FREE MEALS FUND
You may be eligible for the Free Meals fund if you are receiving, or have parents/guardians who are receiving, one or more of the following benefits:
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- The Guarantee element of State Pension Credit
- Child Tax Credit (provided you’re not entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190, as assessed by His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC))
- Working Tax Credit run-on – this is paid for 4 weeks after someone stops qualifying for Working Tax Credit
- Universal Credit with net earnings not exceeding the equivalent of £7,400 pa (after tax and not including any benefits you get)
16 TO 19 DISCRETIONARY BURSARY
To be eligible for support from the Discretionary Bursary fund, your household income must be under a certain amount. The current academic year’s threshold is £40,000 per year (this could change for future academic years). You can apply if you:
- Are on a full-time course that’s fully funded by the ESFA
- Are living in a household with a joint net annual income of less than £40,000 a year before tax and deductions
- Are ‘settled’ in the UK and have been ordinarily resident for at least three years prior to starting at FRA
- Have pre-settled or settled status post-Brexit. You must be able to evidence that you were resident in the UK prior to 31 December 2020
- Have been recognised as a ‘refugee’ by the UK Government, or the child of a refugee, or have been granted Humanitarian Protection, or have EU Temporary Protection
Please see more details on the residency criteria, visit the UK Council for International Student Affairs or the government website.
You must be 16 or over, but under 19, on 31 August to be eligible for help from the Discretionary Bursary and Free Meals funds during that academic year. If you’re 19 or over, you’ll only be eligible if you’re a ’19+ Continuer’. This means that you’re continuing a course you began when you were 16 to 18 or have an active Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).
VULNERABLE BURSARY FUND
You may be eligible for financial support from the vulnerable bursary fund if you are:
- In care, or are a care leaver
- Receiving Income Support, or Universal Credit because you’re financially supporting yourself or if you’re financially supporting yourself and someone who is dependent on you and living with you e.g. a child or partner
- Receiving Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payments in your own right as well as Employment and Support Allowance or Universal Credit in your own right
- Are on a full-time study programme that is fully funded by the ESFA
ADVANCED LEARNER LOAN BURSARY
If you have an Advanced Learner Loan approved for your course, you may be eligible for additional financial help. Each year, we receive a fixed amount from the Student Loans Company for students with approved loans. To be eligible for the Advanced Learner Loan Bursary Fund you must:
- Have been approved for an Advanced Learner Loan for study in the current year
- Be in a household with a joint net annual income of less than £40,000 a year before tax and deductions (the threshold could change every year)
The amount we award you can vary. We’ll assess you based on the evidence you provide regarding:
- Your cost of travel to LCBT
- The cost of materials and equipment for your course
- The cost of childcare and/or rent
- Your income
CARE TO LEARN SCHEME
The Care to Learn Scheme helps young parents, who start their course under 20 years old, with childcare costs while studying. The scheme is available for publicly funded courses in England and provides funding for childcare and travel to and from the childcare provider. For more details, please visit the government website.
RESIDENTIAL SUPPORT SCHEME
The Residential Support Scheme is available for exceptional situations when the same or a similar substantial Level 2 or Level 3 qualification they want to study can’t be accessed in their local area. Most students who are supported by the Residential Support Scheme live in rural areas and have limited access to a wide range of further education suppliers.
You may qualify if your course is too far away for you to travel daily and you’re studying your first Level 2 or Level 3 qualification. Your course must have at least 16 hours of attendance a week and must last for at least 10 weeks. You may get help from the Residential Support Scheme if you are:
- Aged 16 to 18
- Not able to study a similar course locally
- Not studying at a college offering a residential bursary
- ‘Ordinarily resident’ in England, meaning you’re settled in the UK and have lived in the UK for at least 3 years before your course starts
- Travelling more than 15 miles from your home or your journey takes longer than 2 hours
The amount you get depends on your household income and whether you live and study in London. For more information, please visit the government website.
HOW TO APPLY FOR BURSARIES
We only accept applications for bursaries after you have completed enrolment. To apply, complete the Bursary Fund Application Form. In some cases, we will also need extra supporting evidence before we can assess your application. We assess each application individually and have limited funds available. If you have any questions regarding financial support, contact bursary@lcbt.ac.uk
TRAVEL ASSISTANCE
We understand that travel costs can add up, so we recommend exploring travel discounts that may help reduce your travel fees, such as the following options:
POST-16 TRAVEL ASSISTANCE
For help with travel costs, you can apply to your Local Authority for Post-16 travel assistance. You’ll need to meet their eligibility criteria for this scheme. We recommend contacting your local authority before your course starts to find out if you are eligible. You can find your local authority and their contact details on the government website.
STUDENT OYSTER CARDS
If you’re studying in London, you can also apply for a 16-18 Student Oyster Photo Card to get reduced fares on buses, tubes and trams in and around London. To qualify you must be under 18 on 31 August of the year you’re applying and be a full-time student living in London. For more information and details of the discounts, visit the TFL website.
16-17 RAILCARD
If you’re 16 or 17, you can buy a 16-17 Saver Railcard, which gives you a 50% discount on all train travel, including peak times and season tickets. This Railcard costs £30 and is valid for 12 months or until your 18th birthday, whichever comes first. For more information, or to buy your Railcard, visit the 16-17 Saver website.
16-25 & 26-30 RAILCARDS
If you’re 16-30 and travelling from outside London, you should consider buying a 16-25 Railcard or a 26-30 Railcard, which gives you 1/3 off the cost of a Standard Anytime, Off-Peak, Standard Advanced, and First-Class Advanced fares.
For more details and to purchase, visit:
You can also visit Turn2us for more information on welfare benefits and charitable grants.
