Our Finance team are here to help you with support, help and guidance on all aspects of funding and travel to college.

Studying at college is more achievable than you think with financial support available to many students. The following schemes are available to assist you:

Welsh Government Learning Grant for Further Education
(Previously known as Assembly Learning Grant)

You can apply for a Welsh Government Learning Grant for Further Education
(WGLGFE) of up to £1500 to help with the cost of studying. You may be eligible
for a WGLGFE if:
• You are aged 19 or over on 1 September 2020
• Your household income is £18,370 or less
• You meet the residence and nationality rules set out for the WGLGFE
• You are attending an approved full time (15 hours per week) or part time (8
hours per week). This must involve at least 275 hours of study.
• You are studying a Further Education Course
• You are not receiving funding for your course from another source

Applications forms are available from May online at www.studentfinancewales.co.uk/wglgfe or you can ring:

0300 200 40 50

Educational Maintenance Allowance

You can apply for an Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) of £30 a week (paid fortnightly) if you decide to study at college.

You may be eligible for EMA if:
• You are aged 16,17 or 18 years of age on the 1st September 2020
• You meet the residence and nationality rules set out for the EMA
• You attend a eligible course at a school or college which involves at least 12
hours or more study per week
• Live in a household that has an annual income of £20,817 or less per year
(£23,077 if more than one young person in household)
Applications forms are from May online at www.studentfinancewales.co.uk/ema or you can ring 0300 200 40 50

Financial Contingency Fund

Due to uncertainty regarding Welsh Government Funding we hope by the start of the Academic Year that we can provide help through the FCF fund. The Financial Contingency Fund (FCF) is a means tested grant for students who are experiencing financial hardship. Students can be assisted with childcare costs, college excursions, books, equipment, transport and examination / registration fees.You are eligible to apply whether you are on a full or part-time course and all applications are considered on an individual basis. This fund is means-tested and depends on your financial hardship and personal circumstances. Evidence must be provided. The application forms can be accessed from the Cash Office when students enrol or start their course.

Free Meals

Students must be 18 or under on the 1st September 2020 and on a full time course. The students will receive £3.20 every day on their student card everyday which must be spent on meals. Students or parent(s) of student must be in receipt of State Benefits. Students can apply for Free Meals through the FCF application form. Evidence must be provided.

Transport

All students aged 16, 17 or 18 years on September 1st 2020, who are attending full time course at the college, live in the Merthyr Tydfil County Borough and reside three miles or more from the college, will be eligible for free transport. Application forms for Merthyr Transport will be available in the Cash Office when the student enrols or starts their course. For those students attending the college who reside outside of the County Borough will need to contact your home local authority to determine the transport arrangements that apply from that area.

Contact details for local authorities are as follows:

M.T.C.B.C
Tel: 01685 726256

Powys
Tel: 01597 826477
Web: www.powys.gov.uk

R.C.T
Tel: 01443 494853
Web: www.rctcbc.gov.uk

Caerphilly C.B.C.
Tel: 01443 864841
Web: www.caerphilly.gov.uk

Blaenau Gwent
Tel: 01495 355435
Web: www.blaenau-gwent.gov.uk

If students are refused transport by their local authority, students can provide evidence of rejection and the College will reimburse travel. Students 19 and over will have to find the own way to college and reclaim their travel expenses. This fund is means-tested and depends on your financial hardship and personal circumstances. This can be accessed through the FCF application form. Evidence must be provided.

A refund of travel expenses can be paid in respect of:-
• Cost of bus or train to and from college – students must use the cheapest
form of transport (receipts must be provided and will be paid weekly in
arrears)
• A mileage allowance of 13p per mile (will be paid weekly in arrears)

For further information please contact:
• Gillian Harris – g.harris2@merthyr.ac.uk
• Gavin Edwards – g.edwards@merthyr.ac.uk

Costs of Studying

All further education learners are required to pay a £20 administration fee when they enrol. 

Fees for full-time further education students who are under 19

All full-time courses are free to students under 19. All you will need to pay is a £20 registration fee when you enrol at the college. Some courses may incur clothing or material costs which you will need to pay for. Further details are provided on the individual course pages.

Fees for part-time further education students who are under 19

All part-time courses will incur a tuition, examination fee and £20 registration fee. Some courses may incur clothing or material costs which you will need to pay for. Further details are provided on the individual course pages. To assist learners, a new direct debit scheme is being introduced to help spread the cost of tuition and examination fees.

Scholarships and Bursaries 

The college offers a range of scholarships for learners progressing from the Merthyr Tydfil schools. These include:

• ❚❚ An Academic Excellence Scholarship - for learners who achieve 7 or more grade A’s
  ❚❚ Inspirational Learner of the Year Award
  ❚❚ Vocational Excellence Award
  ❚❚ Sporting Excellence Award
  ❚❚ Welsh Valleys Engineering Project Ambassador Bursary

To register your details for the scholarship, please contact Shelby Berry on s.berry@merthyr.ac.uk

Refund Policy 

Refunds and Course Cancellations

The College reserves the right to close any course at any time. If the College closes a course and there is no alternative the College will provide a full refund of tuition fees less any examination of registration fees already incurred.

If a FE student withdraws from their course more than 28 days after the start of study, they will be required to pay all outstanding fees. If a student wishes to request a refund of fees, they will be required to fill out a Refund of Course Fees Form and submit it to the Head of Finance.  Please note that that an administration charge will be deducted from any refund due.

If a HE student withdraws from their course the refund will be calculated using the University of South Wales Tuition Fees Regulations. A summary of which is as follows:

Withdrawn up to 5^th October – Zero fees 

Withdrawn October 6^th to January 4^th  – 25% of the fees 

Withdrawn January 5^th to April 19^th – 50% of the fees  

Withdrawn April 20^th onwards – 100% of the fees