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Somerset College

Student Services - Money Matters

Course Fee Policy

Further Education Courses

  • All course fees must be paid at enrolment to secure a place on a course.
  • There are some courses where ALL learners have to pay full fees. For more information about this, please contact College Information on 01823 366331
  • In all other cases, if you are aged between 16 - 18 years you do not have to pay tuition fees.
  • There are some courses where additional fees such as Material Fee, Studio Fee and Vocational Resource Fees are charged, these have to be paid by all students, in full, at enrolment.
  • In addition to these, some courses require students to attend Educational Visits. Details of the visit costs and dates will be given by your tutor. Payment of these fees must be made before attendance on the visit is permitted.
  • If you are aged 19 or over, you will have to pay all course fees shown, unless you are eligible for free Tuition fees. Please refer to Free Tuition Fees section below.
  • For 2 year courses, the fees shown are for the first year only. There will be a separate fee when you enrol for the second year of your course.

Payment Options

If tuition fees total £300 or more and you are unable to pay your course fees in one sum, approval may be given to pay fees in instalments by Direct Debit.

There is a £30 non refundable administration cost for this method of payment.

If approved, a Direct Debit form must be completed and signed at enrolment and the first instalment paid.

You will need to bring with you the following Bank account/Building Society details that you wish us to take payments from:

  • Account Number
  • Sort Code
  • Account Holding Branch Address

Courses with tuition fees of £300.00 or over can be paid in 3 instalments 50% at enrolment, 25% on the 1 November 2011 and 25% on 1 February 2012.

Payment Options are not available to Employers paying student fees. Overseas learners are required to pay 50% of their fees at application, with the remainder being paid at enrolment. Please contact Finance Office on 01823 366598 for further details.

Employer Paying Fees

If your employer wishes to pay your Course fees, when you enrol you will need to provide either;

  • A formal letter/purchase order on headed paper detailing the costs covered or
  • A completed Employer Agreement Form (contact finance@somerset.ac.ukfor a copy of this form or refer to Finance Office Forms)

Fees are payable in full on receipt of an invoice.

Direct Debit Instalments are not available to employers paying student fees. 

Free Tuition Fees

Please refer to Money Matters – Types of Financial Support

These entitlements cover tuition fees only; it does not cover additional fees such as Exam, Materials or Books. It also does not cover any additional qualification Course fees that you may wish to study.

Refund Policy

If the College cancels a course it will contact the learner and refund the full costs paid by the learner. If a learner withdraws from a course BEFORE the start date of the course the learner will be entitled to a refund of all amounts paid.

If a learner withdraws from the course after the course start date or does not attend the course they have enrolled on there will be no refund of payments made (including tuition, material, registration and exam fees) unless the learner has withdrawn due to a serious medical condition (medical certificate required as evidence). A proportionate refund of tuition fees will then be made (based on the proportion of the course attended), on application to the Vice Principle of Finance and Resources.

In the event of a refund being authorised, exam fees will only be refunded if they have not already been paid to the relevant Examinations Board.

Refunds will normally be paid by cheque within 28 days of authorisation of refund.

Please note that Refunds will only be granted if they adhere to the College Refund Policy.

Higher Education Courses

Somerset College Higher Education tuition fee for the 2011/12 Academic Year will be as follows:

  • all FdA and BA 1st year students will pay £3,360
  • all returning FdA students will pay £2,340
  • all returning BA students will pay £3,360 - this applies only to BA Fashion/Textiles
  • students progressing onto 3rd year top-up will pay £3,360

These fees relate to both new and existing students commencing/ continuing their studies in September 2011. If you are an Overseas Student or you already have a degree level qualification, the fees quoted above may not apply. Please contact College information on 01823 366403 for the correct fee information.

Please contact College Information on 01823 366331 for information on part time Higher Education course fees.

Please refer to the fees quoted above when completing application forms for Tuition Fee Loans or Grants from the Student Finance England.

These fees relate to the 2011/12 academic year only, there will be an increase for future academic years, of which notification will be given accordingly.

Tuition fees payment terms and methods

Students who are in receipt of funding towards their tuition fees

Students receiving any form of funding towards their tuition fees should bring a letter of confirmation to enrolment. You will receive an assessment letter from the Student Finance England, showing details of any grants or tuition fee loans you have applied for and been successfully awarded, this document needs to be seen at enrolment.

If you are part-funded you will need to pay a minimum of 50% of your total contribution at or before enrolment.

Students who need to pay all or part of their tuition fees

Fees must be paid either:

  • In full at, or before, enrolment or
  • Tuition fees can be paid in three installments: - 50% of at enrolment, 25% 1 November 2011 and 25% 1 February 2012.
  • If there are any extra fees, such as Studio Fees, Exhibition Fees etc, these must be paid in full at enrolment.

Payment methods

Fees being paid in full may be paid by any of the following methods:

  • Cash
  • Cheque or Bankers Draft - payable to 'Somerset College'
  • Credit or Debit Card

If tuition fees total £300 or more and you are unable to pay your course fees in one sum, approval may be given to pay fees in instalments by Direct Debit.

There is a £30 non refundable administration cost for this method of payment.

If approved, a Direct Debit form must be completed and signed at enrolment and the first instalment paid.

You will need to bring with you the following Bank account/Building Society details that you wish us to take payments from:

  • Account Number
  • Sort Code
  • Account Holding Branch Address

Payment Options are not available to Employers paying student fees. Overseas learners are required to pay 50% of their fees at application, with the remainder being paid at enrolment. Please contact Finance Office on 01823 366598 for further details.

Refund Policy

If the College cancels a course it will contact the learner and refund the full costs paid by the learner. If a learner withdraws from a course BEFORE the start date of the course the learner will be entitled to a refund of all amounts paid.

If a learner withdraws from the course after the course start date or does not attend the course they have enrolled on there will be no refund of payments made (including tuition, material, registration and exam fees) unless the learner has withdrawn due to a serious medical condition (medical certificate required as evidence).  A proportionate refund of tuition fees will then be made (based on the proportion of the course attended), on application to the Vice Principle of Finance and Resources.

In the event of a refund being authorised, exam fees will only be refunded if they have not already been paid to the relevant Examinations Board. 

Refunds will normally be paid by cheque within 28 days of authorisation of refund.

Please note that Refunds will only be granted if they adhere to the College Refund Policy.

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