Support
A safe and supportive experience for all our learners.
Learning support
Everything we do is to help you succeed. No matter where you want to get to or where you are starting from, we want to help you achieve your ambitions. Your wellbeing is very important to us and we understand that some learners need more support to meet their needs.
We work with learners, their families and external partners to support learning on full- and part-time courses at college, leisure courses, right through to moving into employment or higher-level learning.
To learn more about the support we provide, please contact us.
If you are aged 19+ and not in receipt of income-related benefits, you will need to pay for all fees and programme costs.
You might not have to pay fees if you are:
- aged 19+, unemployed, receiving benefits and seeking employment on a programme that is eligible
- aged 19+ and working towards—but have not already achieved—a GCSE in English and maths at Grade 9-4 (A*–C)
- aged 19+, employed and earning less than £17,004 per annum, and your programme is eligible
- aged between 19-23 when you start your programme, this is your first full Level 2 or 3 qualification and your programme is eligible
A limited number of free community learning places will be made available on some courses where indicated and to be eligible, you will need to be:
- aged 19+ unemployed and receiving benefits
- aged 19+ employed and earning less than £17,004 per annum
If your course is eligible for an Advanced Learner Loan, your course is non-funded, so you are not eligible for bursary funding until you have confirmation of the loan. You may apply to get financial support from the Loan Bursary Fund after you've received a letter approving your bursary.
Bursary funds cannot support course fees if you are eligible for an Advanced Learner Loan.
If you are aged between 19-23 when you start your programme, this is your first full Level 2 or 3 qualification and your programme is eligible you may not have to pay fees. Contact us to find out if you're eligible before enrolling.
If you are studying on a full-time Level 3 or 4 programme or apprenticeship, you are eligible to apply for a loan to help you pay your tuition fees. These loans are not means-tested or subject to credit checks, and you start repaying the loan when you earn over £25,725 per year.
Loans for Access to Higher education programmes are cleared if you go on to complete a higher education programme with the support of a higher education student loan.
For more information regarding eligibility criteria, please visit the government website.
Please note that the following area is only for those with an offer for a course at our colleges. For access online, a link will be sent with your joining instructions.
Please be reassured that your application will remain confidential, please refer to our privacy policy on our website.
If you need help filling out the form, you can call an adviser on 0800 612 6008 and we will be happy to help.
Apply early!
Please apply as early as you can. These Government bursary funds are limited, we will distribute them on a first come, first served basis. It is possible that the fund might be exhausted by the time you apply.
Careers advice
For adults aged 19 and over, the National Careers Service can offer free and impartial advice within the Thames Valley. They can help you to identify your skills, look at your career options, and develop your CV and interview skills. Book a careers consultation today by email or by calling 0800 612 6008.
Take a look at our courses
With a wide range of courses there is something to suit everyone. Find a part-time or short course for you.
I’ve been working as a mechanic for a long time, but after taking up a new hobby in woodwork, I realised I wanted to try and pursue that as a career. I’ve really enjoyed working with other people and giving support to my classmates. I’m now trying to get into the teaching side of things, as I’ve found it really rewarding.Neil, Furniture at Oxford
Our learning locations
There's plenty to discover at your local Activate Learning College and beyond in your community
