Fees and Funding
Fees
Fees are payable at the start of every year of a two or three year programme. Fees published for Year 2 and/or Year 3 may vary due to annual increase in awarding body fees such as registration/examination fees. Northern Regional College make every effort to highlight additional charges within the course page information.
Further Education (Level 1-3) full-time courses including Apprenticeships have no course fees for most students:
Level 3 Further Education (full-time)
- There are no tuition fees for Level 1 – 3 full-time students aged between 16 and 18.
- If you are aged 19-24 and have already achieved a Level 3 qualification, fees will apply. Details of fees are available from any campus reception.
- If you are aged 25 or older, fees will apply unless in receipt of a FE grant. (If you are aged 25 or older, admission to a full-time Further Education course will be considered on an individual basis at the College’s discretion).
Level 3 Access Courses (full-time)
- If you are in receipt of a FE grant, no fees apply.
- If you are aged 19 year or older and have already achieved a Level 3 qualification (3 A Level equivalent), fees will apply. Details of fees are available from any campus reception.
Fees indicated on this site apply only to UK residents and those having EEA Migrant Worker status (EU). Those who are not in these categories must contact admissions@nrc.ac.uk for the appropriate fee.
Additional Mandatory Costs for Higher Education courses
Additional mandatory costs are essential expenses which are required in order to complete your course. These costs are separate from, and in addition to, any course tuition fees. Most courses do not have any additional mandatory costs. Examples of additional mandatory costs includes trips which are included as a component of your course, essential textbooks which are not available from our learning resource centres, essential equipment which is not provided by the College, professional memberships which are linked directly to the course.
These costs do not include stationery materials or items which a student may choose to purchase, personal computer equipment or software or additional textbooks or journals, memberships of professional bodies not essential for your course. Many students will choose to purchase their own equipment and materials during their course, these are not mandatory costs. For most courses, equipment and materials will be provided by the College.
Payment of Fees
Payment of fees must be arranged prior to course commencement. Please contact any Campus Reception to arrange one of the following:
- Payment of your fees in full.
- Confirm that proof of application for funding has been uploaded to the online admissions portal and a hard copy of the Liability of Fees Form has been received by the College. Along with payment of any additional fees, if applicable.
- Confirm that proof of funding entitlement has been uploaded and payment of additional fees, if applicable.
- Set up a Direct Debit Agreement (for courses over £200).
- Confirm that an approved Employer Consent form has been uploaded to your online Prospect account and a hard copy received by the College.
Please note: confirmation of your funding entitlement should also be forwarded to studentfinance@nrc.ac.uk.
If your fees are being paid by a sponsor/employer please contact the College to confirm that an approved Employer Consent Form has been completed and uploaded to your online Prospect account.
Higher Education Full-Time Students Options for Payment of Fees
The tuition fees for Northern Regional College full-time Higher Education courses for 2024/2025 is £2700 per annum (with the exception of Foundation Degree in Early Childhood Studies, validated by Stranmillis University). These may be subject to change.
The options for payment of these fees are detailed below.
Option 1 – Payment by Student Loan
You may apply to Student Loans Company for a Tuition Fee Loan for payment of your fees. You can apply online or download an application form from the Student Finance website www.studentfinance.co.uk. It is advisable to apply as early as possible. The College requires a copy of the letter you receive from Student Loans Company confirming that you will be receiving a Tuition Fee Loan.
Option 2 – You do not require a Student Loan
a) Fees may be paid in full by cash, cheque or credit/debit card.
OR
b) Fees may be paid in instalments by direct debit. This means that you will be required to pay a 25% deposit. Up to three subsequent payments will typically be collected from your bank account by direct debit on 1 November 2024, 2 December 2024 and 2 January 2025.
Any refunds will only be considered when the College has cancelled the course or in exceptional circumstances such as medical. All students enrolled in the College must pay a deposit or produce evidence of an application for a tuition fee loan.
Part-Time Students Payment of Fees
Fees may be paid by cash, cheque, credit card or debit card or online via the online admissions portal. Online payments do not allow for part payment. Where the total composite fee for all enrolled courses exceeds £200 payment a direct debit can be offered, provided enrolments for multiple courses are processed on the same day. All fees for courses commencing in the autumn term must be collected by 28 February 2025. The initial deposit payable at the time of enrolment will be a minimum of £100, or 25% of the value of the composite fee, whichever is greater; up to 3 subsequent payments will become due on 1 November 2024, 2 December 2024 and 2 January 2025. Direct Debit forms can be collected at any College reception and enrolment cannot be completed until the form has been completed in full and returned to reception, along with deposit due. Default on any payment will result in enrolment on the course/programme of study becoming invalid. Any exception or departure to these dates in exceptional circumstances requires prior approval of a Vice-Principal.
This arrangement will apply to both Home and Overseas students who have a valid UK bank account.
Please note:
- The direct debit agreement is only available for enrolments on or before the second week of the class
- Default in any payment will result in enrolment on the course/programme of study becoming invalid.
Part-time FE/HE students applying for funding need to provide evidence of their funding application such as acknowledgement email or confirmation from Education Authority/Student Finance NI, this evidence should be uploaded to the online admissions portal and can also be handed into any reception. A hard copy of the Liability of Fees Form must be received by the College prior to enrolment. Once funding application is approved confirmation of funding award should be uploaded to the online admissions portal and a copy forwarded to studentfinance@nrc.ac.uk.
If application for funding is unsuccessful the student is liable for payment of fees in full. All fees to be collected by 28 February 2025.
Queries regarding Student Loans
Contact: Student Finance
T: 028 9085 5048 or E: studentfinance@nrc.ac.uk
Queries regarding payment by direct debit
Contact: Credit Control Officer
E: finance@nrc.ac.uk
Financial Support and Funding
All full-time Higher Education students may be eligible for a Northern Regional College Bursary up to £250 per academic year, subject to assessment. Find out further information on what financial support such as scholarships, grants etc is available to help you when studying a course.
Glossary of Terms
Course fees for each year: The fee for each year includes, tuition fee, plus an exam/registration fee for that year. Fees are payable at the time of enrolment for each year.
Reduced Fees
Reduced rates apply to the tuition fee only and are calculated as 50% of the tuition fee for the course, subject to a minimum of £30. This rate can only be claimed by applicants in the following categories. Please note: this does not apply to leisure courses.
| People Entitled to Reduced Fees | Evidence Required |
|---|---|
| Universal Credit (must have an annual household income of <£14,000) | A current letter/print out of your latest Universal Credit statement. Proof of income also required (i.e. P60). |
| Income Based Jobseekers Allowance | Current letter of entitlement. |
| Income Support | Current letter of entitlement. |
| Working Tax Credit (must have an annual household income of <£16,000) | A current TC602 form (Final Tax Credit Award Notice) showing annual household income. A provisional TC602 form will not be accepted. |
| Child Tax Credit (must have an annual household income of <£16,000) | A current TC602 form (Final Tax Credit Award Notice) showing annual household income. A provisional TC602 form will not be accepted. |
| Pensions Credit | A current letter stating that you are in receipt of Pension Credit. |
| Rates Relief/Housing Benefit | Notification letter. |
| Means Tested Employment Support Allowance (ESA) | Current letter of entitlement. |
| Other Means Tested Benefits | Current letter of entitlement. |
| Northern Regional College Full-time Students | Students must be currently enrolled on a Full Time course at time of enrolment. |
* All circumstances are at time of enrolment. Only one discount or fee reduction may be claimed for each individual enrolment.
Refunds
Full-time Higher Education Refunds
Full-time higher education students who have not formally withdrawn from their course before 8 November 2024 are liable for full course fees.
All other Refunds
The College will make every endeavour to run courses and programmes which are advertised. All courses are, however, required to have a viable number of students in order to contribute to operating costs. In some circumstances, classes may be combined to achieve viability and in some cases the College regrets that classes may have to be cancelled due to lack of demand.
Students enrolling on any course can cancel or transfer within 14 days of enrolment (booking the course) and will receive a full refund of payments made or the difference in payment due, if transferring.
For any course cancelled or changed by the College, a full refund of the total fee paid to date will be issued to the student, unless other exceptional circumstances prevail (eg. transfer of course). If you are unable to continue with your course for medical or Access NI reasons, then a refund may be allowed. Other refund applications shall be considered only in exceptional circumstances by the Vice-Principal Teaching & Learning and the Head of Finance.
Requests for refunds must be received in writing from the student on the designated refund request form and must be applied for within the academic year.
No form is required where the College cancels the programme.