Funding Adult Education: Adult Learning Grant

The Adult Learning Grant (ALG) may be available to you if you’re eligible and it can give you up to an additional £30 per week to study if you’re going to be taking your first NVQ level 2 or level 3 qualification. It may not seem like a lot of money but it’s better than nothing and if you’re entitled to it, you might as well apply for it as it can help out over the weeks and months with things like buying books or helping you with the cost of your travel, both of which can all add up to a tidy sum.

What Type Of Courses Might I Choose From?

The range of NVQ level 2 and level 3 courses you can choose from for which you might be eligible to receive the ALG covers the full range of business and industry including the following:

• Construction industry
• Business and administration
• Health and care work
• Service industries
• Media
• Sciences

Eligibility

You’ll need to meet specific criteria to determine whether or not you’re eligible to receive the ALG. Much of that rests on the income you receive including benefits and there are also a number of other requirements. You must be aged 19 or over (although you can submit an application a month before your 19th birthday. You must be living and studying in England and the course must be either an NVQ level 2 or level 3 and it must be the first course you’ve taken at either level. The course must see you undertaking a minimum of 450 hours of ‘guided learning’ over the course of a year which is the equivalent of around at least 12 hours in college each week. It must also be a course that is provided by a college or other training establishment which has been approved by the Learning and Skills Council. Obviously, even if you meet the above criteria, you can still have the ALG allowance removed if your college attendance record falls below the stipulated requirements in terms of the number of hours.

Eligibility - Income And Benefits

This academic year (2007-8), you are entitled to ALG if you meet the above criteria and your gross income is below £19,513 if you’re single or if you are married or living with a partner and your combined income is below £30,810. The gross figure takes into account your gross income from any employment you’re in (even if that’s part time), plus any ‘in work’ benefits you might be in receipt of such as working tax credit or child tax credit. You won’t be eligible, however, if you’re receiving ‘out of work’ benefits such as Jobseeker’s Allowance.

How To Apply

If you think you are eligible and qualify for receiving the ALG, you can make an application pack from either the college you intend studying at or from the advice line at LearnDirect. Both will be able to offer you advice on how and when to submit your application and be able to answer questions such as how to avoid delays in the application process and what supporting documentary evidence you’ll need to supply with your application.