Breaking down barriers to education

Access to education shouldn't depend on what you can afford. Widening participation across further and adult education has been a long-running focus for colleges and government alike, and it starts with removing the financial barriers that stop people enrolling in the first place.

Whether you're 16 or 60, our fees, finance and funding support is designed to make sure money is never the reason you miss out on a course that could change your career.

Why widening access to education still matters

Greater Manchester has no shortage of options: further education colleges, sixth forms, school sixth form centres and universities, all catering to people of different ages, abilities and backgrounds. Having the choice is one thing. Being able to afford to take it up is another, and that's true at every stage of life, from a school leaver working out their next step to an adult considering a career change.

Recent research highlights the importance of encouraging more people to engage with learning opportunities. The Learning and Work Institute's Adult Participation in Learning Survey 2025 found that just one in five adults (21%) were currently engaged in learning of any kind. This is down from 30% the year before, with participation over the last three years dropping to 42% from 52%.

The fall has hit working adults hardest, and access to employer-funded training is often unevenly spread too. Higher earners are almost twice as likely to have learned at work in the last three years as those on lower incomes. Flexible study options and financial support can help more people take advantage of learning opportunities.

Removing those barriers creates more opportunities for people to start a course and take the next step towards their goals. That's as true for a school leaver weighing up a T Level as it is for an adult thinking about retraining after a career break or a redundancy, and it's why the range of financial support on offer matters just as much as the range of courses.

Removing barriers for school leavers (16 to 18)

If you're 16 to 18, you won't pay course fees or exam costs at The Manchester College. But other costs, such as travel, food on campus and course kit, can still add up. That's why we offer a package of financial support for school leavers, including:

• The Access to Industry Award, covering travel, course kit and equipment up to £500, and college meals for eligible households
• Free bus travel through Our Pass for 16 and 17 year olds in Greater Manchester, or TMC Go for those who don't qualify
• Up to £5.50 a day in free college meals for eligible students, plus free tea and toast every morning
• Additional support for students who are care experienced or living independently.

One application through the Apply Portal covers everything you're eligible for, so there's no need to apply separately for each type of support.

Funding and costs for adult learners (19+)

Adults aged 19 and over face a different set of costs, and a different set of options.

Depending on your circumstances, funding for adult learners can include full fee remission through the Adult Skills Fund if your household income falls below the relevant threshold. This is currently £25,000 for college bursary tuition fees, rising to £32,400 for Level 3 courses funded by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority. Support may also include the 19+ Access to Industry Award for travel, exam fees and childcare. GCSE English and maths are usually fee-free, regardless of your existing qualifications.

Advanced Learner Loans: funding beyond fee remission

For many adults, an Advanced Learner Loan is what makes a Level 3 or Level 4 course possible. It's available to anyone who will be 19 or older on the first day of their course, doesn't depend on your income, and comes with no credit check or upper age limit.

According to GOV.UK's eligibility guidance, you'll usually need to have lived in the UK for three years before your course starts. Repayments only begin once your income rises above the government's threshold, currently £480 a week.

If you take out a loan for an Access to Higher Education Diploma and go on to a university-level course, the outstanding balance of that loan can be written off entirely, so it never needs to be repaid.

Funding for higher education and degree-level study

If you're progressing to a degree, foundation degree or HNC/HND through our partner UCEN Manchester, funding works differently again. Tuition Fee Loans and Maintenance Loans are available through Student Finance England, and students who are struggling with day-to-day costs can also apply to the UCEN Manchester Bursary, which offers additional support for progression, living costs and hardship, administered by the Future U team.

The wider safety net: travel, childcare and hardship funds

Beyond tuition, we know the day-to-day costs of studying can still get in the way. Support available across the college includes:

• TMC Go and Our Pass, helping with the cost of getting to and from campus
• Childcare funding of up to £175 a week per child under two, and up to £350 a week where a family needs support for children both under and over two
• Care2Learn, offering up to £160 per child per week in childcare support for parents under 20
• Breaking Barriers, a hardship fund covering everything from interview clothing to UCAS fees and emergency IT equipment.

None of this requires guesswork. Applications are made through the Apply Portal or directly with the Careers and Welfare team, who can talk you through what you're likely to be eligible for before you commit to a course.

Why this support matters more than ever

Bursaries and loans exist because finances shouldn't decide who gets to learn and who doesn't. We've seen students use this support to secure work experience with major employers, win national awards, and change direction entirely, often because a bursary or loan removed the one obstacle standing between them and a course they wanted to study.

With national participation in adult learning falling and cost still the most commonly cited reason people give up on it, that kind of support matters more, not less.

Breaking down barriers to education means more than opening the door. It means making sure people can actually walk through it, and stay long enough to finish what they started.

Ready to find out what you're entitled to?

If you're unsure what funding applies to you, speak to our Careers and Welfare team before you apply. They'll walk you through your options and help you understand exactly what support is available for your circumstances and your course.