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Financial help is available and will be dependent on whether you are studying a full-time or part-time course. Types of support available are listed below:
Full Time Courses Support
Tuition Fees
- FE College in NI: No fees are charged for full time courses.
- FE College outside NI (i.e England, Scotland, Wales or ROI): Fees may be charged by the college. The maximum we can consider for the 2026/27 academic year is £930. Your college may charge more than this.
If you are entitled to help with your fees you will receive a letter from the Education Authority to confirm this. You must bring a copy of this letter to your college fee office which will let them know that we will accept responsibility for the payment of your fees. Payment will be made when the college send us an invoice. If you have paid your own fees the college will arrange a refund for you.
Maintenance Grant
Maintenance Grants are available for students living in Northern Ireland and provide financial support towards living costs. They are assessed on household income.
| Household Income | Amount of Grant-living at Parent’s Home | Amount of Grant-Living away from Parent’s home |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 21,330 | £1674 | £2092 |
| 21,331-26,160 | £1490 | £1863 |
| 26,161-31,580 | £1306 | £1633 |
| 31,581-38,805 | £1122 | £1402 |
| 38,806 and over | No Funding | No Funding |
The Education Authority will pay the maintenance grant in three instalments, one at the start of each term. Attendance on the course will be monitored by your College. Your attendance may affect your grant.
Childcare Grant
You can claim a childcare grant if you are using registered or approved childcare. Your childcare provider must be registered or approved by the Health and Social Care Trust or, an out-of-school club who provide childcare for up to four hours a day, and more than five days a year, which is available either before or after school and during school holidays. If you are under 20 years of age at the start of your course you should apply to Care to Learn Scheme. Ask at your College for details of this scheme.
You will not be eligible for the Childcare Grant if the childcare is provided by a registered or approved childcare provider who is: Your partner, A relative of the child and providing care in the child’s own home, A relative of the child providing care away from the child’s own home and is only caring for children he or she is related to.
A relative of the child means a parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, brother or sister related by blood or marriage, or living arrangements.
You can claim for childcare costs during term time and Christmas and Easter holidays if your childminder charges you. You can also make a claim if you are on a two year course and need help with childcare costs for the summer holidays between year one and year two.
The childcare grant application must be returned during Term 1 if you wish to claim childcare grant for Term 1. If the application is received after Term 1 the grant WILL NOT be backdated. This also applies to late claims for Term 2 and Term 3.
NOTE: If you are a full time student claiming Childcare Grant you will not be entitled to claim childcare from Inland Revenue.
- How much can I get?
How much you get depends on your income and that of your dependants (including your husband, wife or partner). The table below will give you an idea of the support available.
| Household Income (£) | 1 Child | 2 or more children |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 21,330 | £130 | £220 |
| 21,331-26,160 | £110 | £188 |
| 26,161-31,580 | £78 | £133 |
| 31,581-38,805 | £40 | £70 |
| 38,806 and over | No funding | No funding |
- What do I need to supply?
We will need the following information to process your claim:- A childcare grant application CG1. You can indicate you wish to apply for childcare on your online application or contact the FE Team at fegrants@eani.org.uk, or 028 9047 0155, and select option 2, to request an application.
- Your child/children’s original long version birth certificate;
- Your current Universal Credit statement
- Your childminder’s current certificate of registration.
- How is this grant paid?
We will pay the childcare provider directly. If your childcare costs are more than the grant covers you are responsible for the balance.
- Do I have to repay this grant?
You will not have to repay this help unless you withdraw from the course or give inaccurate information.
Part Time Courses Support
The table below will give you an idea of the amount of grant available for part time study.
| Household Income | Grant for Fee Support | Grant for books & stationery |
|---|---|---|
| Up to £15,000 | £465 | £265 |
| £15,001-£20,000 | £275 | £157 |
| £20,001-£25,000 | £185 | £105 |
| £25,001 and over | Nil | Nil |
Grant for Fees
If you are entitled to help you will receive a letter from the Education Authority to confirm this. You must bring a copy of this letter to your college fee office. This will let them know how much help you are entitled to in relation to your fees. The College will send us an invoice for the amount stated on your letter and we will pay them directly. If you have paid your own fees or paid too much fees the college will arrange a refund for you.
Grant for Books & Stationery
The letter you receive from the Education Authority will also tell you if you are eligible for any help towards the cost of books and stationery. When we receive confirmation from the college that you have been accepted and are attending the course we will pay this grant to you. This is a one off payment for the year. Normally this is paid into your bank account (if you have supplied your account details). If you do not supply your bank details a cheque will be sent to your home address.
Childcare Grant
You can claim a childcare grant if you are using registered or approved childcare. Your childcare provider must be registered or approved by the Health and Social Care Trust or, an out-of-school club who provide childcare for up to four hours a day, and more than five days a year, which is available either before or after school and during school holidays. If you are under 20 years of age at the start of your course you should apply to Care to Learn Scheme. Ask at your College for details of this scheme.
You will not be eligible for the Childcare Grant if the childcare is provided by a registered or approved childcare provider who is your partner, a relative of the child and providing care in the child’s own home, a relative of the child providing care away from the child’s own home and is only caring for children he or she is related to.
A relative of the child means a parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, brother or sister related by blood or marriage, or living arrangements.
You can claim for childcare costs during:
- Term time;
- Christmas and Easter holidays if your childminder charges you;
- If you are on a two year course and need help with childcare costs for the summer holidays between year one and year two;
- The grant does not cover private study time.
NB: If your childcare provider requires you to use the childcare facility for a minimum of 2 days per week and your course runs for 1 day a week, you will only receive help with childcare costs for the day you attend.
The childcare grant application must be returned during Term 1 if you wish to claim childcare grant for Term 1. If the application is received after Term 1 the grant WILL NOT be backdated. This also applies to late claims for Term 2 and Term 3.
NOTE: If you work part-time you may already receive help with childcare costs through the Tax Credit system for the time you are at work. We will only consider claims for additional childcare costs if they are incurred in connection with your part-time course.
- How much can I get?
How much you get depends on your income and that of your dependants (including your husband, wife or partner) and also on the number of hours involved in your course. The table below will give you an idea of the support available.
The number of hours stated refers to the number of taught hours plus compulsory placement hours.
| Household Income | 1 Child 1-7 Hours/week | 1 Child 8-14 Hours/Week | 2 or more Children 1-7 Hours/Week | 2 or more Children 8-14 Hours/Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Up to £21,330 | £33 | £65 | £56 | £110 |
| £21,331-£26,160 | £28 | £56 | £48 | £95 |
| £26,161-£31,580 | £20 | £39 | £34 | £67 |
| £31,581-£38,805 | £10 | £20 | £17 | £34 |
| £38,806 and over | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil |
- What do I need to supply?
We will need the following information to process your claim:- A childcare grant application CG2. You can indicate you wish to apply for childcare on your online application or contact the FE Team at fegrants@eani.org.uk or 028 9047 0155, and select option 2 to request an application.
- Your child/children’s original long version birth certificate;
- Your current Universal Credit statement
- Your childminder’s current certificate of registration;
- Your college need to verify the number of hours involved in your course.
- How is this grant paid?
We will pay the childcare provider directly. If your childcare costs are more than the grant covers you are responsible for the balance.
- Do I have to repay this grant?
You will not have to repay this help unless you withdraw from the course or give inaccurate information.