The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) have a national funding rate for each level 3 qualification. The funding rate is based on the number of hours required to complete the course and includes a national fee assumption so that learners (not eligible for full fee remission) will contribute to the cost of the course. For the 2007/08 academic year the national fee assumption is 37.5 per cent. of the national funding rate.
The following table sets out the national funding rate for the most popular level 3 qualifications and the national fee assumption related to that type of qualification.
£ Course type National base rates1 Fee assumption (37.5 per cent.) Key Skills 237 89 AS or A2 level (daytime study) 845 317 Applied AS or A2 level (daytime study) 2,641 990 GNVQ 2,641 990 Edexcel/OCR National Diploma 6,333 2,375 Edexcel/OCR National Certificate 5,103 1,913 Access to HE 3,051 1,144 1 Figures relate to duration of course rather than providing a per year rate as course lengths vary
While the national fee assumption is taken into account in the calculation of funding rates, it is for colleges and providers to determine the actual level of fee charged. It is therefore not possible to provide an average cost of a further education course to the learner.
In relation to the cost to the Department the average cost of a full level 3 course per year has been estimated at around £1,500 per year for the financial year 2007-08.