Funding your CILEx Courses
Financial support available to CILEx
students in the academic year 2013-4
CILEx as a chartered professional body and
awarding organisation realises that many of its students face
difficulties in funding their legal studies.
Whilst completing your CILEx studies, there
are a variety of schemes which may help you to meet the costs of
your studies. This area is under review and complex and funding
will be dependent on many factors, including age, address,
financial and personal circumstances, the qualification you wish to
complete and your mode of attendance (full or part-time) and status
of your centre.
There is a wide range of information available
mainly through the web however it is often piecemeal and
fragmented. This article aims to highlight what funding may be
available to help you as a CILEx student.
It is important to appreciate that government
funding schemes are different in England and Wales, and the
position is subject to review and change. Students should
consider the following sources of financial support which are
primarily for those studying in the further education sector. There
may be other sources of funding and support available on a local or
regional basis, including help with child care and travel
costs.
Financial support available to CILEx
students in the academic year 2013-4
March 2013 sees the introduction of major
changes to financial support for students and centres and CILEx
will continue to monitor the situation and their
implications.
The government’s rationale for the changes to
financial support for students is that individuals who are
qualified at Level 3 and above experience benefits including
increased wages, compared to those who are not qualified at this
level. The government’s position is that it is fair to ask
individuals to make a greater contribution to the costs of their
courses. However the Further Education (FE) loans system
means that an individual will only start making a contribution
after they have finished their training and are earning more than
£21,000 at a repayment rate of 9 % of earnings.
Further Education loans
Students aged 24 and over
Further Education (FE) loans will provide
support for those aged 24 and over to access advanced Level 3 and
higher Level 4 Further Education courses and Apprenticeships from
the 2013-4 academic year. FE loans will give students in
further education access to financial support which is similar to
that which is available in higher education for tuition costs from
the Student Loans Company. Further Education loans are not
means tested and are only available for students undertaking full
qualifications.
CILEx Level 3 Certificate and Diploma students
are eligible for financial support from the Student Loans
Company.
CILEx Level 6 will not be eligible for
financial support from the Student Loans Company.
Students under 24 and those with
skills below Level 3
The government will continue to fund courses
for younger students (those aged under 24). This means that
colleges will receive funding to deliver the CILEx Level 3
Certificate and Diploma and Level 6 Professional Higher Diploma in
Law and Practice and also the paralegal qualifications.
Further information is available for those
students between 13-19 at https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk
or call 0800 100 900
Other government
initiatives:
Student support scheme
March 2011 saw the introduction of bursary
scheme. The scheme replaced the education maintenance
allowance (EMA). The scheme is intended to target funding at
those most in need. The bursary scheme applies to those
aged between 16 and 19 towards the costs of full-time
education/training. Students most in need will be eligible to
receive a bursary of up to £1200 a year. Further information
is available at
https://www.gov.uk/1619-bursary-fund
http://media.education.gov.uk/assets/files/pdf/1/final%20young%20people%2016-19%20bursary%20fund%20qa_27july2012.pdf
Access and learner support funds
Help with the costs of staying on in further
education and training may also be available through access and
learner support funds is usually administered by your local
college. Individual further education colleges set their own
eligibility rules; determining their priority groups and maximum
amounts they may award. Assistance may be available for travel,
books or childcare. Students should approach their college’s
student advice and guidance team.
Care to learn: help with childcare while you
learn
If you are a student and a young parent, Care
to Learn may help pay for your childcare and related travel costs
while you are learning at https://www.gov.uk/care-to-learn/overview
Professional career development loans
Professional career development loans (PCDLs)
are available for students who are 18 or over, settled in the UK,
have been ordinarily resident in the UK for at least the three
years prior to the start of their learning programme and intend to
work in the UK, the European Union or the European Economic Area
when the course finishes.
Because the Professional and Career
Development loan is (PDCL) is led by demand from students, only a
learning provider (a CILEx accredited centre) that has been
approached by an individual student who wishes to undertake a
course with them may apply for inclusion on the PCDL
register. Therefore if you are interested in applying for a
PCDL you should discuss this first with your CILEx accredited
centre.
The PCDL may help pay for a course, including
CILEx Level 3 Professional Diploma in Law and Practice and Level 6
Professional Higher Diploma in Law and Practice, that lasts up to
two years, or a three-year course that includes up to one year of
work experience. The criterion is that the course leads to
employment or enhances job skills.
If you are considering a PCDL you should visit
www.nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk
or call 0800 100 900
OTHER SOURCES OF HELP
Support from your employer
In 2012, CILEx completed research which found
that support from employers is illustrated in that the majority of
respondents received assistance from their employers with their
fees, 60% for their CILEx course fees and over 58% for their annual
membership fees.
CILEx students in employment should initially
ask their employer, particularly if the employer is accredited with
Investors in People, to provide financial support for their
studies.
CILEX students could also suggest that
employers consider other areas of support, including:
Payment for tuition;
Day release and/or study leave;
Coaching and mentoring; and
Providing experience in other areas of work in
the business
If you are going to approach your employer and
present a case to them to support you in your CILEx studies, it is
suggested that you outline the potential benefits to the
organisation, which may include:
Opportunities to qualify as a Chartered Legal
Executive lawyer specialising in a particular area of law with new
unitised and nationally recognised legal qualifications;
Flexible, adaptable and cost-effective
training which offers progression opportunities;
Qualifications which combine practical
experience in the workplace with academic training and developing
professional skills to help meet their organisation’s business
targets;
Increasing retention of staff; and
Enabling support staff to generate income for
the business by converting them into fee-earners when they pass the
CILEx Level 3 Professional Diploma in Law and Practice course and
Level 6 Professional Higher Diploma in Law and Practice.
Educational charities and trusts
There are various local and national charities
and trust funds, which may be able to offer you financial help to
support your CILEx studies. They may also make small awards towards
other expenses, such as books, travel and childcare, which are not
covered by other sources of funding. You may apply to many
educational trusts and see if they can support you and how to
qualify may depend on several factors, including where you where
born, how old you are, and the particular qualification you wish to
study.
Further information is available at
https://www.gov.uk/grant-bursary-adult-learners
The Prince’s Trust
The Prince’s Trust provides grants for
education, training or work for those aged between 14 and 30.
Grants are available from £50 to £500 and the CILEx Level 3
Professional Diploma in Law and Practice qualification may be
eligible for a development award.
For further information, you should contact
the trust at http://www.princes-trust.org.uk/
or call 0800 842 842
INFORMATION FOR STUDENTS IN WALES
The main website is
http://wales.gov.uk/docs/dcells/publications/111125fundingguideen.pdf
GOWales Graduate Training and Development
Fund
GO Wales can offer small to medium-sized
businesses in Wales up to £1,500 towards the cost of training
graduate staff members. The fund provides an opportunity to
identify training that will benefit the business and the individual
taking part. GO Wales can fund 50% of the cost of a course up to
£1,500.
Requirements
The business must be small to medium-sized,
employing fewer than 250 staff;
The business must be based in Wales;
The funding is only available for graduate
staff (the participant must have a degree, HND or equivalent
qualification at National Qualifications Framework/Qualifications
Credit Framework level 4 or above); and
The funding must provide a clear benefit to
the business.
This programme is available until 2014 and
students are recommended to contact the fund on 0845 225 60 50 or
e-mail
info@gowales.co.uk
Visit the website for further information –
www.gowales.co.uk/graduatetraining
http://wales.gov.uk/docs/dcells/publications/111125fundingguideen.pdf
CILEx wll continue to monitor any changes to
funding and is suggested that students regularly visit the CILEx
funding page at
http://www.cilex.org.uk/for_centres/support_for_students/funding.aspx