January 2012 Courses - Enrolment Information

Enrolment Guidelines

Call our Advice Line on 020 7510 7777 or email advice@tower.ac.uk to check course availability.

IN ORDER FOR US TO MAKE YOUR ENROLMENT PROCESS AS QUICK AND EASY AS POSSIBLE, PLEASE READ THIS LEAFLET CAREFULLY AND BRING THE CORRECT DOCUMENTS WITH YOU WHEN YOU ENROL.

Examination Results

If you receive your GCSE results in August you will have to bring them printed on your school/college headed paper showing subject, examination board, grade and whether the GCSE is single, double or a short course.
If you are a 16-19 applicant and have not already applied, we will require a reference from your previous school, college or training provider on headed paper outlining course recommendation, attendance and punctuality information, support needs and suitability for the course.  Alternatively, you can use our reference template.

Evidence of vocational qualifications will also be required.

UK Immigration Status

If you have lived in the UK legally for less than three years, and/or you have restrictions on your stay in this country, (e.g. you are a visitor, an Asylum Seeker, recently arrived spouse of a UK resident, work permit holder, a foreign student on a visa or a dependent of any of these), please make sure you bring your passport, travel document or any other Home Office document relation to your stay in the UK.

Recently arrived spouses should bring both their own passport as well as their partner’s passport.

If you are an EU/EEA/Swiss National and have not resided in the UK for the 3 years preceding the start of this academic year (1st September 2011) please bring evidence of both your nationality and 3 years’ residence in the EU/EEA/Switzerland.

If you are in the UK on a Student Visa (Tier 4 Points Based System) or wanting to switch to a Student Visa by enrolling on a College course, you MUST speak to a Student Adviser or the Admissions Co-ordinator BEFORE you enrol.

Course Fees and Bursaries

• Claiming Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) or Employment and Support Allowance in the Work Related Activity Group (ESA WRAG).
• Studying on a basic English or Maths course (SFL).
• Studying an Entry or Level 1 course and intend to progress to a Level 2 qualification and your prior attainment is level 1 or below.
• Studying your first full level 2 qualification.
• 19-24 years old on your first full level 3 qualification.
• Studying a level 3 qualification but do not have a full level 2 qualification (known as a level 3 jumper).
• Aged 19-24 and Studying GCSE English or Maths and do not have an A -C grade in the GCSE they are studying

• You are currently unemployed, and
• That you are the sole or named joint claimant of Income Support or Council Tax Benefit or Housing Benefit or Child Benefit or a Non-working beneficiary of a claimant on Working Tax Credit or Child Benefit or JSA or ESA WRAG and
• You want to enter employment and need skills training to do so, and
• The courses on your learning agreement give you the skills that will help you enter employment.
• Unwaged and not in receipt of the above benefits.

The Education Maintenance Allowance

has now finished, however if you successfully applied for EMA in 2009/10 you will continue to receive payments at the level set out in their EMA Guarantee until the end of the 2011/12 academic year. If you successfully applied for the maximum weekly EMA payment of £30 in 2010/11, you will be eligible for £20 for each week that you are in education or training until the end of the 2011/12 academic year. You will receive a Notice of Entitlement for 2011/12 which you must bring with you at enrolment and give to our EMA/Bursary Administrator.

The 16-19 Bursary

If you are living independently, in care or leaving care (up to 21 years) on Employment Support Allowance and Disability Living Allowance you will get a guaranteed bursary of £1200.

If you are not part of the above categories but your parents’ income is below £16,190 you will be able to apply for a discretionary bursary. Applications must be received by 23rd September 2011 and payments will be made three times a year in October; February and May. Bursaries will be conditional on 90% attendance and punctuality.

Evidence of household income will be needed with your application – a letter or bank statement showing receipt of benefit or for those on low wage income, payslips or an orginal letter on your parents’ employers’ headed paper. Evidence must be dated within the last 3 months.

If your parent is self-employed, evidence of their most recent End of Year Tax Return or a letter from the Inland Revenue will be required.

You can apply for the bursary during enrolment.
 

You need to submit your bursary application form by 23rd September 2011.

Please bring evidence of benefits e.g. letter or bank statement showing receipt of benefits; Working Capability Assessment will be required for ESA WRAG and ESA Supported.

For waged income please bring payslips, or original signed letter from your employer on headed paper. If you are self-employed you will need to bring your most recent End of Year Tax Return or a letter from the Inland Revenue.

Childcare

If you wish to apply for childcare support, please bring with you at enrolment your course offer letter, proof of Child Benefit, proof of child’s/children’s date(s) of birth (for example full birth certificate or passports), proof of income (photocopies of recent payslips, proof of benefits or any other documents that show your monthly household income. This must not be older than 3 months).

You will receive your timetable at induction and will need to take this to a Student Adviser.

For places at our crèche at Arbour Square, priority will be given to students on fulltime courses.

If you are applying for external provision, you will need a written confirmation from the nursery/registered minder or any other carer including a full price list showing daily and weekly prices and bank details. Copies of registration and insurance documents will need to be provided by childminders.

Support for Students with a Disability

Tower Hamlets College provides individual support and assistance to students with disabilities. For further details see our Support section.
 

Questions

If you have any questions about enrolment, courses or fees, please call the Advice Line on 020 7510 7777. For information regarding financial support towards childcare, travel or equipment while in college, call Khalid Ahmed on: 020 7510 7908

We look forward to welcoming you to the College!