Learning ESOL in College
Learning ESOL in College is not always right for everyone - it can be a big commitment. The information on this page will help you know if you can get a free place at college, if you can get help with childcare and transport costs and what the demands on your time will be.
Please note, this information is for your guidance only - please always speak directly to colleges' student services departments for full and up-to-date information.
Learning ESOL in College is not always right for everyone - it can be a big commitment. The information on this page will help you know if you can get a free place at college, if you can get help with childcare and transport costs and what the demands on your time will be.
Please note, this information is for your guidance only - please always speak directly to colleges' student services departments for full and up-to-date information.
Being an ESOL Student in a Glasgow College
- Most ESOL students in colleges do not have to pay anything to study - but if you have a job, colleges may check to see how much you earn and may ask you to pay some fees for your course if you earn more than a certain amount.
- Before you enrol in a college course, think carefully if you can commit to studying for 3 to 5 whole mornings or afternoons per week for 45 weeks. To stay in college you will have to attend 80% or more of your classes, come to class on time, stay for the whole class and not take holidays during term time.
- Most college ESOL courses are part-time (less than 16 hours per week) - this is so that everyone can have a chance to study. People who receive benefits (e.g. Job Seekers Allowance, Income Support, Universal Credit, etc) cannot usually study full-time and some people's immigration and visa status in the UK does not allow them to be full-time students.
- Looking after children can make it harder to commit to classes - If your children are in school try to find a class in a college near to their school, that starts and finishes at times that leave you free to drop-off and collect your children without being late for class or having to leave class early.
- If your children are below school-age they will need to be looked after by someone, or be in a nursery. You will need to arrange childcare before you start a class.
- Colleges usually have some limited funds to help students on low incomes with the cost of putting children in nursery - but you will have to organise a nursery place yourself. Each college will have different rules on who can get financial help and how much they can get.
- Colleges often have some limited funds to help with the cost of travelling to college. Each college will have different rules, but to get help with travel costs you will usually have to live a certain distance from the college and/or be on a low income.
- Most ESOL students in colleges do not have to pay anything to study - but if you have a job, colleges may check to see how much you earn and may ask you to pay some fees for your course if you earn more than a certain amount.
- Before you enrol in a college course, think carefully if you can commit to studying for 3 to 5 whole mornings or afternoons per week for 45 weeks. To stay in college you will have to attend 80% or more of your classes, come to class on time, stay for the whole class and not take holidays during term time.
- Most college ESOL courses are part-time (less than 16 hours per week) - this is so that everyone can have a chance to study. People who receive benefits (e.g. Job Seekers Allowance, Income Support, Universal Credit, etc) cannot usually study full-time and some people's immigration and visa status in the UK does not allow them to be full-time students.
- Looking after children can make it harder to commit to classes - If your children are in school try to find a class in a college near to their school, that starts and finishes at times that leave you free to drop-off and collect your children without being late for class or having to leave class early.
- If your children are below school-age they will need to be looked after by someone, or be in a nursery. You will need to arrange childcare before you start a class.
- Colleges usually have some limited funds to help students on low incomes with the cost of putting children in nursery - but you will have to organise a nursery place yourself. Each college will have different rules on who can get financial help and how much they can get.
- Colleges often have some limited funds to help with the cost of travelling to college. Each college will have different rules, but to get help with travel costs you will usually have to live a certain distance from the college and/or be on a low income.
