Education, employment and training
Studying after age 19
If your young person is aged 19 or over
Your young person may need to pay fees when starting a new course after age 19. However, many learners do not have to pay. They will not have to pay fees if:
- they are aged 19 to 25 and have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP)
- they are taking GCSE English or GCSE Maths because they have not yet achieved a grade 4
- they are aged 19 to 23 and this is their first Level 2 or Level 3 qualification
You can read more about qualification levels at: What qualification levels mean: Overview - GOV.UK
Your young person may also continue receiving support from the 16 to 19 Bursary Fund if they started the course before they turned 19, or if they still have an EHCP.
English and Maths after age 19
If your young person did not achieve a grade 4 or above in GCSE English or Maths, they will be expected to continue studying these subjects.
For some young people with SEND, Functional Skills courses may be a better option than GCSEs.