A clear guide to what you’ll pay – and when courses are free
Most of our courses are free or low-cost, depending on your income and where you live.
To find out if a course is funded by the West Midlands Combined Authority, look at the course website page and the WMCA logo will be on there:
West Midlands Combined Authority areas are:
- Birmingham
- Wolverhampton
- Walsall
- Dudley
- Sandwell
- Solihull
- Coventry
What you might pay
| Your situation | What you pay | What’s included |
|---|---|---|
You live in the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) area and your annual income is under £34,000 | FREE | Tuition, accommodation, meals, and learning resources |
You live in the WMCA area and your annual income is more than £34,000 | Small contribution (we’ll confirm the exact amount when you apply) | Tuition, accommodation, meals, and learning resources |
Our courses may still be available to you for free if you live outside the West Midlands Combined Authority areas. Please contact our admissions team at admissions@fircroft.ac.uk. |
Tip: Many students find their courses are completely free. Even if you do need to pay something, costs are heavily subsidised – so you’ll only ever pay a small share of the real cost.
What “free” includes
If your course is funded and you qualify for full support, we’ll cover:
- Course tuition
- Meals and accommodation during your stay
- Learning materials and resources
You may still need to pay for:
- Travel to and from college
- Personal items or stationery
Need help?
We know funding can be confusing – we’re here to help. Call our Admissions team on 0121 472 0116 or email admissions@fircroft.ac.uk and we’ll talk you through your options before you apply.
Why we keep courses affordable
Fircroft exists to make adult education accessible to people living in the West Midlands Combined Authority areas – especially people who’ve faced previous barriers to learning and who are looking to progress in their lives by learning new skills and achieving their goals.
We are grateful to the West Midlands Combined Authority for funding our courses and making them affordable, accessible and achievable for our local community.
