Further Education (Level 1–3) Full-Time Courses, including Apprenticeships

Most students do not pay course fees for full-time Level 1–3 Further Education courses, including apprenticeships:

•    If you are aged 16–18 and studying full-time at Level 1–3, no tuition fees apply.
•    If you are aged 19–24 and already hold a Level 3 qualification, fees will apply. You can find details at any campus reception.
•    If you are aged 25 or older, fees will apply unless you are receiving a Further Education (FE) grant. Please note: enrolment for students aged 25+ is considered individually by the College.
 

Level 3 Access Courses (Full-Time)

•    If you are receiving an FE grant, no fees apply.
•    If you are aged 19 or older and already have a Level 3 qualification (equivalent to 3 A-Levels), fees will apply. Contact your nearest campus for details.

Note: 
The fees listed on this site apply only to UK residents and those with EEA Migrant Worker status (EU). If this does not apply to you, please email admissions@nrc.ac.uk for your correct fee information.

Additional Mandatory Costs (Higher Education)

Some Higher Education courses include additional mandatory costs, which are separate from tuition fees. These are essential for completing your course and may include:

•    Compulsory trips
•    Required textbooks not available in learning centres
•    Essential equipment not supplied by the College
•    Professional memberships directly tied to your course

These costs do not include personal items like stationery, computers, optional textbooks, or professional memberships not essential for your course. The College provides most necessary equipment and materials for your programme.
 

Payment of Fees

You must arrange payment of your fees before your course commences. To do this, contact any campus reception to:

•    Pay your fees in full.
•    Provide proof that you have applied for funding (this should be uploaded to the online admissions portal, along with a hard copy of the Liability of Fees Form) and pay additional fees, if applicable.
•    Provide proof that your funding has been approved and payment of additional fees, if applicable.
•    Set up a Direct Debit if your course fees are over £200.
•    Upload an approved Employer Consent Form to your Prospect account (and hand in a hard copy).

Note: 
Once your funding is confirmed, email confirmation to studentfinance@nrc.ac.uk.

If a sponsor or employer is paying your fees, please make sure they have submitted an Employer Consent Form to the College and uploaded it to your online Prospect account.

Full-Time Higher Education Students: Payment Options (2025/26)

The tuition fee for full-time Higher Education courses is £2,700 per year, except for the Foundation Degree in Early Childhood Studies (validated by Stranmillis University), which may vary.

Option 1 – Apply for a Student Loan
You can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan through Student Finance NI or the Student Loans Company. Visit www.studentfinanceni.co.uk to apply online or download an application form. Be sure to apply early. The College needs a copy of your confirmation letter from Student Finance NI or SLC.

Option 2 – If you are not using a Student Loan
a) You can pay your fees in full by cash, cheque, or credit/debit card.
OR
b) You can pay in instalments via Direct Debit. This requires a 25% deposit, followed by up to 3 payments due on:
•    3 November 2025
•    1 December 2025
•    2 January 2026

Refunds will only be considered if the College cancels a course or in exceptional situations (for example, medical reasons). You must either pay a deposit or show proof of your tuition fee loan application to enrol.
 

Part-Time Students Payment of Fees

You can pay your fees by:
•    Cash
•    Cheque
•    Credit/debit card
•    Online via the admissions portal (Please note: online payments must be made in full)

If the total fees for your courses are over £200, you can request to pay by Direct Debit, as long as all your courses are enrolled on the same day. All part-time fees for autumn term courses must be paid by 28 February 2026.

•    When enrolling, you must pay a deposit of at least £100 or 25% of the total fee (whichever is higher)
•    Up to 3 additional payments may be due on:
    -    3 November 2025
    -    1 December 2025
    -    2 January 2026

You will need to complete and return a Direct Debit form (available from reception) with your deposit to finalise your enrolment. If any payments are missed, your course enrolment will be invalid. Any exceptions must be approved by Assistant Curriculum Director.

This applies to both Home and Overseas students with a valid UK bank account.

Please note:
•    Direct Debit agreements are only available if you enrol on or before the second week of class
•    Missing any payments will result in losing your place on the course

If you are applying for funding for a part-time FE or HE course, make sure to:
•    Upload your application confirmation (email or letter) to the online admissions portal
•    Submit a hard copy of your Liability of Fees Form before enrolling
•    Upload your final funding award confirmation and forward a copy to studentfinance@nrc.ac.uk

If your funding application is not successful, you will be responsible for paying all fees by 28 February 2026.

Contact Details
Student Loan Queries
T: 028 9085 5048
E: studentfinance@nrc.ac.uk

Direct Debit or Payment Queries
E: finance@nrc.ac.uk
 

Financial Support and Bursaries

Glossary of Terms

Reduced Fees: Eligibility Criteria

Reduced rates apply to the tuition fee only and are calculated as 50% of the tuition fee for the course, subject to a minimum of £30. This rate can only be claimed by applicants in the following categories. Please note: this does not apply to leisure courses.

* All circumstances are at time of enrolment. Only one discount or fee reduction may be claimed for each individual enrolment.

Refunds

Full-time Higher Education Refunds

Full-time higher education students who have not formally withdrawn from their course before 7 November 2025 are liable for full course fees.

All other Refunds

We aim to deliver all advertised courses and programmes. However, to run a course, we require a minimum number of students to cover operating costs. In some cases, classes may be combined to meet this requirement. Unfortunately, if there is not enough demand, a course may be cancelled.

If you enrol on a course, you have 14 days from the date of enrolment to cancel or transfer, and you will receive a full refund of any payments made, or the appropriate adjustment if you are transferring to a different course.

If the College cancels or significantly changes your course, you will receive a full refund of all fees paid, unless you can transfer to another course. If you need to withdraw for medical reasons or due to Access NI clearance issues, you may be eligible for a refund. Any other refund requests will only be considered in exceptional circumstances, at the discretion of the Assistant Curriculum Director and the Head of Finance.

To apply for a refund, you must complete a refund request form and submit it in writing within the academic year. 

Note: 
If the College cancels your course, you do not need to submit a form, your refund will be processed automatically.