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Personal Development Funding
There are a number of ways in which service personnel can obtain funding for their personal development. Schemes within the Armed Forces include:
The Standard Learning Credit (SLC) - The SLC Scheme permits personnel to obtain financial assistance for learning costs. Personnel may claim up to £175 per financial year; you are able to claim 80% of your course fees up to a maximum of £175. To qualify for SLC funding, the course of study must lead to a nationally recognised qualification, have substantial developmental value and directly benefit the Service. If you are receiving funding from other Services sources you will not be able to claim SLC, the only exception to this rule is Open University Summer School sponsorship. Most types of learning provision, including that which is based on a distance learning package (DLP), are eligible for funding under the Scheme. Please note that in the case of DLPs you should first check to see if the course you wish to do is available through the Forces Distance Learning Scheme. You must enrol on the SLC scheme before applying for your chosen course of study and before paying any money; you will not be able to claim for a course of study retrospectively. To do this, please visit your service education officer to complete the necessary forms and to check that your course is approved for funding purposes. You will be able to claim your refund upon completion of your course of study or at the end of each academic year if the course runs over several years. If you would like to know more about the SLC Scheme contact your service education officer.
Enhanced Learning Credit (ELC) - The ELC Scheme will provide partial funding for personnel to undertake academic/vocational qualifications while in service and for up to ten years afterwards. To qualify for ELC you must:
Register as a member of the ELC Scheme.
Remain in the Scheme, and the Armed Forces, for 4 years to claim Lower Tier funding of up to £1000 per financial year for 3 years.
Remain in the Scheme, and the Armed Forces, for 8 years to claim Upper Tier funding of up to £2000 per financial year for 3 years.
Contribute 20% towards the cost of your study from your own pocket.
Note. An individual may make only 3 claims during their Service career, but may mix claims at both Tiers, e.g. 1 at Lower Tier and 2 at Upper Tier. An individual may make a claim for up to 10 years after leaving the Service.
The first payment of the Enhanced Learning Credit (ELC) will be made in April 2004. The time served clock to qualify for ELC started ticking on the 1 April 00. When you do sign-up therefore, your entry into the Scheme will be backdated to 1 April 2000. Due to the qualifying period for ELC, no claims can be made before 1 April 04 and they will be at the Lower Tier. When you use the ELC Scheme your allowance will be paid directly to your learning provider and you will pay your 20%.
Forces Distance Learning Scheme - Service personnel whose educational needs cannot be met by their unit or local Education Authority may find it more suitable to conduct their studies by way of distance learning. Such courses are offered by a wide variety of learning providers many of them offering their own Forces Discount. However, studying by correspondence is difficult and is suitable only for the determined and well-motivated student. Advice can be sought from local Education Centres. A selection of courses for which Service personnel and their dependants pay fees at discounted rates is available from Education Centres. Those taking part in the scheme are eligible to claim the Standard Learning Credit (SLC).
Open University (OU) - The OU is a national university offering flexible study arrangements. Service personnel may obtain BA, BSc, MA, MBA, MSc, MPhil or PhD Degrees, certificates and diplomas, or take individual courses without examinations and qualifications in the Returning to Study Series.
Course Details - The application period for undergraduate admission is from 1 Feb to 31 Oct for courses commencing the following year in February. Details of courses, fees and the method of application are to be found in the relevant OU publications. For a copy of 'Courses, Diplomas and BA/BSc Degrees' potential students should write to the following address:
Course Data Service
The Open University
Freepost
PO Box 625
Milton Keynes
MK7 6AA
E-mail ces-gen@open.ac.uk
Telephone: 01908 858585.
Summer Schools - Students taking Level 1 foundation courses and specified post-foundation courses are normally required to attend residential 'Summer Schools' in the UK. Two OU (UP) 'Summer Schools' fees per year may be claimed. service undergraduate students will be sponsored to attend their 'Summer School' by the service Education Staff. Sponsorship forms will be sent by the OU to the student in March of each year. The student should return the sponsorship forms in a timely fashion or risk losing sponsorship.
Books and Equipment - Students are responsible for obtaining the set books necessary for their particular course at their own expense. Some courses require the payment of a returnable deposit for the issue of a home experiment kit. The deposit will not be refunded from public funds. Students will need access to a PC for some courses.
Students in Germany - Special provision is made in Germany for service participants in the OU scheme. Details can be obtained from service Education Centres.
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