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Vehicle Accident Repair and Paint Level 2/3

The vehicle re-finishing programme includes paint preparation, chip repair techniques, spraying equipment set-up, matching paintwork, paint application, burnishing and polishing, identification and rectification of surface defects and cleaning and valeting. This VRQ covers the technical needs for basic repair and preparation procedures. It provides essential knowledge and skills for vehicle body paint operators, working on a wide range of vehicles, in all types of garages, dealerships and specialist body paint businesses.

The Vehicle Accident and Repair (Paint Principles) Diploma Level 2 course has been designed to enhance students’ vehicle body repair/re-finishing skills, knowledge and understanding to Level 2.

The Vehicle Accident and Repair (Paint Principles) Diploma Level 3 is for learners who have already achieved a level 2 paint qualification and wish to develop their paint skills further.

The course will enable the learners to develop skills and understanding of the procedures for the refinishing of new and repaired vehicle panels.

This will be completed by working on real customer’s vehicles and simulated work. In addition to your main programme, you will also engage in activities to develop your English, Maths and employability skills.

***Applications for full-time courses and joint apprenticeship applications will close at midnight on Sunday 3rd July 2022.

If you have not yet made an application then we encourage you to do so before this date, as we are unable to process any applications received after this time.

Course Info

Do I have to pay a fee?

How to make an Application

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Course Content

The learning programme involves learners studying both the theory and practical aspects, including:

preparing metal and pre-painted surfaces
preparing and applying fillers and foundation materials to vehicles
repairing minor paint defects.

Learners will also gain a broad knowledge and understanding of health and safety in the workplace and other skills associated with working in a garage.

Vehicle Accident Repair Paint Principles Diploma Level 2 units may include:

Vehicle Structure Technology and Workshop
Material Technology
Repair Techniques and Technology
Refinishing Techniques and Technology
Employability
Functional Skills/GCSEs

Practical work will be undertaken in the workshops on our own vehicles, commercial projects and students’ own vehicles as appropriate.

Vehicle Accident Repair Paint Principles Diploma Level 3 units may include:

Preparation of New and Repaired Panels
Skills in Paint Mixing and Matching
Spot Repair
Skills in the Application of Primers, 2k Solid Colour, Water Born Basecoat, Clear Coat and 3 Stage Pearl
Introduction to SMART Repair and Custom Paint Techniques
The Ability to Identify and Rectify a Range of Paint Faults

This will be supported by both practical and theory lessons with a bias toward practical work.

Entry Requirements

4 GCSEs (9-3) including English and Maths, or satisfactory results (Merit/Distinction) in a relevant Level 1 qualification
An interview.

Progression onto Level 3 is dependent on satisfactory results in the Level 2 Vehicle Accident Repair and Paint, and an interview.

What Can I Do Next?

Level 2: Employment in the body repair and re-finishing industry or further study and training, including progression to the Level 3 in Paint Principles

Level 3: Employment within the motor trade as a painter or the opportunity to study at a higher level of education such as HNCs and Foundation Degrees or look to specialise further in paint principles.

Careers Advice and Guidance

The Careers Guidance team provides information, careers advice and guidance to students across all campuses. They offer confidential and impartial guidance interviews as well as a daily drop in service.They can provide help and support with a wide range of areas including:

Career choice
Progression Routes
Apprenticeships
Higher Education
Employability Skills

There is well a equipped Careers Centre containing information on careers and courses as well computer guidance software to help students choose and research suitable careers.

The careers guidance service has achieved the national quality award for the provision of Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance known as the Quality in Careers Standard. The service is also accredited by the matrix Quality Standard for information, Advice and Guidance.

For further careers advice and guidance and support please contact careers@colchester.ac.uk.

All students aged 16-18 on the first day of their course will have their course fully-funded by the government.

Costs of studying

If you are/will be aged 16, 17 or 18 on the 31st August in the calendar year when you begin a programme of study, you DO NOT pay tuition fees, College registration fees or examination/board registration fees. However, there are some courses which have additional costs which could include:

equipment costs – such as uniforms, kits, boots, etc.
trips and enrichment activities
DBS checks (formerly CRB checks)

For students with an identified low household income, there may be financial support available. Bursary awards can help with your course related costs such as travel, books and equipment and much more.

Aged 19+ - Fees and Funding

If you are aged 19 and over, in certain circumstances you may be eligible for a fee waiver and therefore you will not have to pay for this course.

Eligibility for a fee waiver will depend your age at the start of the course, your previous qualifications, your employment status and whether you claim certain benefits.

If you do not meet the criteria for a fee waiver, you may be eligible for some assistance from the College’s Bursary Funds, depending on the household financial circumstances.

If you do not meet the criteria for a fee waiver, and are not eligible for assistance from the Bursary Fund, you will have to pay for this course.

Published course fees for this course are located further down this course information page.

Do I have to pay a fee for Level 2?

The information in this section applies to this course, and may not apply to other courses with different funding criteria.

You will not pay tuition fees if you are:

aged 19-24 on the 31st August 2022 and have an active Education, Health and Care Plan

aged 19 – 23, and already have a level 2 qualification in another subject (or 5 GCSEs grades 9-4) and are unemployed and in receipt of benefits

aged over 24, unemployed and in receipt of benefits

aged 19-23, already have a level 2 qualification in another subject (or 5 GCSEs grades 9-4) and are employed with a gross annual salary under £17,374 per annum

aged over 24 and are employed with a gross annual salary under £17,374 per annum

You will pay the published fee (where part of the fee is paid by the government) if you are:

aged 19-23, already have a level 2 qualification in another subject (or 5 GCSEs grades 9-4) and are unemployed but do not claim a benefit

aged 19-23, already have a level 2 qualification in another subject (or 5 GCSEs grades 9-4) and earn over £17,374 per annum

aged over 24 and are unemployed but do not claim a benefit

aged over 24 and are employed with a gross annual salary over £17,374 per annum

If you are aged 19-23 and do not already have a level 2 qualification in any other subject or 5 GCSEs grades 9 – 4, you will not qualify for any government funding and will pay a considerably higher amount than the published fee.

In certain circumstances, the College’s discretionary bursary fund maybe able to assist with a contribution towards tuition fees. Eligibility to the fund depends on the household’s financial circumstances. Further information regarding the discretionary bursary fund can be found further down this page.

Please note that if you have to pay the full-cost fee, you are unable to access any financial assistance from the College Bursary Fund.

Do I have to pay a fee for Level 3?

National Skills Level 3 Offer

The Lifetime Skills Guarantee gives adult learners (who will be studying for their first full Level 3 qualification) the opportunity to study a fully-funded course. It is part of the government’s National Skills Fund to help adults to gain the skills they need for employment, and to improve their job prospects.

Level 3 of this course offered at Colchester Institute is included in the Lifetime Skills Guarantee.

Level 3 will be free if you meet the eligibility criteria listed below. If these do not apply, you may need to pay a fee, and the fee is located further down the course information page. You can apply for a loan to cover all of your tuition fees.

As there is no direct entry onto Level 3 for this course you will need to enrol on a lower level to be able to progress to Level 3. Depending on your circumstances, this may also be fully funded by the government.

The information in this section applies to this course, and as such may not apply to other courses with different funding criteria.

You will not pay tuition fees if you are:

under 19 on the 31st August 2022

aged 19-24 on the 31st August 2022 and have an active Education, Health and Care Plan

aged 19 and over at the start of this course and you do not already have a qualification at this level (a full Level 3 or equivalent).

* This means that you have not previously attained a full Level 3 or equivalent (2 A Levels or 4 AS Levels, or QAA Access to Higher Education (HE) Diploma at Level 3, or a Level 3 Tech level or applied general qualification (e.g. BTEC)).

In some cases, if you need to first enrol on a lower level course, before progressing to a level 3, this may also be fully funded by the government.

If you are aged over 19 and have studied this course at Level 2 with us previously (or at another training provider) and would like to enrol directly onto Level 3 please contact our Admissions Department, where candidates will be assessed on an individual basis prior to application.

You will pay tuition fees if you are:

aged 19 and over at the start of this course and have previously achieved a full Level 3 qualification

Learners required to pay tuition fees can either self-fund (whereby you or your employer pays for the course) or apply for an Advanced Learner Loan to cover all, or part, of the tuition fees for this course.

The minimum loan you can get is £300, but the maximum will depend on how much the fees are and the type of course you take.

What if I am on a low income or unemployed?

From 1st April 2022 adults in England who already have an existing full Level 3 qualification or higher, or have previously achieved any other qualification included in the Level 3 adult offer, may be able to study this qualification for free.

You will not pay tuition fees provided that your qualification was achieved before 1st April 2021 and you meet either of the criteria below:

aged over 19, unemployed and in receipt of benefits

employed and earning under the National Living Wage annually (£18,525)

For students with an identified low household income, there may be financial support available through the College’s discretionary bursary fund. Although the funds cannot be used to pay for course fees they can be used to contribute towards other course related costs such as travel, childcare, books and equipment.

Advanced Learner Loans

Am I eligible for an Advanced Learner Loan?

To qualify for an advanced learner loan to cover the fees for this course you must be:

19 years old or over on the first day of your course (there’s no upper age limit)
A UK national or have ‘settled status’ (this means there are no restrictions on how long you can stay)
Living in the UK on the first day of your course, and have lived in the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man for three years immediately before this

Most learners that fall into this bracket will be eligible, it doesn’t depend on your household income and there’s no credit check!

If your nationality or residency status is different to the above, then please contact the national Advanced Learner Loan helpline on 0300 100 0619 or check the Advanced Learner Loan website where you will be able to find further information on eligibility.

How do I apply for an Advanced Learner Loan?

Once you have applied and been offered a place on the course, the college will provide you with a ‘learning and funding information letter’. These are normally sent out in early July.

You need this to complete the loan application and you cannot apply for a loan until you have received this.

Once you have applied for a loan and it has been approved you will receive an official letter from Student Finance England.

Am I eligible for a bursary?

Level 2

If you are aged 19 at the start of the course, unemployed and not in receipt of benefits, or employed and earning over £17,374, you may be eligible for assistance with your tuition fees from the College Bursary fund.

Bursary funds are targeted at households with a net income of under £25,000.

If you are assessed as being eligible for a bursary award to assist with your tuition fees, the award will not exceed 75% of the fee payable and you will be responsible for paying the balance of the fee.

Students of all ages can apply for assistance from the bursary fund for other course related costs, such as transport, meals, books and equipment.

The bursary fund cannot assist with any general living costs nor can it be used as an attendance incentive.

Applications to the fund are not normally considered if the household income exceeds £25,000 but may be considered in some instances if the household is experiencing severe financial hardship.

When can I apply?

16-19 and 19+ Bursary Fund applications for courses starting in the 2022/23 academic year will be open from June 1st 2022.

For courses starting in September 2022, applications should be made by 1st November 2022. If you find yourself in financial hardship after this date it is important that you still contact Student Services. Applications received after 1st November will be considered on a pro-rata basis subject to need and the availability of funds.

Full details of the bursary funds can be found here:

16-18 Bursary Information

19+ Bursary Information

Level 3

Applicants thinking of enrolling on this course can apply for funding to help with the costs associated with attending college. Bursary funds are targeted at students where there is an identified low household income.

The bursary fund cannot provide help with costs unrelated to your course, such as general living expenses, nor can it be used as an attendance incentive.

Applications to the fund are not normally considered if the household income exceeds £25,000 but may be considered in some instances if the household is experiencing severe financial hardship.

The 16-19 Bursary Fund is aimed at helping:

Students who are aged 16, 17 or 18 on the 31st August 2022

Students aged 19 who started a two-year programme before their 19th birthday

Students aged 19 or over on 31st August 2022 who have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP)

If you do not meet the above criteria then you are likely to be eligible for support through either the:

19+ Bursary Fund

Advanced Learner Loan Bursary Fund (for students paying Level 3 tuition fees for with an advanced learner loan)*

*Awards from the Advanced Learner Loans Bursary Fund can only be made to students who have received an Advanced Learner Loan. If you do not intend to apply for an advanced learner loan or if your application has been unsuccessful you will not be eligible for an award from this particular fund.

Funds are targeted at course related costs such as travel, childcare, books and equipment.

Regardless of income or employment status, students self-funding (including where an employer is covering course fees), are not eligible for financial assistance through any discretionary bursary funds.

When can I apply?

Bursary Fund applications for courses starting in the 2022/23 academic year will be open from June 1st 2022.

16-19 Bursary Information

19+ Bursary Information

Payment Options

Can I pay in instalments?

Where total course fees exceed £200 you (or your employer, if they are paying your course fees) can choose to pay your fees in instalments through a monthly payment plan.

40% of the fee or £500 (whichever is lower) will be payable at enrolment.

The balance must be paid within 6 months or by the end date if the course is less than 6 months in duration.

Payment in full in advance

Payment should be made in full at the time of enrolment. Acceptable payment methods include Debit Card and Credit Card (excluding American Express). Please note that we are no longer able to accept cash or cheque payments.

How to make an Application – Watch our video guide!

***Applications for full-time courses and joint apprenticeship applications will close at midnight on Sunday 3rd July 2022. If you have not yet made an application then we encourage you to do so before this date, as we are unable to process any applications received after this time.

Vehicle Accident Repair and Paint Level 2/3

Level	Level 2 Level 3
Location	Colchester
Duration	Two Years: Year 1: Level 2 Year 2: Level 3
Study Mode	Full-Time
Campus	Colchester Campus
Start Date	September 2022 - Applications open on 1st October 2021
Fee(s)	16-18 year olds: Free 19+: Year 1: £1,875 19+: Year 2: £5,421

Apply Online For Colchester Course Enquiry Line: 01206 712 777 Course and Application Enquiries Open Event Updates Receive Updates For Parents & Guardians Fee Exemptions Apply Advanced Learner Loan Available

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Disclaimer

All fees, prices and funding information shown on this page are for courses starting in the 2021-22 academic year unless stated otherwise, and are correct at the time of entering/printing information, however these may be subject to change due to factors outside of our control. The College cannot accept legal or financial liability as a result of any such changes.

Courses fees are generally not confirmed for September until June / July due to the above factors.

The course information describes programmes offered by Colchester Institute. The College takes all reasonable steps to provide courses as described, but cannot guarantee provision. The information is for guidance and does not form any part of a contract.

The College reserves the right to update and amend information as and when necessary. Colchester Institute will do its best to provide the courses shown, but may have to modify or withdraw a course depending on customer demand and other factors.