Additional costs

There may be additional costs to consider that are not included in the tuition fees. These costs are general and can vary based on your course and personal choices. 

Course-specific costs 

Some courses have essential course-specific additional costs which are outlined on the course page within the Fees and Financial Information section. Please ensure you have read this information.   

General additional costs 

There are some general additional course costs to consider that can apply to all courses. Common additional costs that apply to all courses and study modes include: 

• Laptop, PC, or other device

• Stationery and learning resources

• Placement costs  

• Graduation costs 

• Accommodation

 

Laptop, PC, or other device 

PCs are available for use within the College, and there are also laptops and tablets available for you to borrow from the library for use on site. These are available to you for free.

However, we do encourage you to either own or have guaranteed daily access to a PC, laptop, or a device compatible with Office 365, along with reliable internet access. Microsoft Office 365 software is provided for you to use free of charge through the College. 

Depending on what you require, computer/device/broadband costs could range from £0 to £1,000 throughout your course. Our dedicated IT Support Helpdesk is available for any IT support enquiries you may have on 01254 292345.

 

Stationery and learning resources 

You may need books for annotation, stationery (such as pens, paper folders etc), calculators (particularly for STEM courses), printing and photocopying. Our library provides resources for printing and photocopying.  

These resources may cost between £0 and £210 throughout your course. Most assessments are submitted online. 

 

Placement costs 

Work placement modules as part of Year 1 and 2 Foundation Degree studies 

Students on a Foundation Degree must undertake a period of work placement, usually 120 hours per year. Work placements are subject to availability.  

Students undertaking placement may incur costs associated with travel and expected workplace attire will vary according to the placement. You can usually choose your own placement, so travel costs will vary. 

For some placements you may require a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) report. Cost for a DBS check as of 2025/26 is £40.   

Your Programme team can support you with any queries in relation to work placements.   

 

Graduation costs

For your graduation ceremony, you will need to hire a gown through our external provider. They also provide optional professional photography. You will need to buy tickets for any guests attending the ceremony, but your own ticket is free. 

The prices in 2026/27 are still to be confirmed, but in 2025 the minimum cost of attending Graduation was £39 for gown hire, but this increased depending on number of guests and any photography package chosen:

• Gown hire (required): £39 

• Tickets (optional): £10 per guest 

• Photography costs (optional and vary based on the package chosen): started at £39  

 

Accommodation 

Blackburn College does not offer any student accommodation and accommodation and living costs are not part of additional costs. See our Accommodation page for further information about private landlords and housing associations.