Plumbing Level 1/2

Learn the trade of plumbing and work towards a career in this high-demand sector. You will learn the key skills needed to begin a career as a plumber.

The Plumbing Studies Diploma course consists of two, one-year qualifications. The Level 1 Diploma will provide the basic skills and knowledge necessary to prepare you for the to the latest City & Guilds qualification which will be completed in the first year. The Plumbing Level 2 Technical Certificate is an intensive course designed to provide the skills and knowledge for the understanding of the installation of domestic plumbing systems.

Training within our industry standard workshops, you will work with real-life materials and complete a number of practical projects as part of the overall qualification. Practical and theory sessions are combined to provide you with an understanding of basic and more advanced plumbing systems.

You will complete both practical tasks and written assessments leading to the completion of the Plumbing Diploma Level 2 Technical Certificate (this can be converted to the full NVQ diploma after gaining employment in the industry). Delivery includes a mixture of lectures, traditional class tuition, practical work, assignments and personal study.

Full-time students will also engage in activities to develop your English, maths and employability skills. A work skills qualification will also be undertaken.

Course Info
Do I have to pay a fee?
How to make an Application
Other courses in this area
Course Content

Plumbing Studies Diploma Level 1:

  • Copper Pipe Work Installations
  • Steel Pipe Work Installations
  • Various Jointing Methods
  • Group and Individual Tutorials
  • Functional Skills (Full-time only)

Level 2:

  • Health and Safety
  • Plumbing Processes
  • Domestic Hot and Cold Water Supplies
  • Central Heating Systems
  • Above Ground Drainage Theory
  • Basic Electrical Theory
  • Group and Individual Tutorials
  • Functional Skills (Full-time only)

Please note: This programme is subject to change.

Entry Requirements

Level 1: 3 GCSEs (9-1) which must include both English and Maths at 9-3, and an interview.

Progression to Level 2 –  Successful completion of the City & Guilds Level 1 Diploma in Plumbing.

Students must also obtain a Grade 4 in GCSE English and/or Maths whilst completing Level 1 if they have not previously achieved this.

Progression from level 1 to 2 is subject to a satisfactory report from the progression board which will include good attendance, punctuality, attitude and suitability for a higher-level programme.

What Can I Do Next?

Students may find employment within the mechanical services industry as a plumber. Once employed within the mechanical services industry progression onto Diploma NVQ Level 2 and industry standard short courses such as Water Regulations and Domestic Unvented Hot Water Storage Systems.

Course Progression

Level 1 – Progression to Level 2 study or an advanced apprenticeship
Level 2 – Progression to a higher level Plumbing programme or an advanced apprenticeship

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, books and so on
  • Trips and enrichment activities
  • DBS checks (formerly CRB checks)
  • Occupational Health Screening

You will be informed of any additional costs associated with your chosen programme as early as possible to allow time for payment to be made.

Applicants thinking of enrolling on this course can apply for funding to help with the costs associated with attending college.  Bursary awards can help with your course related costs such as travel, books and equipment and much more.

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 £30,000 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 2023
Students aged 19 who started a two-year programme before their 19th birthday
Students aged 19 or over on 31st August 2023 who have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP)

When can I apply?

******Applications for student funding for learners who started in September 2023 are now closed.

If you are a current student and would like to discuss your options at this late stage of the year, please contact Student Finance. *****

Bursary Fund applications for courses starting in the 2024/25 academic year will open on July 1st 2024.

For courses starting in September 2024, applications should be made by 1st November 2024. 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.

You are advised to read the notes and policies at the beginning of the form and ensure that you provide all the evidence that is required when submitting your application.

Full details of the bursary funds, including making an application, can be found here:

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 your 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.

This programme may be free if you meet the eligibility criteria listed below. If these do not apply, you will need to pay a fee, and the published fee is located further down the course information page. 

Level 1 - Do I have to pay a fee?

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 2024 and have an active Education, Health and Care Plan
aged 19-23 and are required to undertake this level 1 qualification in order to progress onto level 2, provided you have not previously achieved a level 2 qualification in any other subject (or 5 GCSEs grades 9-4) by the start of the course
over 19, unemployed and in receipt of benefits
over 19, employed and have a gross annual salary under £20,319 per annum

If you are aged 19-23 and have previously achieved a Level 2 qualification, if you do not meet the low income or unemployment criteria you will not be eligible for a fee waiver
You will not meet the low income or unemployment criteria if you:
are aged over 19 at the start of the course, unemployed and are not in receipt of benefits
are aged over 19 at the start of the course, employed and have a gross annual salary over £20,319 per annum
Therefore you will pay tuition fees

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.

Level 2 - Do I have to pay a fee?

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 at the 31st August 2024 and have an active Education, Health and Care Plan
aged 19-23 and have not achieved a level 2 qualification in any other subject (or 5 GCSEs grades 9-4)
over 19 at the start of the course, unemployed and in receipt of benefits
over 19 at the start of the course, employed and have a gross annual salary under £20,319 per annum

If you are aged 19-23 and have previously achieved a Level 2 qualification, if you do not meet the low income or unemployment criteria you will not be eligible for a fee waiver
You will not meet the low income or unemployment criteria if you:
are aged over 19 at the start of the course, unemployed and are not in receipt of benefits
are aged over 19 at the start of the course, employed and have a gross annual salary over £20,319 per annum
Therefore you will pay tuition fees

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.

Am I eligible for a bursary?

If you are aged 19 at the start of the course, unemployed and not in receipt of benefits, or employed and earning over £20,319, you may be eligible for assistance with your tuition fees from the College Bursary fund. 

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 £30,000 but may be considered in some instances if the household is experiencing severe financial hardship.

When can I apply?

******Applications for student funding for learners who started in September 2023 are now closed.

If you are a current student and would like to discuss your options at this late stage of the year, please contact Student Finance. *****

Bursary Fund applications for courses starting in the 2024/25 academic year will open on July 1st 2024.

For courses starting in September 2024, applications should be made by 1st November 2024. 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:


Payment Options

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.

Can I pay in instalments?

Yes, you can spread the cost of fees. Any student of the College who pays his/her own programme costs is entitled to do so on a monthly payment plan basis, providing the total course fees exceed £200 and the student is aged 19 years, or over, on 31st August in the current academic year.

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 and 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.

The monthly instalment payments will also be set up at the point of enrolment, or if you are enrolling using our online enrolment process, a member of our Finance team will contact you to set up the instalment plan after you have submitted your online enrolment.

In order to pay through monthly instalments, students must sign the Colchester Institute Instalment Payment Plan terms and conditions!

If a student fails to sign up to an instalment plan at enrolment all fees will become due for payment within 30 days.

Failure to fulfil any terms and conditions of an instalment agreement will result in you becoming immediately liable for the full outstanding balance and you may not be entitled to pay any future fees by instalments.

Please download and save the form below, then fill it in and sign it. These forms can either be emailed to registry@colchester.ac.uk prior to enrolment, or if you are completing an online enrolment you can upload these documents during the enrolment process.

Further Education Fee Instalment Student Terms and Conditions

Employers who are funding a student’s fees must complete and sign an authorisation form which must be submitted either prior to or at enrolment together with an advance payment of 40% of the course fee or £500, whichever is lower. This can be paid via the online store prior to or at the point of Enrolment.

If the advance payment is not made prior to or at Enrolment the student will not be eligible to attend college.

Further Education Employer Authorisation Form, Instalment Plan, Terms and Conditions

How to make an Application – Watch our video guide!

Plumbing Level 1/2
Course Outline: The Plumbing Studies Diploma course consists of two, one year qualifications
LevelLevel 1
Level 2
LocationColchester
Braintree
DurationTwo Years:
Year 1: Level 1
Year 2: Level 2
Study ModeFull-Time
Campus / Adult Skills CentreColchester Campus
Braintree Campus
Start DateSeptember 2024
Fee(s)16-18 year olds: Free
19+ Year 1: £1,738
19+ Year 2: £1,410

Disclaimer

All fees, prices and funding information shown on this page are for courses starting in the 2023-24 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.