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Plumbing Studies Diploma Level 2 (Part-Time)

The Plumbing Part-time Diploma Level 2 is a 2-year study programme. An intensive course designed to provide the skills and knowledge for the understanding of the installation of domestic plumbing systems.

This course is aimed at those looking to pursue a career in plumbing and a gateway to accessing the Level 2 NVQ bolt-on. Successful completion of this course and the bolt on will enable students to operate as plumbers wanting to specialise in basic plumbing jobs such as bathroom fitting. This does not lead to Gas Safe registration.

You will complete both practical tasks and written assessments leading to the completion of the Plumbing Studies Diploma Level 2 (this can be converted to the full NVQ diploma after gaining employment in the plumbing industry). Delivery includes a mixture of lectures, traditional class tuition, practical work, assignments and personal study. Attendance in college is one day a week (9am-5pm) with the day of the week confirmed in the summer.

Course Info
Do I have to pay a fee?
How to Apply
Course Content
  • 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
Entry Requirements

GCSE English and GCSE Maths grade 9-4 (or equivalent) or significant trade experience and a trade test.

Career Opportunities

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

Please note: This programme is subject to change.

Fees and Funding

This course is for learners aged 19 years and over.

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. 

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 2025 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).
aged 19+ and employed, or self-employed and your annual gross income is below £25,000.
aged 19+, unemployed and not on benefits or in receipt of benefits with an income less than £892 a month or £1,437 a month with a joint benefit claim.
You will not meet the low income or unemployment criteria if you:
are aged 19-23 at the start of the course and have previously achieved a level 2 qualification or you are 19+, employed, or self-employed and your annual gross income is over £25,000.
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.

Other Additional Costs

Regardless of whether tuition fees apply, some of our programmes incur 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.

Am I eligible for a bursary?

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.

If you do not meet the above criteria then you are likely to be eligible for support through the 19+ Bursary 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?

******Applications for student funding for learners who started in September 2024 are still open. Applications can be made from this page using the button below.

Applications for student funding for learners starting in September 2025 will not open until the end of June 2025*****

Bursary Application Form (Students Starting September 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.

19+ Bursary Information
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

The application window for part-time courses starting in September and October 2025 opens in January 2025, and we start processing applications from this date.

Applications for this course are made via our online application form and you will be able to access it from this course page.

Once you are ready to apply then please click the ‘Apply Online‘ button which will be located in the menu directly underneath this section from January 2025.

Upon successful submission of an application you will receive an acknowledgement email from our Admissions team. If you do not receive this you should contact the team to check that your application has been received.

During the second half of the summer-term (May and June), applicants will start to receive further correspondence from the College about the next stages of the admissions process. These will include details about interviews with the course tutor or any pre-assessments and trades tests.

Once applications are open, if you have any further questions about the application process or next available start date, want to check the progress of your application or if you are unsure about anything please contact us using the enquiry line or enquiry form below.

Apply Now For Plumbing Studies Diploma Level 2 (Part -Time)
Plumbing Studies Diploma Level 2 (Part -Time)
LevelLevel 2
LocationColchester
Duration2 years
Study ModePart-Time
Campus / Adult Skills CentreColchester Campus
Start DateSeptember 2025
ApplicationsApplications for September 2025 will be opening in January
AttendanceOne day a week on Mondays for year 1 and Tuesdays for year 2
Fee(s)Level 2: £2,323

Disclaimer

All fees, prices and funding information shown on this page are for courses starting in the 2024-25 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.

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