Learning for Free in the UK
These days, you do not always have to pay to learn, especially for courses that involve basic literacy and numeracy. In some cases, you may also not have to pay to take courses for your first qualification that is equivalent to GCSEs or A levels in the UK.
These days,
you do not always have to pay to learn, especially for courses that involve basic literacy and numeracy. In some cases, you may also not have to pay to take courses for your first qualification that is equivalent to GCSEs or A levels in the UK.
Am I Eligible for Free Courses and Tuition?
If you currently do not have any GCSEs, A levels or equivalent qualifications then you could be eligible to study for these courses without having to pay tuition fees.
There are also numerous options available for free study if the course will ultimately lead to your first full Level 2 qualification, or for those under 25 you will be working to obtain your first full Level 3 qualification.
If you receive certain types of benefits then you may also find that additional courses are available to you for free. The Learning and Skills Council can provide funding for a wide range of courses and, if the one you choose is funded by them, then you can obtain free tuition if you receive Jobseeker’s Allowance, Council Tax Benefit, Housing Benefit, Income Support and Working Tax Credit if your household income is less than £15,000 per year. Those who are unemployed and are financially dependent on someone receiving benefits will also qualify.
When you have chosen a course then you will need to provide evidence that you are entitled to study for free. It may also be worth seeing if you can obtain any further financial help for the duration of your studies.
Further Opportunities to Learn for Free:
You may find that your current employers are also able to offer you some form of training and additional studying for free if this is relevant to the job that you do. There are also options available for those who are unemployed and if this applies to you then you should seek further information regarding New Deal and other such courses.
There are also a number of opportunities to study for free online. A quick search will show that you can find courses in literacy, numeracy, computing, languages and a wide range of other topics.
