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Funding your future

Female Adult Student studying

Funding your Future

Government funded courses

The UK government offers funding options for many adults and adult learning courses.  To find out which courses are available for funding, please see the list at the bottom of this page.  You can also check on the individual course page, where it will say ‘funding options available‘, next to the fees section for relevant courses.

Below is an explanation of the different funding options available, so that you can see what you are eligible for and how to take up these funding options.

focus on one adult learner in a line of learners, looking up smiling ahead
a line of learners smiling in an adult learning leisure course

Free Essential Skills

Free Essential Skills courses are: GCSE English and Maths, ESOL and Essential Digital Skills.

You will be fully funded if:

  • you do not already hold a grade c/4 or above at GCSE
  • You have not already completed an ESOL course and/or Essential Digital Skills course
  • A fee applies to learners who are ineligible for the Adult Skills Fund

Funding from September 2025 onwards

For up to Level 2

OPTION A – FULLY FUNDED (free)

Funding is available to cover the full cost of some Level 2 (and under) courses if you have been ordinarily resident in the UK for at least 3 years prior to the course start date.
You will also need to meet any one of the following conditions:

  • You are aged 19-23 and have not previously completed a full Level 2 qualification (typically less than five GCSE grades A to E)
  • You are currently unemployed and seeking work
  • You are on a personal income of less than £23,400

Please visit the individual course pages to see if this funding is available for your chosen course.

OPTION B – CO-FUNDED (reduced fee)

All 19+ years olds, who have been ordinarily resident in the UK for at least 3 years prior to the course start date and who do not qualify for OPTION A will pay a 50% contribution. The contribution is shown in the fee section on each course page.

For Level 3 and above

OPTION A – FULLY FUNDED (free) FOR 19-23 YEAR OLDS

Funding is available to cover the costs of some Level 3 courses for those aged 19-23 years old. You will need to have been ordinarily resident in the UK for at least 3 years prior to the course start date and who have not completed a full Level 3 qualification (see below for list of what classes as a full Level 3):

  • 4 AS Levels or more
  • 2 A Levels or more
  • National Diploma or Higher
  • City and Guilds Advanced Craft
  • Access to HE Diploma
  • HNC/HND
  • 1st Degree/Higher Degree
  • NVQ 3 or higher
  • Advanced GNVQ
  • ONC/OND
  • RSA Diploma or higher
  • GNVQ Intermediate or higher
  • TEC Cert/Diploma
  • HE Cert/Diploma
  • Nursing (SRN)
  • LCCI certificate
  • LCCI Advanced Level
  • Pitman’s Level 2 Intermediate or higher
  • ESOL advanced

Please visit the individual course pages to see if this funding is available for your chosen course.

OPTION B – FULLY FUNDED (free) Level 3 Adult Skills Offer 

Learners aged 19 and above, who do not already hold a full Level 3 qualification or higher, and have been ordinarily resident in the UK for at least three years prior to the course start date, can access qualifications listed on the Level 3 Adult Offer qualification list. Learners who already hold a Level 3 or higher and meet the definition of unemployed or low wage (earns less than £23,400 annual gross salary).

See below for list of what classes as a full Level 3:

  • Four AS Levels or more
  • Two A Levels or more
  • National Diploma or Higher City and Guilds Advanced Craft
  • Access to HE Diploma
  • HNC/HND
  • 1st Degree/Higher Degree
  • NVQ 3 or higher
  • Advanced GNVQ
  • ONC/OND
  • RSA Diploma or higher
  • GNVQ Intermediate or higher
  • TEC Cert/Diploma
  • HE Cert/Diploma
  • Nursing (SRN)
  • LCCI certificate
  • LCCI Advanced Level
  • Pitman’s Level 2 Intermediate or higher
  • ESOL advanced

Please visit the individual course pages to see if this funding is available for your chosen course.

OPTION C – LOAN FUNDED

All other adults who do not qualify for OPTION A and B can obtain a loan to cover the fees for courses with this option available (see individual course pages).

Anyone aged 19 and above, who has been ordinarily resident in the UK for at least 3 years prior to the course start date and who has not previously taken an Advanced Learner Loan is eligible.

More information on loans can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/advanced-learner-loan

Please visit the individual course pages to see if this funding is available for your chosen course.

Please see a full list of fully funded courses here.

focus on one adult learner looking up in class in a line of adult learners

Please see a full list of fully funded courses here.

How to access funded courses

If you think you fall into one of the categories above, we offer a range of courses that are funded by the Government, meaning you would pay nothing. Applying for this funding is done when enrolling on your chosen programme.

It is important to remember evidence is required at enrolment to show you are eligible. When criteria require you not to hold a given qualification, evidence does not need to be provided, but a self-declaration will need to be signed to confirm you do not hold the qualification.

Adult Learning Bursary

The College may be able to offer financial support with course related costs to students who are experiencing hardship. If your household income is £50,000 or below, financial support can be available to allow you to continue with your learning. This bursary can reimburse you fully for costs such as:

  • Childcare costs
  • Travel to and from the College to study
  • Resources required for study including equipment, membership fees and stationery
Find out more
smiling adult learner
two adult learners in class, one looking down and one looking up

Non-funded courses

If you are wishing to apply for one of our courses that is not eligible for funding, you will need to pay the full fee listed on the website. 

The balance will be due at the time of enrolment. All fees are payable on enrolment. However, for accredited courses costing over £500 an instalment plan may be offered if you are enrolling at one of our receptions. The instalment plan requires a 50% deposit at enrolment followed by two direct debit payments of 25% each in the following two months.

Fees are paid annually for courses lasting more than one year.

There may be some additional items that you will need to bring to a course. This will be stated on the full course information. If your course costs over £500, we will ask you to pay a deposit to secure your place after our interview.

Course cancellations and refunds

You will get a refund if you have already paid for a course which:

  • We have to cancel
  • We agree with you is not suitable after initial assessment and we cannot offer you an alternative.

We reserve the right to rearrange course dates, times and venues but will make every effort to tell you as soon as possible.

Focus on a male adult learner who is smiling at other learners

Contact us

Contact our Adult Advice Hub now with any questions you might have about Adult Education with with Exeter College. The hub is open 9am-9pm Monday to Thursday and 9am-4pm Friday.

The Hub is open term time for bookable appointments and drop-ins and also offer bookable appointments in the College holidays.

Click here to book an
Appointment Online
Email us at:
adultadvice@exe-coll.ac.uk
Call us at:
01392 400170

Please see a full list of fully funded courses here.

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