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adulteducation.org.uk

Funding for adult courses in England (2026/27)

There are several ways to pay for an adult course in England. Many courses are free if you’re eligible. Others can be paid for with a loan you repay once you earn enough, or by your employer.

These pages explain each one in plain English, for the 2026/27 academic year (1 August 2026 to 31 July 2027). We’re independent: we don’t run courses, and we don’t take payments from providers.

Free courses

Most free adult courses are paid for by the government through the Adult Skills Fund (formerly the Adult Education Budget).

Skills Bootcamps are a different kind of short, job-focused course. They’re run locally and the rules differ, so we don’t cover them here. You can search for them as a course type on the National Careers Service course search. Check the cost and who can apply with the provider.

Loans

Loans pay your course fees. You only pay them back once you earn over a set amount. They’re not free, so check whether you can get a course for free first.

  • Advanced Learner Loans For courses at Level 3 to 6, including Access to HE. If you take an Access to HE course and go on to an eligible higher education course, Student Finance England writes off what you owe for the Access course.
  • The Lifelong Learning Entitlement New from January 2027. Up to £39,160 in loans for Level 4 to 6 courses and modules. Applications are now open.
  • Part-time degrees and modules What the Lifelong Learning Entitlement means if you study part time, from home, or one module at a time.
  • Apprenticeships are paid jobs with training. You’re an employee, you earn a wage, and you get time for training and study. Ask your employer and training provider about who pays for the training.
  • Care training funding (LDSS) If you work in adult social care, your employer may be able to claim back the cost of some qualifications.

Which funding fits?

What you want to study Where to start
English, maths or basic digital skills Legal entitlements
A Level 2 online certificate Who can get a free course
A Level 3 qualification Free Courses for Jobs, or a loan
An Access to HE Diploma Advanced Learner Loans
A Level 4 to 6 course or degree, starting from January 2027 Lifelong Learning Entitlement
Training for a job in adult social care Care training funding

Whichever route you choose, the provider checks your eligibility and makes the final decision.

Questions

Which funding should I look at first?
Start with what you want to study. For English, maths and digital skills, look at the legal entitlements. For most Level 2 and Level 3 courses, look at the Adult Skills Fund and Free Courses for Jobs. For Level 4 and above, look at loans: the Advanced Learner Loan or, from January 2027, the Lifelong Learning Entitlement.
Can I get help with costs like travel and childcare?
Sometimes. Under the Adult Skills Fund rules, providers can have learner support money to help financially disadvantaged learners. If you have an Advanced Learner Loan, you can apply to the Loan Bursary Fund through your college or training provider. It can help with things like travel, course materials and equipment, and childcare. Ask your provider what help they offer.
Do the rules change?
Yes. The funding rules for adult courses change every August, at the start of the academic year. We check our funding pages each August and show the date each page was last reviewed.

Sources

Last reviewed:

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