Free courses for jobs
Details of the free courses and qualifications for adults (19+) available through the Lifetime Skills Guarantee including eligibility criteria and how to apply.
Overview
As part of the Prime Minister’s Lifetime Skills Guarantee, if you are 19 or over you can now access a course for free. This is part of the government’s Plan for Jobs.
There are 2 options available to you under the Lifetime Skills Guarantee.
Free level 3 qualifications
If you are 19 or over and do not already have a full level 3 qualification (equivalent to an advanced technical certificate or diploma, or A levels) you can now access a free qualification.
Some of these qualifications are available to study online or part-time.
The courses will help you:
- gain qualifications that are needed and valued by employers
- improve your job prospects
- progress in work
- earn a good wage
Skills bootcamps
Skills bootcamps offer free, flexible courses of up to 16 weeks, an opportunity to build up specialist skills and fast-track to an interview with a local employer.
They are available to you if you are aged 19 or over and are either in work or recently unemployed (some skills bootcamps have additional eligibility criteria).
Skills bootcamps are developed in partnership with employers, colleges and local authorities, to help people develop the skills that are in demand in their local area and get a better job. They include a range of digital courses and technical skills courses, like construction or engineering.
There has been a high demand for places on the skills bootcamps, however, new skills bootcamps will be announced later in the spring. More information about eligibility, subjects available, locations and how to apply for skills bootcamps will be added as soon as it is available.
Eligibility
You can access one of the free level 3 qualifications if you are aged 19 or over and want to achieve your first level 3 qualification, which is equivalent to an advanced technical certificate or diploma, or A levels.
Some of these qualifications are available to study online or part-time. In some instances, you may need to meet admissions criteria for the course you chose to apply for. For example, you may need to have studied a particular subject before at a lower level.
Previously, if you were aged 24 or over, you would have had to pay the course fee for these qualifications. Now, many colleges and training providers have funding available to cover this cost for you.
If you’re 19 to 23 years old you can also access additional qualifications for free. If you’re in this age group, contact your local college or the National Careers Service for further information.
Subjects available
You can choose from hundreds of level 3 qualifications to help you on the path to a better, well-paid job.
Qualifications are initially available in:
- accounting and finance
- agriculture
- building and construction
- business management
- childcare and early years
- digital
- engineering
- environmental conservation
- health and social care
- horticulture and forestry
- manufacturing technologies
- mathematics and statistics
- medicine and dentistry
- public services
- science
- teaching and lecturing
- transportation operations and maintenance
- warehousing and distribution
See the full list of free level 3 qualifications available.
Read real-life examples of how a free qualification could help you get ahead in work.
Locations
Free level 3 qualifications are available to eligible adults across England.
See the full list of colleges and training providers able to offer free places for level 3 qualifications.
This list will be updated as more colleges and training providers receive funding to deliver these qualifications.
Contact the college or training provider directly to find out if they are offering the qualification you’re interested in.
How to apply
If you’re eligible you will not have to pay for your level 3 qualification. The course will be paid for by the government from the National Skills Fund.
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Find the qualification you are interested in (see the list of free level 3 qualifications available).
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Check to see which colleges and training providers are able to offer free level 3 qualifications in your area (see the list of colleges and training providers able to offer free places for level 3 qualifications).
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Contact the college or training provider to check if they offer the qualification you’re interested in.
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Check the admissions criteria and apply for the course in the normal way.
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If you’re accepted onto the course you will not have to pay a course fee.
Get advice and support
The National Careers Service offers free and impartial advice to help with decisions about careers, training courses and work.
You can study English or maths GCSE or functional skills qualifications for free if you do not already have them. You can also take essential digital skills qualifications for free if you do not have basic digital skills. Find a maths, English or digital skills course in your local area through the National Careers Service.
The Skills Toolkit provides access to free, high-quality digital, numeracy and employability courses to help you build up your skills, progress in work and boost job prospects.
Your local authority or Jobcentre Plus may offer additional free courses.
If you already have a level 3 qualification, Advanced Learner Loans are available to help you cover the costs of learning, which you pay back when you are earning over a certain amount.
If you claim Universal Credit and you’re in the intensive work search regime you may be able to apply for one of these free courses for adults. The length of training that you can take to support your search for work has been extended from 8 weeks to 12 weeks, or up to 16 weeks for a full-time skills bootcamp, in England. This extension is running for 6 months. You will be permitted to complete a training course of this length whilst claiming Universal Credit provided you are referred to the course by your Work Coach on or before 26 October 2021. Your local Jobcentre Plus can offer you further guidance about this.
More information about skills bootcamps, including eligibility, subjects available, locations and how to apply will be added as soon as it is available.
Information for providers and employers
Information is available for colleges and training providers on the National Skills Fund.
Information is available for employers about these offers and other support available through the Plan for Jobs.
Published 1 April 2021
Last updated 10 May 2021 + show all updates
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Added information about a temporary extension to the length of time people can undertake training to develop work-related skills and qualifications while still receiving Universal Credit.
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First published.
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