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YOUR COURSE COULD BE FREE

Depending on your circumstances, you may be eligible to study a course for free. Funding eligibility can depend on your age, where you live, your employment or earnings, the level and type of course you choose and your previous qualifications. Funding rules and eligibility criteria may change each year.

We will confirm your eligibility when you apply or enrol. If you have any questions about funding, please contact us on 01752 305300 or send an e-mail to info@cityplym.ac.uk.

Funding for Adults

Level 1 and 2 Courses

Depending on where you live and the course you choose, you may be eligible for full funding if you are unemployed, economically inactive or your gross annual earnings are below the applicable Adult Skills Fund earnings threshold.

For courses starting from 1 August 2026, the earnings thresholds are:

  • Cornwall: £28,210 gross annual earnings
  • Devon and Torbay: £26,800 gross annual earnings
  • non-devolved areas: £26,800 gross annual earnings.

Funding rules and earnings thresholds can vary depending on your area and may change each year. We will confirm your eligibility when you apply or enrol.

Not sure which funding area you live in? You can use the devolved postcode list to check your funding area.

If you are unemployed or economically inactive, you may be eligible for full funding for some courses. You may also be eligible if you are receiving certain benefits. Your eligibility will depend on your individual circumstances, where you live and the course you choose.

You do not necessarily need to be receiving a specific benefit to be eligible for funding. We will confirm your eligibility when you apply or enrol.

If you are aged 19 to 23 and have not previously achieved a full Level 2 qualification, you may have a legal entitlement to full funding for an eligible first full Level 2 qualification.

Other Level 1 and Level 2 courses may also be fully funded depending on your circumstances, including your earnings, employment status, where you live and the course you choose.

We will confirm your eligibility when you apply or enrol.

People of all ages can study GCSE maths and English for free if you do not have a grade 4 (a grade C) or above in these subjects. Functional skills in English and maths can also be studied for free by adults of any age providing they haven’t achieved a level 2 qualification in these subjects.

Level 3 and Above

If you are aged between 19 and 23 and you do not currently hold a full level 3 qualification (and meet residency criteria) you may be able to study some of our full-time level 3 courses for free.

Free Courses for Jobs can provide fully funded training for eligible adults who are unemployed or whose gross annual earnings are below the applicable earnings threshold.

The offer includes eligible level 3 qualifications and some eligible level 2 qualifications. The qualifications available through Free Courses for Jobs are subject to the approved list and may change.

Eligibility can depend on your age, previous qualifications, earnings, employment status, where you live and the course you choose.

We will confirm your eligibility when you apply or enrol.

Advanced Learner Loans

The Advanced Learner Loan enables any student (aged 19 or over) studying a level 3 (equivalent to A Level) or above further education course to apply for a loan to cover their course fees. See the Advanced Learner Loan page for more information and how to apply.

 

To see what you could be entitled to, try the eligibility calculator here.