New funding scheme aims to help Londoners retrain without quitting work

"From this autumn, adults will be able to use student finance for the first time for flexible "bite-sized" university and college modules, rather than traditional full-length degree courses. The courses also won't have a set deadline for completion, allowing adult students more time to work towards the qualification."

"At the moment, to qualify for student loans, an adult would need to study for at least a quarter of the course per year, and the course has to lead to a designated undergraduate or higher education qualification. That limits the options, especially for people from lower-income backgrounds who are holding down a full-time job, but also want to qualify for a better job."

"The government says that the changes are aimed at adults who want to fit study around work, childcare or other commitments, and are designed to make it easier for people to return to education later in life. The new scheme is, in effect, a lifelong funding deal, as there's no requirement to complete a course within a set timeframe, and it is being pitched as a way to make it easier for adults to switch careers later in life."

"Financial support should be available whether you want to do a degree, take a short course, or retrain later in life. Whether it's fitting study around a job, retraining for a completely new career, juggling childcare, or getting qualifications later in life, the new Lifelong Learning Entitlement will open up new opportunities for thousands more people to build the careers they want and get on in life."

London universities are among the first institutions approved to offer a new adult education funding scheme that enables access to student finance for shorter courses and retraining later in life. Starting from this autumn, adults can use student finance for flexible, bite-sized modules instead of only traditional full-length degree courses. Modules will not have a set deadline for completion, giving adult learners more time to work toward qualifications. Current rules require adults to study at least a quarter of a course per year and to pursue a designated undergraduate or higher education qualification, limiting options for people balancing full-time work. The scheme targets adults who need to fit study around work, childcare, and other commitments, and it focuses modules on subjects tied to skills shortages such as computing, engineering, architecture, economics, health, and social care.

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