Skills & Hobbies

Guide · Updated September 2026

College courses and adult learning

College routes into the trades at 16 and as an adult: diplomas, free courses, loans and help with costs in England.

College is often the first step into a trade. A full-time or part-time course teaches you the theory and basic practical skills, and can make it much easier to land an apprenticeship or trainee job. For some trades, such as painting and decorating, plastering or tiling, there are well-established diplomas at Level 2 and Level 3.

It is worth knowing the limits, though. For trades such as electrical installation, the National Careers Service stresses that you will still need workplace experience and on-the-job training to become fully qualified. This guide covers England as of September 2026.

If you are 16 to 18

In England you can leave school at the end of June if you will be 16 by the end of the summer holidays, but until you are 18 you must stay in full-time education, start an apprenticeship, or work or volunteer for 20 hours or more a week while in part-time education or training.

If you are coming towards the end of a school or college course and are under 18, you are guaranteed a place on a further education course the following autumn. Options include vocational technical qualifications such as BTECs, T Levels, and trade-specific diplomas.

Typical trade courses

Course names vary between colleges, but these are the kinds of courses the National Careers Service lists for the trades on this site.

  • Plumbing studies, or plumbing and domestic heating
  • Electrical installation
  • Bench joinery and site carpentry
  • Bricklaying
  • Plastering
  • Level 2 or Level 3 Diploma in Painting and Decorating
  • Wall and floor tiling
  • Roof slating and tiling
  • Refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump systems
  • Construction plant operations

Try a taster course first

Several National Careers Service profiles – carpenter, bricklayer and tiler among them – mention short or part-time taster courses, which let you find out whether you enjoy a trade before committing to a longer qualification.

Free courses for adults

Free Courses for Jobs: the government will pay for a Level 2 or Level 3 course if you are 19 or older and either earn less than £25,750 or are not in work. At Level 2 the subjects are construction, engineering or manufacturing; most subjects are available at Level 3. Earnings rules can differ depending on where you live, so check with the provider.

Essential Skills: free English, maths and digital skills courses for adults aged 19 and over in England who have not reached GCSE grade 4 (or the equivalent) or who have low digital skills.

Loans and help with costs

An Advanced Learner Loan can cover course fees for Level 3 to 6 qualifications at an approved college or training provider in England. You must be 19 or older on the first day of your course. Eligibility does not depend on your income, there are no credit checks, the minimum loan is £300, and you repay only when your income is over the threshold. Interest is charged from the first payment, and for a Level 3 course you may be able to get a grant from the adult skills fund instead – ask your college before you apply.

From 1 January 2027, student finance for some Level 4 to 6 courses in England moves to the Lifelong Learning Entitlement. Learner Support can also help adults aged 19 and over with the costs of things they need to attend a further education course.

Going further: higher technical qualifications

Higher technical qualifications (HTQs) are Level 4 and 5 courses approved against employer standards, taking 1 to 2 years. You need to be 18 or over and live in England. They suit people who want to move from a trade into technical, supervisory or design roles.

Questions people ask

Will a college course make me fully qualified?

Not usually on its own. In many trades you also need workplace experience and on-the-job assessment, which is why college courses are often a stepping stone to an apprenticeship or trainee job.

I'm over 19 – do I have to pay for college?

It depends on your circumstances. You may qualify for Free Courses for Jobs, free Essential Skills courses, or an Advanced Learner Loan for Level 3 and above. Ask the college what funding applies to you.

Can I study part time while working?

Yes. Many colleges run evening and part-time courses, and Free Courses for Jobs are designed to fit around your life.

Where do I search for courses?

Use the National Careers Service course finder, or contact your local college directly.

Sources

Checked September 2026. Rules and rates change – always confirm with the official source.

  1. School leaving age (GOV.UK) gov.uk/know-when-you-can-leave-school
  2. Further education courses and funding (GOV.UK) gov.uk/further-education-courses
  3. Advanced Learner Loan (GOV.UK) gov.uk/advanced-learner-loan
  4. Free Courses for Jobs (Skills for Careers) skillsforcareers.education.gov.uk/pages/training-choice/free-courses-for-jobs
  5. Essential Skills courses (Skills for Careers) skillsforcareers.education.gov.uk/pages/training-choice/essential-skills
  6. Money and learning costs support (Skills for Careers) skillsforcareers.education.gov.uk/pages/common/money-and-learning-costs-support
  7. Higher technical qualifications (Skills for Careers) skillsforcareers.education.gov.uk/pages/training-choice/htq-higher-technical-qualification
  8. National Careers Service: Electrician nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/job-profiles/electrician
  9. National Careers Service: Carpenter nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/job-profiles/carpenter
  10. National Careers Service: Bricklayer nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/job-profiles/bricklayer
  11. National Careers Service: Tiler nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/job-profiles/tiler
  12. National Careers Service: Painter and decorator nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/job-profiles/painter-and-decorator

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