The Level 3 Free Courses for Jobs offer (previously known as the National Skills Fund) aims to help adults without Level 3, or those with a Level 3 who are unemployed or on a low wage, to gain a Level 3 qualification.
Eligible learners can take one short qualification from the Level 3 Free Courses for Jobs offer without exhausting their eligibility. 19-23-year-olds without a Level 3 can choose a qualification from the Level 3 Free Courses for Jobs offer or the AEB 19-23 entitlement list.
If a 19–23-year-old completes a qualification that is on both the 19-23 legal entitlement list and the Level 3 Free Courses for Jobs offer they will have exhausted their Level 3 legal entitlement. For 19–23-year-olds, the Level 3 Free Courses for Jobs offer is funded through the AEB.
98 Pearson qualifications – including vocational BTEC qualifications and A levels qualifications - are eligible for this funding. Learners can choose from a wide range of sectors and subjects. All the qualifications will help adults improve their job prospects and meet the needs of the economy.
Qualifications are available in:
Find a complete list of the qualifications available for this offer from Pearson here.
Further information can be found on the ESFA's Free courses for jobs page, including the full list of courses. Full funding guidance for providers on the new level 3 offer can be found here.
You can find a list of qualifications eligible for all types of adult funding on our Adult Education Funding webpage.
If you live in England and don’t already have 2 A levels or a level 3 vocational qualification like a BTEC, you could be eligible for Government funding.
To find out more