FREE^* Adult Courses in Cornwall

Most adults aged 19+ who live in Cornwall can study many of our short courses without paying the tuition fee.

Whether your course is free depends mainly on your household income or whether you receive certain benefits.

You can take up to two funded courses per academic year:

• If your household income is under £32,000 → your first two courses have £0 tuition fee

• If your household income is over £32,000 → your first two courses have a small nominal fee
  (Typically £9-£30 depending on the length of the course)

If you choose to study more than two courses in the same academic year, the full course cost will apply to any additional courses.

If your tuition is funded, you won’t pay the tuition fee.

However, some courses have a Materials Fee – this covers items or resources used during the course and is always payable, whatever your income.

If a course doesn’t require materials, no materials fee is shown.

Household income means the combined income of the adults you live with.

If your total household income is under £32,000, your first two courses will normally be tuition-free.

In most cases, taking one of our courses won’t affect your benefits.

If you receive Universal Credit or other support, it’s a good idea to check with Jobcentre Plus to confirm how studying fits your personal circumstances.

You don’t need to upload evidence when you apply.

Once your application has been processed, you’ll receive an email inviting you to complete your online enrolment. At that stage, you may be asked to provide:

• Proof of household income

• Evidence of benefit entitlement (if applicable)

• Photo ID (to confirm identity during enrolment)

We’ll clearly tell you what’s required when you enrol.

Having previous qualifications usually doesn’t stop you from accessing funded tuition.

Eligibility is mainly based on your income and how many funded courses you’ve taken this academic year – not what you studied in the past.

Yes – you can take as many courses as you like.

Only the first two will receive funded or reduced tuition. Any further courses will be charged at the full advertised price.

For a more detailed explanation of income thresholds, course costs and how funding works, visit our Fees & Funding page.