Wiltshire College & University Centre has been named among the first 130 universities and colleges offering adults a new route into university and college.
The Government has announced a new, flexible student finance system, giving people access to student finance for shorter, flexible ‘module’ courses, as well as traditional university degrees.
The change is part of the Lifelong Learning Entitlement, as set out in the Government’s Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper last year.
Traditionally, higher and further education has been built around full-time degrees and qualifications taken straight after school or college, but the system is restrictive for people who need to fit study around life commitments or want to return to learning later in life.
The funding of these new, smaller courses means people can gain qualifications over time, rather than needing to complete a rigid three-year full-time degree in one go.
The modules on offer will focus on subjects that will tackle skills shortages, including economics and computing, engineering and architecture, as well as health and social care.
Skills Minister Jacqui Smith said, “Financial support should be available whether you want to do a degree, take a short course, or retrain later in life. Our changes will make that happen, with the option to access student finance in any stage of 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.”
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Applications for student finance will open in September 2026 for anyone starting courses or the new modules from January 2027. Under the system, people will be able to access funding equivalent to four years of post-18 study, currently worth up to £39,160.
People who already have a degree may still be able to access the new funding, either if they have remaining student finance available in their pot or want to retrain in certain priority subject areas.
Professor Dave Phoenix, Vice-Chancellor of The Open University, said, “As pioneers of flexible learning, The Open University has long focused on reaching learners where and how they need to study. The Lifelong Learning Entitlement provides a real opportunity to deliver a post-18 education system for the 21st Century, one that better reflects how people, live learn and work today.
“It has the potential to truly stimulate lifelong learning, by enabling institutions to build more flexible, modular pathways both into and through higher education, enabling people to train, retrain and upskill throughout their lives.
“Realising that potential will depend on ensuring the system works in practice for learners, employers, and further and higher education providers alike and require providers to challenge themselves as to what the future could look like.”
