There are several strands of funding the government provides to enable training providers to support learners of different ages. See below for more information.
16-19 funding information
Learners aged 16-19 years old have a legal statutory entitlement to be fully funded for a wide range of government approved qualifications and programmes, such as T Levels, apprenticeships, and other technical qualifications. Government-approved schools, 6th form colleges, private training providers and Further Education (FE) colleges receive funding from the government to deliver these qualifications.
From September 2027, new qualifications called V Levels are being introduced in England for young people aged 16–19. They are intended to sit alongside A Levels and T Levels as a third major option, offering a vocational alternative for students who prefer applied learning rather than purely academic study. You can find out more about City & Guilds V Level offer on our qualification reform webpage.
19+ Adult Skills offer
There are several funding streams available to 19+ adults, which we have listed below.
The funding available for adults aged 19+ varies according to an individual learner’s age, employment situation and previous level of qualification.
Adult Skills Fund (ASF)
The government, via the Dept for Work and Pensions (DWP), or regional strategic authorities fully funds 19–23-year-olds who have not yet achieved a full Level 2 or Level 3 qualification, provided they choose a course from an approved qualification list.
For learners aged 19 and over studying an approved Level 2 or below qualification, they are:
- Fully funded if they are unemployed or earn below the earnings threshold (currently £26,800 per annum nationally; this varies by region).
- Co-funded (the learner contributes towards the cost) if they earn above the earnings threshold and are not unemployed.
| Learner group |
Funding available |
| Aged 19–23, no full Level 2 qualification, studying an eligible approved Level 2 course |
Fully funded |
| Aged 19+ (no upper age threshold), unemployed or below the earnings threshold |
Fully funded |
| Aged 19+, above the earnings threshold |
Co-funded (learner contributes 50%) |
Learners aged 19 to 23 who have not previously achieved a full Level 3 qualification are fully funded for qualifications on the approved Level 3 list, or the Free Courses for Jobs list, regardless of the earnings threshold (including the unemployed).
Learners who have exhausted their first Level 3 legal entitlement and do not meet the definition of being below the earnings threshold (including unemployed) have the option of funding their learning through an advanced learner loan.
FE colleges receive Adult Skills Funding grants from the government because they are public bodies. Private training providers are usually required to bid for this funding via a commissioning or procurement process either by DWP or via their local devolved strategic authority (SA).
The ASF also provides funding for individuals who are unemployed or have a low level of skills, to enable them to progress from entry level on to Level 2 and Level 3 programmes, or into work.
Free Courses for Jobs
Free Courses for Jobs (FCFJ) is a targeted programme for adults who are below the government-set earnings threshold (currently £26,800 per annum nationally; this varies by region), including those who are unemployed. Full details of eligible courses at Levels 2 and 3 are available in the City & Guilds Funded Course Catalogue.
Under the FCFJ offer, eligible learners can access fully funded qualifications that help develop new skills and improve employment prospects.
Funding is available to adults who:
- Are aged 19 or over, with no upper threshold, on 31 August in the 2026–27 funding year.
- Enrol on an approved FCFJ qualification.
- Meet the eligibility criteria for being below the earnings threshold, including unemployed learners.
Funding is also available to learners who:
- Are aged 19 to an upper threshold of age 23 on 31 August in the 2026–27 funding year.
- Enrol on an approved FCFJ qualification.
- Have not already achieved a full Level 3 qualification.
- Earn above the earnings threshold.
Functional Skills in maths, English and digital funding
Maths and English are core skills that almost everyone needs to progress into a job and on the job. Because of this, the government fully funds adult learners to gain their first Level 1 or 2 maths and/or English qualifications in England.
This includes vocationally related maths and English qualifications called Functional Skills. These are fully funded via the Adult Skills Fund (ASF), and available from
City & Guilds at Entry Level 1 to 3 and Levels 1 and 2.
Digital Functional Skills are available at Entry Level 3 and Level 1 and are also funded by the ASF.
Apprenticeship funding
Apprenticeships are fully funded and available to individuals of any age. Apprenticeships funding is provided via a levy the government collects from employers, which supports delivery of Foundation Apprenticeships, Apprenticeship Standards and Apprenticeship Units. You can find out more about the apprenticeship offer and City & Guilds support here.
We support employers by providing clear guidance on apprenticeship funding and other government funding schemes they can access.
See our funding advice for employers
At City & Guilds, we develop qualifications that help you gain the skills you need to progress into a job, on the job and onto your next job.
Many of our qualifications are funded by the government so they may be free for you. However, we understand that finding out if you can get funding for the qualification you are interested in can be complicated.
To help you, in the list below we have shared information about the different types of funding the government offers, as well as links to more detailed information about our qualifications and learner offer, so you can see what types of courses are available in the subjects you are interested in.
Visit our qualifications page
Find out more about what we offer learners
16-19 funding information
The government fully funds qualifications for 16–19-year-olds. You can get more information from your local FE colleges or training providers about which of our courses or qualifications they offer.
Find out more
19+ funding
Government funding for this age group is more complex and depends on whether you are employed or unemployed, what other qualifications you already have, and the level of those qualifications.
In general, if you are unemployed or earn under the earning threshold (£26,800 nationally, may be different in devolved areas) then you can be fully funded for qualifications up to level 3.
If you are employed and aged 19-24 and don’t have a full level 2 or 3 qualification, then you can still get full funding under the legal entitlement offer.
If you are over 24 and do not have a level 3 qualification, you may be eligible for the Free Courses for Jobs offer, which funds level 3 qualifications for learners of any age from a government approved list of priority skills needed by employers.
Find out more about free courses
19+ loans
If you want to take a qualification at level 3 or above and already have a qualification at that level, you may be eligible for the government’s 19+ Advanced Learner Loan, which you only pay back if you are earning above a certain amount.
Find out more
Apprenticeship funding
Apprenticeships are paid for by employers and the government. As an apprentice, you do not have to contribute any money towards the cost of an apprenticeship. An apprenticeship is a job combined with training, so you must be employed or be willing to apply for an apprenticeship-based job role.
City & Guilds supports all sorts of apprenticeships. You can find out all you need to know on our apprenticeship webpage.
Discover more about apprenticeships
Functional Skills Maths, English and digital funding
Maths and English are core skills that almost everyone needs to progress into a job and on the job. Because of this, the government fully funds adult learners to gain their first level 1 or 2 maths and/or English qualifications in England.
This includes vocationally related (more suitable for work) maths and English qualifications called Functional Skills. These are fully funded via the Adult Skills Fund (ASF), and available from City & Guilds at entry level 1-3 and levels 1 and 2.
Digital Functional Skills are available at entry level 3 and level 1 and are also funded by the ASF.
Most local training providers offer courses and qualifications in maths, English and digital skills, and will be able to work with you to decide which level best suits your current knowledge and set you up on a course to help you achieve and gain a certificate.
Find out more about functional skills
Funding and policy update webinar - 8 April 2025 - watch the recording
Navigating Change webinar - 18 March 2025 - watch the recording
Funding and policy update - 4 December 2024 - watch the recording | download slides
Navigating Change: Key funding and policy Insights for the Future of FE - 21 November 2024 - watch the recording | download slides
Funding and policy update - 24 September 2024 - watch the recording | download slides