canistudy
Free to use · No sign-up

Can I study
for free?

Quite possibly — and most people never find out. The government already pays for far more adult courses than people realise. We're building something that gives you a straight answer in about two minutes.

See what's already paid for

The full checker opens later this year.

Four ways your course might already be paid for

These are national rules for adults aged 19 and over. They apply across England right now — no application form, no means test beyond the basics below.

One

English and maths

If you're 19 or over and don't hold a GCSE at grade 4 (old grade C) in English or maths, you can study them up to Level 2 for nothing. It doesn't matter what you earn or whether you're working.

A legal entitlement
Two

Your first full qualification, if you're 19 to 23

Aged 19 to 23 and never finished a full Level 2 or Level 3? Your first one is funded. This holds even if you're out of work or earning well — age and prior study are what count here, not income.

A legal entitlement
Three

Free Courses for Jobs

A national list of Level 3 qualifications — care, construction, accountancy, digital, teaching support and more. Free if you don't already hold a Level 3. Also free if you do hold one but earn below the threshold, or aren't currently working.

Selected qualifications only
Four

Essential digital skills

Basic computer and online skills up to Level 1, free for adults who need them. Often the sensible first step if you've been out of study for a long time.

A legal entitlement
An honest warning

These rules have more corners than a short web page can cover, and they're rewritten every August. Nothing here is a promise — your college confirms your funding when you enrol. That's exactly why we're building a proper checker rather than a leaflet.

What we're building

One tool, one job: tell you what a course actually costs you, then show you what you can do.

  • Eight plain questions. No jargon, no forms, no sign-up. Written for people who've been out of education a long time.
  • A straight answer about money. Free, part-funded, or a loan — and which rule decided it, so you can check us.
  • Courses you can actually reach. Sorted by journey time on the bus, not by a circle on a map.
  • The awkward questions answered. Will it affect your Universal Credit? Is there help with childcare or bus fares? Do you need English and maths alongside?
  • Nobody pays to be recommended. We show everything you're entitled to, including courses from providers who give us nothing.
Where it works first

The checker opens for Kent and Medway, for adults aged 19 and over. We're starting there because we live there and can get the local detail right — which colleges, which bus routes, which start dates.

Funding rules differ by region: several English city regions now set their own. Rather than guess and get someone a wrong answer, we're doing one area properly, then adding more. If you're elsewhere, leave your email and say where — that's how we'll decide what comes next.

Want to know when it's ready?

Leave an email and we'll tell you once — when it works. Add your town and you'll help us decide which area to build next.

Thanks — you're on the list. You'll hear from us once, when the checker opens.

One email, then nothing. We don't share addresses with colleges or anyone else. Prefer to just talk? Write to [email protected].