Help with Distance Learning Course Funding

JDC14

Just wondering if anybody knows of any funding that may be available to help me with a distance learning course?

I'm 19, unemployed, didn't go to University (although I did get offered a place & student finance), and I haven't signed on for JSA yet, although it looks like I'm going to have to.

I've seen on the Reed website, that they offer various courses in Marketing and Digital Marketing, but the ones they show prices for, a lot are in excess of £2k.

Just wondered if there would be any funding available to help me do one of these courses?

saintjammyswine

Contact your local FE College as there is Skills Support for the Unemployed available which provides funding for courses although college attendance will be required and you will have to be on active benefits (usually JSA).Also, contact Next Step who provide free, impartial advice on careers & training.

Dunroamin

Also have a look at studying with the Open University where student loans are available for the fees.

http://www3.open.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/qualification/business-and-management/index.htm

sapphireeye

Dunroamin wrote: »

Also have a look at studying with the Open University where student loans are available for the fees.

http://www3.open.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/qualification/business-and-management/index.htm

Also, check out access to success http://www8.open.ac.uk/study/explained/study-explained/our-range-courses/openings-courses/access-to-success-route which is for anyone earning under 25k who hasn't studied in Higher Education before. You have to pay £75 but the courses you study would cost £3000 normally so it's a bargain, plus you'll have 75 university credits (you do a 15 point course, then either a 60 point or two 30 point courses) which is the equivalent of around half a year's full-time university study. If you later decided you wanted to do a degree you could put the credits towards it.

Openings courses (the 15 point ones) - http://www3.open.ac.uk/study/atoz/openings-courses.htm

Then these courses might be of interest to you:
http://www3.open.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/course/b120.htm - Introduction to Business Studies (Includes marketing)
http://www3.open.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/course/lb160.htm - Professional communication skills for business studies

Have a look at the list here, http://www3.open.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/course/atoz.htm you can do any level 1 course of 60 points, or two level 1 courses of 30 points each.

I'm not sure whether you can get funding for the sorts of courses that Reed are advertising. Having had a look at them I would advise that if you want to go down that route go for a CAM diploma or something with a recognised qualification that employers will recognise. Perhaps have a look at job adverts in marketing and see what qualifications they mention. Also, research the distance learning provider properly because there are rubbish ones and scams out there. A lot of them seem to offer payment by installments but I think you'd have more luck getting funding for the OU if there's a course that interests you.

I didn't go to university from college and did an OU certificate and would definitely recommend it as long as you're motivated enough to make yourself do the work!