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Adult Mini Guide

Take your next step

Our courses for adults are for anyone aged 19 and over. They can help you to improve your skills, progress in your career, learn a new hobby or find a new direction. Many courses are free, or you could be eligible for financial support. They start throughout the year so you don't even have to wait until September.

What courses can I do?

ESOL

We offer a range of courses for English Speakers of Other Languages (lasting 6-12 weeks) to help you learn or improve your English. Our specialist staff will nurture and support you to achieve a qualification and integrate into your community. We also offer additional courses to help you live and learn in the UK. 

Courses available - Pre-Entry, Entry Level 1-3, Level 1-2 in Speaking and Listening, Writing, and Reading. 

Start dates - courses take place daytime 9.30-4.30 Mon-Thurs and 9.30-2.00 Fri, with flexible start dates every term. 

Cost - most adults will be eligible for free study. 

Enquire or apply now - info@northumberland.ac.uk0300 770 6000 

Essential Skills

We offer a range of short courses (lasting 3 days-3 months) for adults who are unemployed / have been made redundant or are looking to change career / upskill. They will develop your confidence and knowledge and help you gain new employment. Some employability courses even include a guaranteed interview with an employer.

Courses available - Maths, English, IT, Functional Skills and Business Employability. 

Start dates - courses take place daytime 9.30-3.30, Mon-Fri with immediate start dates. 

Cost - all courses are free for adults aged 19+ in receipt of benefits / earning under the threshold. 

Enquire or apply now - employabilityskills@northumberland.ac.uk / 01670 841262

Equine Training

Our accredited BHS accredited and college certificate equine training courses are for those already working in the industry or who have horse experience. They will help you to upskill and enable you to access more opportunities within the industry. The courses are taught by industry practitioners and are delivered at Kirkley Hall in our state-of-the-art equine centre.

Courses available - Learn to Lunge and BHS Training Stage 1 and 2. 

Start dates - courses take place daytime and evening, Mon-Fri. 

Cost - courses are from £90-£700 

Enquire or apply now - info@northumberland.ac.uk / 0300 770 6000 

Rural Skills

We offer a range of short courses (lasting from 1-5 days) from Level 1-3, aimed at those already working in the farming industry or local authority workers that require rural skills. These courses will help you to learn a new skill, update your existing skills and knowledge or change careers. Taught by industry experienced staff, these courses are delivered at our Kirkley Hall campus in the Northumberland countryside.

Courses available - apple tree pruning, border design, felling and processing trees, as well as plants, growing new plants from seeds and cuttings. In addition, we also offer woodchippers, brushcutters and trimmers, hedge trimmers and beekeeping courses. 

Start dates - courses take place daytime 9.00-4.00, Mon-Fri with flexible start dates. 

Cost - courses range from £190-800

Enquire or apply now - kimberley.cummings@northumberland.ac.uk / 0300 770 6000

Have a Go (Floristry)

Delivered in an inspiring and rural setting at Kirkley Hall, our exciting range of floristry courses (from 1 day-8weeks) will develop your creativity, enable you to create seasonal floral displays for your own home and could even prepare you for working as a florist.

Courses available - Beginners courses and a range of seasonal floristry workshops, including wedding flowers, spring door wreaths, Halloween, Christmas, Valentine's Day and Mother's Day arrangements. 

Start dates - courses take place throughout the year. 

Cost - from £40-£150

Enquire or apply now - info@northumberland.ac.uk / 0300 770 6000

Assessing & Quality Assurance

We offer a range of work-based courses for health care professionals working in a clinical role / hospital, care professionals working within domiciliary care / nursing homes and assessors who work in any business sector. The qualifications will help you to develop in your role or update your industry knowledge. 

Courses available - Level 2 and 3 Healthcare Diplomas for health and social care professionals. Level 3 and 4 Assessor and Verifier Awards. 

Start dates - courses are delivered in the workplace in line with employers' needs with immediate start dates. 

Cost - from £75

Enquire or apply now - info@northumberland.ac.uk / 0300 770 6000 

Looking for a qualification to progress to university?

Looking for a course to fit around your home or work life?

Benefits of studying as an adult

Improve mental wellbeing. Learning a new skill, or enhancing an existing one, can improve and maintain your mental wellbeing and keep your mind active.

Develop your self-confidence. Studying will provide you with a sense of achievement and empowerment as you develop confidence in your own skills.

Improve your quality of life. Studying will allow you to become more motivated to improve and learn, and will help you to achieve a sense of self-fulfillment.

Increase your earning potential. Studying will help to expand your skillset, improve your prospects for progression and will give you the competitive edge when applying for a promotion or new job.

Improve your ability to succeed. You may wish to study in order to validate your knowledge and experience and to show what you are capable of, which will increase your ability to succeed.

Develop a support network. Studying will enable you to meet like-minded people, who you can network and collaborate with and share good practice.

Choose the direction of your future. You will gain access to more career and life opportunities so you can be in control and choose the direction your future takes.

Reasons to study as an adult:

  • To get back into education or gain a qualification
  • To learn a new skill or keep your mind active
  • To meet new friends or develop an interest
  • To progress your career or embark on a new one
  • To achieve a lifelong ambition or take on a new challenge

Expert & friendly support