Can you do an Access to HE course for free? Free vs paid routes

How an Access to HE course works, free or paid

An Access to HE Diploma is a QAA approved Level 3 qualification for adults who want to go to university without A Levels. It is 60 credits: 45 graded at Level 3 and 15 ungraded. Universities set their own grade profiles, so check the course you want before you choose a pathway.

For nursing or midwifery, the diploma is only the first step. You still need an NMC approved degree, and NMC registration follows the degree. A funded college place and a paid online course both lead to a QAA approved Access to HE Diploma.

So the free vs paid choice comes down to whether you qualify for a free place or a loan, and when and where you want to study.

Free options for an Access to HE course

A free place if you are 19 to 23. The Adult Skills Fund rules for 2026 to 2027 say learners aged 19 to 23 who have not already achieved a full level 3 qualification "must be fully funded" for a qualification on the level 3 legal entitlement or Free Courses for Jobs list, and colleges "must not charge them any course fees". Colleges apply this to Access to HE. Colchester Institute says the course "will be fully-funded by the government" for this group. Cambridge Regional College says "there will be no tuition costs". Shrewsbury Colleges Group describes a fee waiver for 19 to 23 year olds. These rules apply in England.

Free Courses for Jobs and local schemes. GOV.UK says Free Courses for Jobs is for people aged 19 or over who "earn below £25,750 or are unemployed", for level 3 qualifications in many subjects. Some areas run their own schemes. Ask your local college which scheme applies where you live.

An Advanced Learner Loan, written off if you finish a degree. If you are 19 or over and do not get a free place, GOV.UK says you can apply for an Advanced Learner Loan for a course at an approved college or training provider in England. Eligibility "does not depend on your income and there are no credit checks". The loan is paid to your college, interest is charged from the first payment, and you "can only apply once for an Access to Higher Education course". Student Finance England will "write off" any outstanding Advanced Learner Loan balance for an Access to HE course once you complete a higher education course that is eligible for student finance. If you do not complete a degree, you repay it once your income is over the threshold.

Is the loan still open for 2026 to 2027? Yes. GOV.UK has an application form for students who start on or after 1 August 2026, and its Advanced Learner Loan guide, updated 22 October 2026, still describes the Access to HE write-off.

What the Lifelong Learning Entitlement changes. The Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE) brings together higher education student finance and Advanced Learner Loans "for qualifications at levels 4 to 6". GOV.UK says that from late October 2026 learners can apply for LLE for courses and modules that start from January 2027. Access to HE is a level 3 course, so it stays outside the LLE and the Advanced Learner Loan rules above still apply to it.

Help with other costs. GOV.UK lists the Advanced Learner Loan Bursary Fund for help with some costs while you study.

Free and paid Access to HE courses compared

Here is what each provider shows on its own page, checked 26 October 2026, with prices exactly as shown.

"Check provider" means the provider's page did not show that detail when we checked. For more paid online providers, see our guide to the best online Access to HE Nursing courses in the UK.

So what does paying add?

If you qualify for a free place, take it seriously. You get the same type of QAA approved diploma for no tuition fee. The trade-offs sit around the place itself:

• Eligibility. Free places depend on your age, your past qualifications and, for some schemes, where you live and what you earn.
• Start dates. Several college courses we checked start in September. Some online college courses take continuous starts.
• One loan only. You can only take an Advanced Learner Loan for an Access to HE course once, and it is only written off if you complete a higher education course.

Paying yourself adds control. You choose the provider and the start date, and you do not take on a loan. At Lift College you also choose how long to pay for, because you pay monthly or yearly with no contract.

Want the full picture of fees, loans and monthly plans? Read how much an Access to HE course costs in 2026.

What you get with Lift College

The Lift College Access to HE Diploma (Nursing) is a QAA approved Level 3 qualification studied 100% online. It covers human biology, anatomy and physiology, psychology, sociology, pharmacology, law and nursing values, with academic study skills.

• Price. £79.99 a month or £719.99 a year when you pay today, save up to 17% for life, or £89.99 a month or £917.99 a year after a 7-day free trial. No contract, no credit check, pause or cancel any time.
• Self-funded. Lift College courses are paid by subscription. The course page says there is no government student finance for them, so a free place or an Advanced Learner Loan means studying with a college or provider that offers one.
• Length. Typically 12 to 18 months at around 8 to 12 hours a week. There is no fixed end date while your subscription is active.
• Up to 144 UCAS points. 45 graded credits at Distinction give 144 points.
• No exams. Coursework and a portfolio, with tutor marking in 3 to 5 working days and free resubmissions to improve your grade.
• Support. A personal tutor from day one, and a 14-day money back guarantee on every payment.

You need to be 19 or over. You should have GCSE English and Maths at grade 4 (or C), or be willing to take Functional Skills alongside the diploma. Heading for midwifery? The Access to HE Diploma (Midwifery) has the same prices. You can see every pathway on our Access to HE courses page.

Which should you choose?

• Take a free place if you are 19 to 23 with no full level 3, or you qualify for a local scheme, and a college start date suits you.
• Take an Advanced Learner Loan if you are 19 or over, do not qualify for a free place, and are confident you will complete a degree, since the balance is then written off.
• Pay as you study if you want to start today, choose your own pace, avoid a loan, or have already used your one Access to HE loan.

Ready to start on your own timetable? See the Access to HE Diploma Nursing online course at Lift College.