Adult Learning at Bishop Burton College

We know that returning to education is a big decision. Whether you’re wanting to improve your career prospects or find a new hobby, we can help with our wide range of courses.

Adults can study any of our courses, so check out the full range of short courses, college and degree level programmes to find one that suits you.

Looking to develop a new skill, change career, or simply learn for fun?

Whatever your reasons for returning to education, we are confident that we have a course for you. We have a range of new adult short courses launching in January 2025, across a variety of subject areas, including:

Level 2 Certificate in Practical Horticulture Skills
Level 2 Certificate in an Introduction to Garden Design
Level 1 Welding Skills
Level 2 Welding Skills
Level 2 Floristry

For more information on our new courses, click the buttons below. To register your interest, please complete the form beneath and a member of our Adult Learning Team will be in touch in due course.

Level 1 and 2 Welding SKills Level 2 Certificate in Practical Horticulture Skills Level 2 Floristry

Flexible learning

Some of our full-time college level courses usually only require you to be on campus three days per week and we also offer courses that are:

Part-time
Remote/blended learning, with just one or two-week block sessions on campus
Evening/weekend short courses

To view our accredited short courses, click on the button below and select 'Short Courses' in the 'Type' filter box.

For further details, or to enrol on one of our College Short Courses please visit the online shop.

View All Courses Online Short Courses Online Shop

Preparing to study for a degree?

At University Centre Bishop Burton, our entry requirements take into consideration your experience as well as your exam results. However, we know that qualifications are often required for degree-level study.

As well as ticking the qualifications box, our Access to Higher Education programmes are also a great way of preparing for higher-level study. They allow you to specialise in the subject of your choice, whilst giving you the academic know-how to study for a degree. Find out more about our Access to Higher Education courses.

Access to Higher Education Courses

Are you unemployed? We can help you get back into work.

Getting back to work with Edexcel, ILM and City & Guilds Accredited Qualifications and AptEd Awards.

Job Seekers Allowance claimants may continue to claim unemployment benefit whilst attending college using our FREE transport.

We offer courses in Health and Social Care, Customer Service, Team Leading and Horticulture.

Training is carried out as either short course delivery or a part-time course in line with Department for Work and Pensions guidance around availability for work.

For further information, please call 01964 553181.

Meet the students

Helen Smith - BA (Hons) Floristry Design

Subject Floristry

"If I could change just one person’s life through my story, that would mean the world to me."

Watch video

Financing your return to education

There are a number of funded courses that as an adult you may be eligible to study free of charge.

Depending on your circumstances, i.e. if you are in receipt of benefits, you may not have to pay any tuition fees. If you do need to pay, don't worry. There may be funding available to help.

Floristry callout Degree student holding bouquet of flowers

Loans for Access to Higher Education courses

If you are aged 19 or over you may be entitled to an Advanced Learner Loan to cover the cost of a college level course. The loan goes directly to the college to pay for your course.

If you choose to study an Access to Higher Education programme, Student Finance England will ‘write off’ any outstanding Advanced Learner Loan balances you owe for that course once you complete a higher education course. This means you do not have to repay it. The higher education course must be eligible for student finance. You can find out more about programmes that are eligible on the gov.uk website.

If you choose another course, you won't start paying anything back until you are earning over £511 a week or £2,214 a month (before tax and other deductions). If you never earn this amount, you may never have to pay it back.

Find out more

Financing a degree

If you choose to study a degree programme, you may be eligible for a student loan. The money you borrow to help with the cost of tuition fees and living costs. Extra help is also available for a range of individuals, including students with children or dependent adults. Further details are available on the gov.uk website.

Postgraduate loans are now also available for those studying a masters programme. Find out more.

Additional financial support

We offer a number of scholarship programmes and grants to help with things like childcare, accommodation fees and transport. Full details of financial support can be found on our finance pages.

College Finance University Centre Finance

Need some advice?

For everything from finance to the additional support available to you, give our Student Services team a call on 01964 553000 or email enquiries@bishopburton.ac.uk. Alternatively, pop and see us at an Open Event!

Open Events

Come to an Open Event

Subjects

Find out how to apply