Adult courses in Greater Manchester are funded through Greater Manchester Combined Authority, which controls a £102.5 million adult skills budget for 2026/27. You can usually get a fully funded course if you are 19 or older and earn under £25,000. There are currently 1,364 funded courses listed at centres in Greater Manchester.
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Who qualifies for a free course in Greater Manchester?
Greater Manchester Combined Authority has not yet published its 2026/27 funding rules. Its last published earnings cut off is £25,000 (from its 2025/26 rules), and that figure stands until new rules appear. People who are unemployed or on certain benefits usually qualify too.
For Level 3 courses the cut off here is higher: £32,400.
The provider confirms eligibility when you enrol. The quickest way to check is the eligibility checker, which uses your postcode.
What is different in Greater Manchester?
Greater Manchester Combined Authority sets its own rules, but has not yet published a 2026/27 rulebook. Everything shown here is its last published position. This page updates when new rules appear.
The core offer follows the national pattern: a free first full Level 3 for adults without one, free English, maths and digital skills, and full funding under the earnings cut off above.
What can you study free in Greater Manchester?
The 1,364 funded courses listed at Greater Manchester centres are led by functional skills / esol (337), adult social care (162), construction (130), beauty / hair / nails (127), business admin / management (101). Around 3,400 more funded online courses are available wherever you live.
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Browse free courses or search the full course directory to see what is running near you.
Who delivers funded training in Greater Manchester?
74 training providers run funded courses at Greater Manchester venues. The largest by listed courses:
- The Manchester College (183 funded courses)
- Manchester City Council (144 funded courses)
- Hopwood Hall College (131 funded courses)
- Tameside College (98 funded courses)
- Wigan and Leigh College (83 funded courses)
See all 74 funded training providers in Greater Manchester.
What does Greater Manchester Combined Authority say its priorities are?
Transitional year pending system review; construction workforce plan (Construction Skills Package 4,875,322 FY); green-economy prioritisation; Wigan & Leigh College = Construction Technical Excellence College.
The area’s employer led skills plan (the LSIP) is led by GM Chamber of Commerce.
How much funding does Greater Manchester control?
Greater Manchester Combined Authority receives £102.5 million in adult skills funding for 2026/27, through its Integrated Settlement. See how that compares to every other area in our adult education funding guide.
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Sources: the authority’s own published funding rules and committee papers, gov.uk grant determination letters and Integrated Settlement tables, and the JobYay course directory. The eligibility estimate is JobYay analysis of ONS ASHE 2025 earnings data. Full figures and sources: adult education funding in England.
Page last updated: 4 August 2026. Course counts refresh with the directory; funding facts refresh when rules are published.