Free Courses in Surrey: 2026/27 Funding Guide

Adult courses in Surrey are funded through Surrey County Council, which controls a £7.4 million adult skills budget for 2026/27. You can usually get a fully funded course if you are 19 or older and earn under £26,800. There are currently 403 funded courses listed at centres in Surrey.

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<a href=”https://www.jobyay.co.uk/adult-education-funding/”><img src=”https://www.jobyay.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/jobyay-charts/areas/surrey_eligibility.svg” alt=”Who qualifies for free training in Surrey – JobYay” style=”max-width:100%”/></a><br/>Chart: <a href=”https://www.jobyay.co.uk/adult-education-funding/”>JobYay</a>

Who qualifies for a free course in Surrey?

The national rules apply here. You are likely to qualify for a fully funded course if you earn under £26,800 a year, the national 2026/27 threshold. People who are unemployed or on certain benefits usually qualify too.

The provider confirms eligibility when you enrol. The quickest way to check is the eligibility checker, which uses your postcode.

What is different in Surrey?

Surrey County Council took on adult skills funding in 2026 and is applying the national rules in its first year. The national offer (free Level 3 for adults without one, free English, maths and digital skills, and the £26,800 earnings test) applies in full.

What can you study free in Surrey?

The 403 funded courses listed at Surrey centres are led by functional skills / esol (205), adult social care (35), beauty / hair / nails (27), construction (20), early years / childcare (20). Around 3,400 more funded online courses are available wherever you live.

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<a href=”https://www.jobyay.co.uk/adult-education-funding/”><img src=”https://www.jobyay.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/jobyay-charts/areas/surrey_sectors.svg” alt=”Top funded course subjects in Surrey – JobYay” style=”max-width:100%”/></a><br/>Chart: <a href=”https://www.jobyay.co.uk/adult-education-funding/”>JobYay</a>

Browse free courses or search the full course directory to see what is running near you.

Who delivers funded training in Surrey?

22 training providers run funded courses at Surrey venues. The largest by listed courses:

• Brooklands College (132 funded courses)
• Surrey County Council (96 funded courses)
• NESCOT (77 funded courses)
• Activate Learning (47 funded courses)
• Esher College (10 funded courses)

See all 22 funded training providers in Surrey.

What does Surrey County Council say its priorities are?

NOT FOUND beyond construction ring-fence; no commissioning plan published.

The area’s employer led skills plan (the LSIP, led by Surrey Chambers of Commerce) names: manufacturing & engineering, construction & green economy, health & social care, digital, employability.

How much funding does Surrey control?

Surrey County Council receives £7.4 million in adult skills funding for 2026/27, as a Section 31 grant. See how that compares to every other area in our adult education funding guide.

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<a href=”https://www.jobyay.co.uk/adult-education-funding/”><img src=”https://www.jobyay.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/jobyay-charts/areas/surrey_allocation.svg” alt=”Where Surrey sits: adult skills allocations 2026/27 – JobYay” style=”max-width:100%”/></a><br/>Chart: <a href=”https://www.jobyay.co.uk/adult-education-funding/”>JobYay</a>

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.