Adult courses in the West Midlands are funded through West Midlands Combined Authority, which controls a £140.3 million adult skills budget for 2026/27. You can usually get a fully funded course if you are 19 or older and earn under £34,194. There are currently 1,663 funded courses listed at centres in the West Midlands.
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Who qualifies for a free course in the West Midlands?
West Midlands Combined Authority has not yet published its 2026/27 funding rules. Its last published earnings cut off is £34,194 (from its 2025/26 rules), and that figure stands until new rules appear. 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 the West Midlands?
West Midlands 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 the West Midlands?
The 1,663 funded courses listed at the West Midlands centres are led by functional skills / esol (492), adult social care (234), construction (120), business admin / management (108), early years / childcare (99). 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 the West Midlands?
119 training providers run funded courses at the West Midlands venues. The largest by listed courses:
- South & City College Birmingham (229 funded courses)
- Halesowen College (186 funded courses)
- BMet (159 funded courses)
- Nova Training (143 funded courses)
- City of Wolverhampton College (91 funded courses)
See all 119 funded training providers in West Midlands.
What does West Midlands Combined Authority say its priorities are?
No enumerated 26/27 list. Evidenced: construction (75M package), AI/digital (10M free-AI-skills ambition). Outcomes Framework (2026-03-25): L1/L2 attainment targets + construction pilot 2,600 L2+ achievements AY26/27.
The area’s employer led skills plan (the LSIP) is led by Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber.
How much funding does the West Midlands control?
West Midlands Combined Authority receives £140.3 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.