Today, there are many ways that you can fund your further education – so if there is a course that you would really like to do, don’t let finances be a barrier to knowledge and self improvement!

If you are in employment and plan on furthering your career within that organisation, speak with your employer to see what kind of funding is available.

Many companies allocate a specific budget for training each year therefore, if you present a good case they may cover the costs, as ultimately, they will benefit.

Another option, would be to get a bursary.  There are a number of charities and organisations which offer this type of support and each year many of these go unclaimed. To check eligibility for bursaries in England and Wales click here, and for information on bursaries in Scotland click here. These sites give full details of the requirements and what expenses will be covered as a result of a successful application. Its well worth checking out these options to see if you qualify.

You may have some savings which you propose to use to fund your study, however, this is more likely if you are already in full time employment. If self funding is not an option there is help at hand.  You may wish to consider a Professional / Career Development loan.

Essentially a Career Development loan is a bank loan and you can borrow between £300 and £10,000.  You apply for this in the same way that you would a regular bank loan (with a Bank who offers such a product). The main difference with this type of loan is that the Young Peoples Learning Agency (YPLA) will pay all the interest on the loan while you study and for one month after your studies are completed.  Once this period is up, you repay the loan in the usual manner paying a fixed rate from when you agreed the loan.  It’s worth investigating which banks are offering these specific products and you should also shop around for the best deal.

With the financials sorted, all you have to do is focus on your studies and achieving your goals.