Did you know?
- There are over 600,000 part-time undergraduate HE students in the UK
- Learners study at a higher level in universities, Further Education Colleges and with private providers
- Many part-time learners study with the Open University
- Learners study by attending college, online and at work or home
- Part-time courses may be called "flexible" learning or "part-time pathways" and may involve combining different modules over a longer period of time than a full-time course
- Fees for part-time study are cheaper than for full-time, but you may be studying for longer
- Part-time undergraduates can now get a loan to fund their studies
What can you study part-time?
What qualifications can you study?
You can study for an HNC or HND, a Foundation degree, an Honours degree, for postgraduate qualifications or study specific modules or courses for CPD (Continuing Professional Development).
What subjects can you study?
There is a wide range of subjects available, and often you can link modules together to create the combination you need. Part-time courses in health, education, administration and management and social studies are very popular.
Can I apply through UCAS?
UCAS only lists and takes applications for full-time courses. If you are looking for a part-time course you can contact the institution you wish to study with direct, or contact the National Careers Service to search for a course.
How do I choose a course?
More information about how to choose a course is available in the guide: Making choices about higher learning – what you need to know.
The UK government information website has more information about higher education courses.
What if I'm working?
If you are thinking about studying while working, see the checklist for learners, Choosing to take up higher learning opportunities while working, for a useful list of questions to ask before making a choice.
Find out more
What does part-time mean? How long will it take?
Will your employer support you?
Student Finance England (SFE) have also produced a range of resources for advisers and students. These include videos and factsheets which help make the case for employer support for higher learning.