Want to progress your career, develop new skills or change direction?  Our flexible Higher Education modules fit around work, family and everyday life.  Study one module at a time, building practical, career-focused skills at your own pace.  Many modules can be studied as standalone Higher Technical Qualification (HTQ) modules, giving you recognised, job-ready skills without committing to a full qualification.

Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE)

From January 2027, eligible students in England can use LLE funding twoards approved Higher Education courses and modules, including many Level 4, 5 and 6 qualifcations (such as HTQ's, HNC's, HND's and Degrees).

The LLE allows you to:

1. Study a full qualification or individual modules
2. Build your learning over time
3. Return to study later in your career
4. Develop skills for career progression or a career change

You will normally need to study at least 30 credits to access LLE tuition fee funding.  Eligible learners can access tuition fee funding equivalent to approximately four years of full-time study, although previous HE study may affect your entitlement.

Financial Support

You may be eligble for:

1. Tuition Fee Loans - towards course or module fees
2. Maintenance Loans - towards living costs
3. Additional Support - may be available, depending on your circumstances

How to Apply

Apply through Student Finance England.  For courses starting Janaury - July 2027, applications open from September 2026.  You can apply for student finance before receiving a confirmed college or university offer.

Learn your way. Build your skills. Progress your career.

The Modules You Can Study

In today's fast-changing world, developing your skills has never been more important.  Whether you want to progress in your current role, move into a new career or strengthen your professional expertise, Higher Education doesn't have to mean commiting to a full qualification.

With modular Higher Education, you can choose to study as little as 30 credits and may be able to access a student loan to fund your study.  This gives you the opportunity to gain university-level skills and knowledge, without enrolling on a full degree or Higher Technical Qualification (HTQ).

Our flexible modular approach is designed around real life.  We understand that balancing work, family and other commitments can make traditional Higher Education difficult.  By studying a minimum of 30 credits, you can focus on the areas most relevant to you, develop new skills and fit your learning around your existing commitments. 

You can build your learning over time, studying modules that provide practical, career-focused knowledge and skills.  Many of our modules are drawn from HTQ's, giving you access to high-quality, employer-focused Higher Educaion that can make an immediate difference in the workplace.

Study 30 credits.  Access student finance if eligible. Build your skills without committing to a full qualification.

Whether you are looking to upskill, retrain or take the next step in your career; modular Higher Education courses offer an affordable and flexible way to invest in your future.

Computing and Digital Modules

Engineering and Construction Modules

Here's what our students have to say about our modular courses:

Josh Walker (Artificial Intelligence and Cyber Security): "Both courses were broken up well over coursework and class lectures / activity.  I especially enjoyed the practical tasks and work in the AI course.  I found many areas to be greatly interesting and useful in my day to day employment.  The tutor was very warm, friendly and supportive from the day of my induction to the last day of my course.  I would love to come back for potentially more, even unrelated courses if I can easily work them around full-time employment."

Dale Warburton (Cyber Security): "Having achieved a Level 2 in Cyber Security and Digital Forensics, I wanted to progress further. I chose Tameside College because it is one of the only providers in the North West offering the Level 4 course, and the flexible evening classes fit perfectly around my schedule. T ameside College is a fantastic asset to Greater Manchester.  Situated perfectly alongside the region's expanding cyber security corridor, it provides a warm, inclusive and friendly environment for aspiring tech professionals.  I would highly recommend it to anyone looking to advance their education in this field."

Park Chua (Artificial Intelligence): "I completed this course whilst working as an R&D Scientist - Pharmaceuticals.  I wanted to gain a deeper understanding of AI applications in medical research, especiall how machine learning can speed up discovery and testing processes.  I believe that it will enable automation of repetitive tasks, faster insights from research data and help innovation in personalised medicine."

Siu Ming Kan (Artificial Intelligence): "I work as a Customer Service Advisor with Samsung, and I wanted to understand how AI systems (such as chatbots and virtual assistants) operate.  I wanted to use this course in order to upskill for future roles in tech-driven customer support and service analytics.  The course fully enhanced my understanding of this, and also improved my employability skills."

Gemma Jones (Artificial Intelligence): "Working as a Supermarket Store Manage, I wanted to understand how AI and data analytics could be applied to improve stock management, logistics and customer experience - as I am keen to modernise retail operations.  By doing the course, I felt I could optomise inventory management, forecasting and customer analytics."