Free courses for jobs
Level 3 qualifications to help you gain new skills and improve your job prospects
If you are 24 or over, you may be eligible to study and gain a level 3 qualification for free at City Lit. This initiative is part of the government's support designed to help you gain the necessary skills for your desired job at any stage in your life.
A level 3 qualification is equivalent to an advanced technical certificate or diploma, or A levels.
We have free places on a range of courses covering massage, social media marketing, user experience design, counselling, and art and design.
Important note: Free places for eligible applicants are limited and cannot be guaranteed. To study for free you must also meet the eligibility criteria outlined here.
Browse our courses below and apply for your free place today!
- ITEC Level 3 Diploma in Reflexology: fast-trackCourse start date: Sun 27 Apr 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Kean Street Wellbeing Centre
Tutors: Janet LeeGain a recognised qualification in reflexology which will enable you to practise professionally. This is a FASTRACK, low cost course taught by experienced industry professionals. You must have completed the ‘ITEC massage diploma’ or equivalent and preferably an introductory reflexology course.
(equivalent being an Ofqual recognised qualifaction e.g. City and Guilds Level 3 Diploma in Massage - Active IQ Level 3 Diploma in Massage - VTCT Level 3 Diploma in Massage). There is one session per week on this course. It is every Sunday for 13 weeks.
The Free Courses for Jobs initiative is for Londoners aged 24 or over at the start of the course who are: on a low-income; or on certain benefits; or do not have a full level 3 qualification. For more information Click here
The course fee is £1029.00, plus an upfront fee of £1029.00 payable at the time of your enrolment. If you are unable to pay the course fees, you can choose to apply for an Advanced Learner Loan from Student Finance England (SFE) to help cover the course fee, repayable after the course ends. A deposit of £0.00 is also payable to secure your place (refundable after you complete the course). You can find more information about the Advanced Learner Loan www.citylit.ac.uk/advanced-learner-loans
For more information, please call Health & Wellbeing on 020 8142 4577.Full fee £2,058.00 Senior fee £2,058.00 Concession £2,058.00 - ITEC Level 3 Diploma in Massage: fast-trackCourse start date: Fri 2 May 2025 (and 8 other dates)
Location on this date: Kean Street Wellbeing Centre
Tutors: Oge OkohConsidering massage therapy as a career? Learn the theory and practice of massage at a professional level. City Lit is a leading training provider in London for Massage and Complementary Therapies, providing outstanding achievement at high industry standards. Our courses are taught by experienced and practising industry professionals who have current knowledge of the massage sector. If you’ve applied for this course and not heard back from us, please email us on health@citylit.ac.uk, or call us (Mon-Fri 10:00-17:00) on 020 8142 4577.
We have a limited number of free places on this course under the government's Free Courses for Jobs initiative.
The Free Courses for Jobs initiative is for Londoners aged 24 or over at the start of the course who are: on a low-income; or on certain benefits; or do not have a full level 3 qualification. For more information Click here
The course fee is £1599.00 payable at the time of your enrolment. If you are unable to pay the course fees, you can choose to apply for an Advanced Learner Loan from Student Finance England (SFE) to help cover the course fee, repayable after the course ends. You can find more information about the Advanced Learner Loan www.citylit.ac.uk/advanced-learner-loans
For more information, please call Health & Wellbeing on 020 8142 4577.Full fee £1,599.00 Senior fee £1,599.00 Concession £1,599.00 - ITEC Level 3 Diploma in MassageCourse start date: Tue 9 Sep 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Kean Street Wellbeing Centre
Tutors: Helen RennieConsidering massage therapy as a career? Learn the theory and practice of massage at a professional level. City Lit is a leading training provider in London for Massage and Complementary Therapies, providing outstanding achievement at high industry standards. Our courses are taught by experienced and practising industry professionals who have current knowledge of the massage sector. If you’ve applied for this course and not heard back from us, please email us on health@citylit.ac.uk, or call us (Mon-Fri 10:00-17:00) on 020 8142 4577.
The application process is open until 15 Sepember 2023.
The Free Courses for Jobs initiative is for Londoners aged 24 or over at the start of the course who are: on a low-income; or on certain benefits; or do not have a full level 3 qualification. For more information Click here
The course fee is £1679.00. If you are unable to pay the course fee upfront, you can choose to apply for an Advanced Learning Loan from the Student Loans Company (SLC) to help cover the cost. The Advanced Learner loan available for this course is £1679.00. The Loan is repayable after the course ends. For more information, please call Health & Wellbeing on 020 8142 4577. You can find more information about the Advanced Learner Loan here www.citylit.ac.uk/advanced-learner-loansFull fee £1,679.00 Senior fee £1,679.00 Concession £1,679.00 - Level 3 certificate in IT user skills (ICDL Advanced)Course start date: Sat 13 Sep 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Hybrid (choose either online or in-person)
This course is free for learners aged 19-23 who have not previously achieved a full level 3 qualification. For more information Click here
Full fee £1,260.00 - Foundation diploma in art and designCourse start date: Tue 16 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: MultipleThe UAL Foundation Diploma in Art & Design at City Lit is an exciting and challenging multi-disciplinary art, design, craft and media programme. It is designed to give you the best possible introduction to a wide range of materials, techniques and processes, and to support you in identifying and developing your creative interests and thinking. Validated by the University of the Arts London Awarding Body, it is an internationally recognised qualification with a UCAS tariff that enables you to apply directly to University.
The Free Courses for Jobs initiative is for Londoners aged 24 or over at the start of the course who are: on a low-income; or on certain benefits; or do not have a full level 3 qualification. For more information Click here
- Sign Language Teacher Training CourseCourse start date: Fri 3 Oct 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Mark HopkinsonAre you deaf and fluent in BSL? Interested to teaching BSL? This specialist BSL teacher training course leads to a national teaching qualification and includes knowledge of BSL and the Deaf Community.
The Level 3 Award in Education and Training is designed to give you the knowledge and confidence to teach in the post-16 education sector. This could be as a trainer in the private training industry or as a teacher/lecturer in further education.
You will attend City Lit for lecture blocks over 8 sessions from 6th October 2023 to 8th June 2024.
The hours are 10.00-17.00 Fridays and Saturdays.
The Free Courses for Jobs initiative is for Londoners aged 24 or over at the start of the course who are: on a low-income; or on certain benefits; or do not have a full level 3 qualification. For more information Click here
Full fee £999.00 Senior fee £999.00 Concession £999.00 - Level 3 Certificate in User Experience/User Interface (UX/UI) NCFECourse start date: Tue 13 Jan 2026 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Blended (learn both online and in-person)
Tutors: Itai Bercovier, Alex GregoryThis Level 3 course is designed for learners wishing to gain knowledge and skills of traditional practices used in UX/UI design industry sectors. On completion of the certificate, you would have the opportunity to join UX/UI design companies as an entry level UX/UI designer with some website creation/design experience or progress onto higher education.
The Free Courses for Jobs initiative is for Londoners aged 24 or over at the start of the course who are: on a low-income; or on certain benefits; or do not have a full level 3 qualification. For more information Click here
The course fee is £2699.00. If you are unable to pay the course fee upfront, you can choose to apply for an Advanced Learning Loan from the Student Loans Company (SLC) to help cover the cost. The Advanced Learner loan available for this course is £941.00. The remaining fee of £1758.00 will need to be paid at enrolment. If you are unable to pay this fee upfront, you can talk to our Information, Advice and Guidance team who will advise you on other financial support available. You can contact the Advice and Guidance Team by phone on (0203 871 3111) or by email: advice@citylit.ac.uk. The Loan is repayable after the course ends. For more information, please call Business & Technology on 020 7492 2515. You can find more information about the Advanced Learner Loan here www.citylit.ac.uk/advanced-learner-loansFull fee £2,699.00 Senior fee £2,699.00 Concession £2,699.00
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