Free and funded AI training in the UK (2026)
Government-funded AI courses in the UK depend on where you live. AI Skills Boost is free for every adult in the UK; England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland each fund their own courses on top.
- Schemes listed
- 14 schemes
- UK-wide
- AI Skills Boost (AI Skills Hub)
- Funded courses listed
- 6 courses
Find your nation below: each of the 14 schemes shows who it is for, what it costs you and how to apply.
Where you live: England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. Schemes for one nation don't apply in the others.
Which schemes pay for AI training, and where?
| Scheme | Where | Cost to you | Status | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AI Skills Boost (AI Skills Hub)Official page | UK-wide | Free | Announced on 28 January 2026. We check the course list on the AI Skills Hub by hand each month. | 12 Oct 2026 |
| Skills BootcampsOfficial page | England | Free; employers training existing staff pay 10% (1 to 249 employees) or 30% (250 or more) | Running in England. Skills for Careers lists the cost to learners as free. | 12 Oct 2026 |
| Free Courses for JobsOfficial page | England | Free for eligible learners | Running. The GOV.UK guidance was last updated on 29 July 2025 and has no 2026-27 update yet. It covers level 3 qualifications, including digital ones, and some level 2 courses. | 12 Oct 2026 |
| ApprenticeshipsOfficial page | England | An employed role; training is paid by the employer and government (see who pays) | New funding rules apply to starts from 1 August 2026. Since 1 January 2026, Level 7 apprenticeships are funded only for younger apprentices. | 12 Oct 2026 |
| Apprenticeship unitsOfficial page | England | An employed role; training is paid by the employer and government (see who pays) | Live. The three AI leadership units (AU0009, AU0010 and AU0011) were approved on 21 April 2026, under the funding rules for August 2026 to July 2027. | 12 Oct 2026 |
| Foundation apprenticeshipsOfficial page | England | An employed role; training is paid by the employer and government (see who pays) | Open. The Software and data foundation apprenticeship (FA0005) was approved for delivery on 29 April 2025. | 12 Oct 2026 |
| Lifelong Learning EntitlementOfficial page | England | A tuition fee loan of up to £39,160 (a loan, not a grant) | Not open yet: applications from late October 2026 for courses and modules starting from January 2027. | 12 Oct 2026 |
| Using AI in education settings (DfE) and the Chartered College assessmentOfficial page | England | Free | Updated on 19 May 2026 for the 2026 to 2027 academic year: four modules plus a leaders' module. | 12 Oct 2026 |
| NHS Learning Hub AI catalogueOfficial page | England | Free with an NHS login | You need an NHS or OpenAthens login to see the AI catalogue, so we can't list its courses.Not yet confirmed on the official page | 12 Oct 2026 |
| New Flexible Workforce Development FundOfficial page | Scotland | Funded up to £5,000 per eligible learner; only for workers earning under £33,000 in priority groups (quoted) | Running from August 2026 to December 2027 (Scottish Funding Council guidance, 6 July 2026). | 12 Oct 2026 |
| Personal Learning AccountsOfficial page | Wales | Free (fully funded) for eligible learners | Running. Not for people who are unemployed. Approved digital or green courses have no earnings cap. | 12 Oct 2026 |
| Skill UpOfficial page | Northern Ireland | Free courses | We can't confirm Skill Up is running in 2026-27. The official nidirect pages were offline when we checked on 11 Oct 2026, and the department's page about it is undated. | 12 Oct 2026 |
| Assured Skills AcademiesOfficial page | Northern Ireland | Free, with a training allowance of up to £185 a week | Academies are announced when jobs are available; none were listed on nidirect on 11 Oct 2026. | 12 Oct 2026 |
| AI Collaboration Centre (Ulster University with Queen's University Belfast)Official page | Northern Ireland | Not confirmed | We check the AI Learning Lab's courses by hand each month and haven't confirmed what they cost yet. | 11 Oct 2026 |
What is open across the UK?
AI Skills Boost (AI Skills Hub)
- Where: UK-wide
- What it costs you: Free
- How to apply: Create a free learning profile on the AI Skills Hub (aiskillshub.org.uk)
Announced on 28 January 2026. We check the course list on the AI Skills Hub by hand each month.
In the official words: "Every adult in the UK is eligible to take free, newly benchmarked courses to gain practical AI skills for work." (source, checked 12 Oct 2026).
More from the official page
- "AI Skills Boost gives people free access to complete AI training - providing practical AI skills for work. People will be able to gain a government-backed virtual AI foundations badge for completing selected training courses." (source)
- "Open to all UK adults online, taking as little as under 20 minutes, the courses will give people the skills needed to use simple AI tools effectively in the workplace" (source)
- "A selection of industry-developed AI courses, newly available on government’s AI Skills Hub, have been checked against Skills England’s AI foundation skills for work benchmark, with those who complete these courses receiving a virtual AI foundations badge." (source)
- "Training is available on the revamped AI Skills Hub, a free site where users can create a learning profile and follow a tailored learning journey beyond the foundations training." (source)
What is funded in England?
Skills Bootcamps
- Where: England
- What it costs you: Free; employers training existing staff pay 10% (1 to 249 employees) or 30% (250 or more)
- How to apply: Find a bootcamp through the National Careers Service, then apply on the training provider's website
Running in England. Skills for Careers lists the cost to learners as free.
In the official words: "Skills Bootcamps are flexible training courses for adults aged 19 and over. They last up to 16 weeks and offer participants a job interview on completion." (source, checked 12 Oct 2026).
More from the official page
- "If you train an existing employee through Skills Bootcamps, you will need to make a training cost contribution: 10% if you are a small to medium employer with 1 to 249 employees 30% if you are a large employer with 250 or more employees" (source)
- "Skills Bootcamps teach you skills for specific careers and sectors with a guaranteed job interview at the end." (source)
Free Courses for Jobs
- Where: England
- What it costs you: Free for eligible learners
- How to apply: Use the National Careers Service course finder, then apply to the college or training provider
Running. The GOV.UK guidance was last updated on 29 July 2025 and has no 2026-27 update yet. It covers level 3 qualifications, including digital ones, and some level 2 courses.
In the official words: "You can get a free qualification if you’re: aged 19 or over earn below £25,750 or are unemployed" (source, checked 12 Oct 2026).
More from the official page
- "If you’re eligible, you will not have to pay for your qualification. The government will pay the course fees." (source)
Apprenticeships
- Where: England
- What it costs you: An employed role; training is paid by the employer and government (see who pays)
- How to apply: Employers who don't pay the levy reserve funds through the apprenticeship service
New funding rules apply to starts from 1 August 2026. Since 1 January 2026, Level 7 apprenticeships are funded only for younger apprentices.
In the official words: "for employers who do not pay the levy, where the apprentice is aged 25 or over (at the start of their apprenticeship training) the government will contribute 95%" (source, checked 12 Oct 2026).
More from the official page
- "From 1 January 2026, Level 7 apprenticeships will only be government-funded for apprentices who, at the start of their apprenticeship training, are either aged 16-21, or aged under 25 and have an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan and/or have been, or are, in the care of their local authority." (source)
Apprenticeship units
- Where: England
- What it costs you: An employed role; training is paid by the employer and government (see who pays)
- How to apply: Employers reserve funds through the apprenticeship service
Live. The three AI leadership units (AU0009, AU0010 and AU0011) were approved on 21 April 2026, under the funding rules for August 2026 to July 2027.
In the official words: "Units are for employed learners aged 19 and over, where their employer has identified that they need to upskill quickly to respond to emerging skills gaps and to support business growth and productivity." (source, checked 12 Oct 2026).
More from the official page
- "92. For employers who do not pay the levy, the government will fund all of the apprenticeship unit training and assessment costs based on the funding rate (as stated on the apprenticeship unit)." (source)
Foundation apprenticeships
- Where: England
- What it costs you: An employed role; training is paid by the employer and government (see who pays)
- How to apply: Through an employer offering a foundation apprenticeship
Open. The Software and data foundation apprenticeship (FA0005) was approved for delivery on 29 April 2025.
In the official words: "The apprentice must normally be age 16 to 21 at the start of their apprenticeship. Exceptions to this are set out in the Department for Education Apprenticeship funding rules." (source, checked 12 Oct 2026).
More from the official page
- "Under DfE Apprenticeship funding Rules 25/26 the employer qualifies for up to £2,000 per foundation apprentice, subject to retention and progression." (source)
Lifelong Learning Entitlement
- Where: England
- What it costs you: A tuition fee loan of up to £39,160 (a loan, not a grant)
- How to apply: Apply for LLE funding through student finance from late October 2026
Not open yet: applications from late October 2026 for courses and modules starting from January 2027.
In the official words: "LLE tuition loans will be available for people up to the age of 60 at the start of their course." (source, checked 12 Oct 2026).
More from the official page
- "a tuition fee loan, with new learners able to access up to the full entitlement of £39,160 – equal to 4 years of study based on the maximum tuition fee for academic year 2026 to 2027" (source)
Using AI in education settings (DfE) and the Chartered College assessment
- Where: England
- What it costs you: Free
- How to apply: Work through the modules online; the assessment is with the Chartered College of Teaching
Updated on 19 May 2026 for the 2026 to 2027 academic year: four modules plus a leaders' module.
In the official words: "Free support materials for staff in schools and colleges, developed by the Chiltern Learning Trust and Chartered College of Teaching, to support the safe and effective use of generative AI in education." (source, checked 12 Oct 2026).
More from the official page
- "a free multiple-choice assessment providing Chartered College certification based on the training materials" (source)
NHS Learning Hub AI catalogue
- Where: England
- What it costs you: Free with an NHS login
- How to apply: Sign in to the Learning Hub with an NHS or OpenAthens account
You need an NHS or OpenAthens login to see the AI catalogue, so we can't list its courses. We have not yet confirmed this on the official page.
In the official words: "The Learning Hub supports organisations and individuals across the NHS health and social care workforce, including local government and universities." (source, checked 12 Oct 2026).
What is funded in Scotland?
New Flexible Workforce Development Fund
- Where: Scotland
- What it costs you: Funded up to £5,000 per eligible learner; only for workers earning under £33,000 in priority groups (quoted)
- How to apply: Apply through a college, as an employer or as a worker whose employer knows
Running from August 2026 to December 2027 (Scottish Funding Council guidance, 6 July 2026).
In the official words: "In line with the aim of the New FWDF, funded training opportunities are open only to workers with an individual annual income below £33,000 who are either: parents or carers of a child aged under 18 living at home, individuals aged under 24, or care-experienced/disabled individuals aged under 30." (source, checked 12 Oct 2026).
More from the official page
- "Funding per eligible learner will be capped to a maximum of £5,000 per person." (source)
What is funded in Wales?
Personal Learning Accounts
- Where: Wales
- What it costs you: Free (fully funded) for eligible learners
- How to apply: Book an appointment with a Careers Wales adviser or contact your local college
Running. Not for people who are unemployed. Approved digital or green courses have no earnings cap.
In the official words: "You must: Live in Wales Be 19 years old or over" (source, checked 12 Oct 2026).
More from the official page
What is funded in Northern Ireland?
Skill Up
- Where: Northern Ireland
- What it costs you: Free courses
- How to apply: Not confirmed
We can't confirm Skill Up is running in 2026-27. The official nidirect pages were offline when we checked on 11 Oct 2026, and the department's page about it is undated.
In the official words: "Participants must be aged 18+ and must have the right to work in Northern Ireland." (source, checked 12 Oct 2026).
More from the official page
- "The programme is delivered in partnership with local colleges and universities and offers free courses in priority economic sectors." (source)
Assured Skills Academies
- Where: Northern Ireland
- What it costs you: Free, with a training allowance of up to £185 a week
- How to apply: Current academies are advertised on JobApplyNI, nidirect and job sites
Academies are announced when jobs are available; none were listed on nidirect on 11 Oct 2026.
In the official words: "Applicants must be at least 18 years old." (source, checked 12 Oct 2026).
More from the official page
- "will receive a maximum weekly training allowance of £185" (source)
AI Collaboration Centre (Ulster University with Queen's University Belfast)
- Where: Northern Ireland
- What it costs you: Not confirmed
- How to apply: See the AICC website
We check the AI Learning Lab's courses by hand each month and haven't confirmed what they cost yet.
Funded AI courses we list
| Course | Next start | Cost | Funding | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BCS Foundation Award: Award in Machine Learning (PLA)Cardiff and Vale College | 9 Nov 2026 | FundedFree under Personal Learning Accounts | Personal Learning Accounts | Live sessions |
| BCS Foundation Award: How AI Can Support Your Organisation (PLA)Cardiff and Vale College | 18 Jan 2027 | FundedFree under Personal Learning Accounts | Personal Learning Accounts | Live sessions |
| BCS Foundation Award: Award in Understanding the Role of Ethics in the Responsible Use of AI (PLA)Cardiff and Vale College | 8 Mar 2027 | FundedFree under Personal Learning Accounts | Personal Learning Accounts | Live sessions |
| Secure AI Adoption for SMEs: Cybersecurity and the EU AI ActCyberSuite Academy | Start any time | Free | None | Self-paced, about 15 h |
| BCS* Essentials Certificate in Artificial Intelligence (AI) (PLA)Cardiff and Vale College | Next intake not announced | FundedFree under Personal Learning Accounts | Personal Learning Accounts | Blended |
| BCS* Foundation Certificate in Artificial Intelligence (AI) (PLA)Cardiff and Vale College | Next intake not announced | FundedFree under Personal Learning Accounts | Personal Learning Accounts | Blended |
Questions people ask
Is there free AI training for every adult in the UK?
Yes. AI Skills Boost gives every adult in the UK free AI courses on the government's AI Skills Hub, and some courses lead to a government-backed badge. You only need a free learning profile.
Do employers pay for Skills Bootcamps?
Only when they train their own staff: employers training existing staff pay 10% (1 to 249 employees) or 30% (250 or more). For learners, Skills Bootcamps are free.
Is there funded AI training in Scotland?
Only for some workers. The New Flexible Workforce Development Fund runs from August 2026 to December 2027 through colleges, and it is narrow: up to £5,000 per learner, only for workers earning under £33,000 in priority groups. The exact rule is quoted in the Scotland section.
Is there funded AI training in Wales?
Yes, through Personal Learning Accounts, for people aged 19 or over who live in Wales and aren't unemployed. Most courses have a salary cap; approved digital and green courses don't.
Is there funded AI training in Northern Ireland?
Not much at the moment. Assured Skills Academies are fully funded but only run when announced, and none were open on 12 Oct 2026. We can't confirm Skill Up for 2026-27. Our Northern Ireland page has the full picture, including AI Skills Boost.
New courses by email: launching soon
We're setting up a newsletter for new courses, price changes and funded intakes. Until it starts, New this week lists every change.