Adult Skills Fund (ASF)

Who can be funded

For 2026 to 2027, a learner must be aged 19 or older on 31 August 2026 on the first day of learning. A learner aged 19 or over who is continuing a programme they began aged 16 to 18 (a 19+ continuer) is funded through 16 to 19 funding instead, as are learners aged 19 to 24 with an EHC plan (ASF funding rules 2026 to 2027, section 1.2).

The learner must be ordinarily resident in the UK on the first day of learning, and the learning must take place in England (section 1.3). Check eligibility, including where in England the learner lives, at the start of each learning aim.

Full funding vs co-funding

Whether a learner is fully funded or co-funded depends on their age, prior attainment, employment status and earnings. Fully funded learners attract 100% of the funding rate; co-funded learners attract a co-funding rate (the provider may charge a fee contribution for the remainder).

• Legal entitlements (4): English and maths up to and including level 2 (aged 19 and over); a first full level 2 and a first full level 3 (aged 19 to 23); digital skills qualifications up to level 1 (aged 19 and over, assessed below level 1)
• Unemployed and low-wage learners can be fully funded for many aims
• Earnings thresholds determine low-wage eligibility and are updated each year (for 2026 to 2027, £26,800, up from £25,750)

Devolution

If a learner's home postcode falls within a devolved authority, that authority's adult education rules and rates apply, not the national ASF rules. The exception is a continuing learner who started before the authority's devolution date with a provider that has an Education and Skills funding agreement (grant) or accountability agreement, and has not finished by 31 July 2026: the national ASF still funds them (ASF funding rules 2026 to 2027, section 1.2). Use the Devolved Funding Checker to identify the funding body for a postcode.

Learners who live in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland

Learners who live in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland have their own funding arrangements, so you can fund them through the ASF only in the limited cases below. The wording is the same in 2025 to 2026 and 2026 to 2027: it has been in the 2025 to 2026 ASF rules (residency eligibility section) since 23 July 2025, and was added to the 2026 to 2027 rules on 14 September 2026 (section 1.3, residency eligibility):

• You must not actively recruit learners who live or work outside England.
• If your provider is close to the border, you can deliver ASF to learners who live in your catchment area even though they do not live in England. DfE and DWP do not expect these numbers to be significant.
• Delivery must take place in England.
• If you plan to deliver a significant amount of learning to learners who do not live in England, you must make arrangements with the relevant devolved administration (the Welsh Government, the Scottish Government or the Northern Ireland Executive).

Tailored and community learning

ASF also covers tailored learning (formerly community learning) which supports wider participation, wellbeing and progression for adults, with more local flexibility over eligibility and fees.