Help with finances for adult learners is easily accessible in many cases, to encourage adults to continue to Higher Education; there are many organizations that can offer help and support. The Learndirect website holds information on childcare and available benefits and the Local Education Authority will be able to provide learners with an Adult Dependants Grant. Student loans are also available and advice with coping with the cost of education can be found on www.learndirect.co.uk and www.moneymatterstome.co.uk.

Travel again is necessary to consider as it takes time. If the institution a learner decides on is not the most local and it is decided not to move into closer accommodation, the question of commuting time will arise and need to be addressed. Even if the university is close to the learner’s place of residence, daily travel time to and fro will still need to be taken into account. Other areas concerning time availability requiring thought include outside commitments such as dependant children and work. School and home routines will need to be considered as will the childcare of young dependants. Working hours may need to be adjusted if the employer allows flexible hours; the learner may also need to think about reducing the hours worked to part time or maybe even stopping work, if this is a financially viable option.

Choosing the right course can be quite difficult and can present many questions. One decision that needs to be made is whether to study full time or part time; factors such as children or work commitments may influence this. The institutions the leaner decides to enroll in need to be researched thoroughly. The learner needs to look into the locality of the institution for reasons such as travel time and cost, and if willing to relocate, will need to think about the stress of moving. Another factor in deciding on the institution will be the entry requirements for the course and at what level to study, for example diploma or degree level. If choosing to study at diploma level the learner may not need qualifications to a level as high as at degree level, however diploma level courses tend to be more vocational than degree level courses, which, more often than not, offer more widespread choice.