close-up of British army soldier's sleeve insignia

Courses and funding for service personnel

Upskill with a work-based degree, degree apprenticeship, Master's degree or short course

Whether you’re furthering your career in the services or setting yourself up for success on civvy street, many of our courses are ideal for serving and former military personnel.

In many cases, you can use the training and experience from your military service as credit towards a qualification, helping you complete your studies more quickly.

You can also use the MOD’s ELCAS (Enhanced Learning Credits Administration Service) funding to pay for your studies on eligible courses. If you’re stationed overseas, lots of our courses are available by distance learning.

Find out about the different types of courses and qualifications we offer for serving and military personnel.

Work-based degrees

Work-based ‘Learning at Work’ degrees give you the freedom to gain a Bachelor's (undergraduate) or Master's (postgraduate) degree without leaving your job.

You build your learning around work projects, set your own objectives and shape your degree to your own needs and your employer’s goals.

You can study online units from home or work and choose to attend some lectures on campus – but that's not essential.

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Learning at Work Maritime student

The course is challenging but very rewarding, as you know you are working towards your future. I haven’t even had to forsake my salary in the process.

Katie Raine, PgCert Occupational Health and Safety Management

Degree apprenticeships

Would you like to earn a salary while you get a Bachelor's (undergraduate) or Master's (postgraduate) degree? How about not having to pay tuition fees?

Degree apprenticeships allow you to work as an employee while you study part time, with your employer or the Government covering your fees. You combine academic study with practical experience, gaining the knowledge and skills you need for a successful career in the forces or beyond.

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Master’s degrees and postgraduate taught courses

Studying a Master’s degree or other postgraduate qualification can advance your career prospects within the military or take you in a new direction elsewhere.

We design our courses in collaboration with industry to make sure you learn the skills employers need. You’ll gain in-depth knowledge and understanding of your discipline, get practical experience in a setting similar to what you'll experience in your career and carry out independent study and research.

Many of our Master’s courses give you the option to study full-time, part-time or online, plus some courses have a January start. With over 140 programmes to choose from, we can help you get to where you want to be.

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Professional doctorates

Sometimes known as a 'while-you-work PhD', Professional Doctorates are internationally recognised qualifications. They’re ideal for working professionals in the private and public sectors who are interested in work-based research.

Unlike a PhD, a professional doctorate is not training for a career in academia, but an opportunity to combine your professional practice with a research degree. This means you'll complete your doctorate while you continue in your current role.

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Continued professional development (CPD) and short courses

Whether you want to learn more about a specific area relevant to your career or work towards a university qualification, we have more than 100 short training and development courses to choose from.

We develop our courses and training programmes with researchers and industry experts to make sure they're relevant to your needs and ambitions.

Many of our short courses and CPD training programmes carry academic credits and have professional accreditation. This means you can choose courses that interest you and build up credit over time to work towards a University certificate or award.

You can study our short courses on campus with access to our facilities, equipment and resources. Alternatively, some of our courses are available through distance learning online, allowing you to study from home or work.

Browse short courses