Funded Online Degree Pathways
Study for your degree online at a fraction of traditional costs with no upfront fees. A Government backed loan covers 100% of your tuition, and you'll only start repaying once your earnings exceed £25,000.
Complete Your Degree Online
"Education's Best Kept Secret: Why our Pathways Beat Traditional Degrees"
Study for your degree online at a fraction of traditional costs with no upfront fees. A Student Finance Government backed loan covers 100% of your tuition, and you'll only start repaying once your earnings exceed £25,000.
Our Funded Online Degree Pathway courses are fully covered by Student Finance, meaning you won’t need to worry about upfront costs. The Online Degree Pathway begins by you completing a Level 4 and then a Level 5 qualification, and then, you’ll have the option to complete Level 6 with one of our partner universities, graduating with a full degree.
Once you have completed the Level 4 and 5 qualifications you will be achieve the Higher Technical Qualification (HTQ) awarded by Pearson. Our HTQs are also approved against employer-designed standards, so you’ll be gaining skills that are valued in the workplace and that can help boost your career and future earnings.
Each level usually takes 9–12 months to complete.
Year 1: Level 4 (HNC) (120 credits)
Year 2: Level 5 (HND) (120 credits)
Year 3: Top-up degree with one of our partner universities (120 credits)
All 3 years are eligible for the same student finance as degrees, including tuition fee loans and maintenance loans.
Student Finance
‘Secure a government loan for 100% of your course fees with nothing to pay upfront.’
All 3 stages of your Online Degree Pathway (Level 4, 5 and Top-Up Degree) are eligible for the higher education student finance offer through the Student Loans Company (SLC). This means you can get a government loan for 100% of your course fees with nothing to pay upfront. As well as the tuition fee element you may also be eligible to apply for additional maintenance loans.
Repayment of the tuition fee loan begins only after you complete your studies and when your annual income exceeds £25,000.
Speak with our Course Advisors
For guidance on your funding options, you can speak with one of our friendly Course Advisors who will be delighted to walk you through the financial support available for your studies. They can explain in detail how government backed loans from the Student Loans Company (SLC) work, including eligibility requirements and repayment terms.
Our advisors understand the application process and can provide you with all the additional information and documentation you'll need to complete your funding application online through the SLC website.
Trusted Educational Partnership: South Essex College Group
Your Online Degree Pathway journey begins with an exciting partnership between learndirect (the UK's leading online education provider that has supported millions of learners to reach their full potential) and South Essex College Group, an institution where students rate their experience as the best in the region with an outstanding 95.4% satisfaction rate for teaching excellence.
As the UK's most trusted name in flexible learning, learndirect has pioneered digital education for over two decades, creating courses that fit around your lifestyle while delivering nationally recognised qualifications that open doors to your dream career.
Meanwhile, South Essex College Group stands as a powerhouse of achievement, distinguished by its recent Ofsted 'Good' rating that places it among the select few all-around further education institutions to achieve this prestigious grade, while delivering exceptional academic excellence with outstanding Level 3 results achieving a remarkable 100% success rate across a wide spectrum of courses.
Together, these two educational leaders ensure your pathway to a degree is supported by proven expertise in online learning innovation and outstanding student outcomes that consistently exceed national benchmarks.
Cut Costs, Not Corners - Your Smart Route to Success
By choosing the Online Degree Pathway, you'll save approximately £7,500 on tuition fees over three years whilst gaining the same valuable qualifications. Plus, studying online means you'll avoid costly university accommodation (£5,000-£8,000+ annually) and additional expenses for food, transport, and materials - keeping thousands more in your pocket.
Degree subjects for all interests
Whether you’re looking to get qualified in:
- Computing Online Degree Pathway
- Digital Technologies Online Degree Pathway
- Leadership and Management Online Degree Pathway
- Healthcare Professions’ Support Online Degree Pathway
Our high-value online degree pathways give you a faster, flexible and more cost-effective way to get qualified.
Life Gets Busy - Your Studies Don't Have To
Your Online Degree Pathway fits around you, not the other way around. Study anywhere, anytime on any device with 100% online delivery that respects your work schedule, family time, and social commitments. No more cancelled plans with friends or missed gym sessions - just flexible learning that works with your lifestyle.
When you're ready, complete your Top-Up Degree online with our partner universities for the ultimate convenient qualification journey.
Your University Place is Waiting...
Complete Level 4 and 5 and your university place for the final year is secured with one of our university progression partners.
Progression Partner Spotlight: The Open University
Achieve a globally recognised Online degree qualification that can open doors and help to achieve your goals!
Once you have successfully completed your Online Degree Pathway course, you will now be able to apply for credit transfer against stage 1 and stage 2 (Year 1 and 2) of the BA/BSc (Honours) Open degree - a hugely popular and established multidisciplinary, individualised Online Undergraduate degree Programme.
On completion of your studies, you will then begin your studies at stage 3 (Final level) with the OU to achieve your full BA/BSc (Honours) degree.
Our online degree pathway journey
Level 4 modules
equivalent to the first year of a university degree
100% online
Level 5 modules
equivalent to a second year university degree
100% online
Complete third year at university
graduate with a full degree in your subject field
Secure final year university admission
Once you finish your degree pathway, you’ll progress on to your third year with one of our university partners.
When studying with learndirect, you’ll benefit from flexible online learning, affordable routes to career progression, in-demand skills, and ongoing support throughout your journey.
Online Degree Pathways:
Frequently Asked Questions
These loans can cover tuition fees, living expenses, and other study-related costs. Your eligibility depends on various factors, including whether you've previously used student loan funding and your UK residency status. You can verify your eligibility using the government's eligibility tracker (https://www.gov.uk/student-finance/who-qualifies).
To apply, you submit your application directly to the Student Loan Company, we are available to support you with this process.
Repayment of the Tuition Fee Loan begins only after you complete your studies and when your annual income exceeds £25,000.
Student Testimonials
“learndirect has taught me much more than college ever did, such as writing styles, and how to prepare academic work. I never knew half of this before. I’d do it again definitely!”
Emma Handley
“One day I took the plunge and enrolled, and it was the best decision I have ever made. You may just end up exactly where you want to be in life, and everything else will just follow suit!”
Zarina
“I’m a mum that stays at home with 8 children, I thought learndirect was really convenient for me for my family life.”
Emma Fillier
“Studying with learndirect was a simple straightforward task. The easy sign up, completion and open communication with the tutors and staff made it stress free.”
Tom
“I would definitely say that studying with learndirect gave me such a push to pursue what I really want out of life and enabled me to get my place on a course which will launch me into a career with a vast amount of opportunities and potential.”
Amelia
