Considering a career in the Web, eBusiness or eMarketing? By using a Career Development Loan, you can access cutting-edge skills, insights & qualifications at AxisCentre and its partnership with De Montfort University.

Summary

If you're considering training for a career involving the Web or eBusiness, you may want to consider a Career Development Loan. While a lot of funding opportunities to access Higher Education have recently diminished or even disappeared, this UK Government backed loan scheme remains a good way of accessing the skills that can unlock your earning potential.

What is a career development loan?

Officially now called Professional and Career Development Loans, these are effectively Government backed and approved schemes that offer preferential terms and access to finance to people wanting to retrain for a new career or profession.

In a nutshell, the scheme is basically a bank loan where the LSC (Learning & Skills Council) pays the interest on the loan while you are studying.

What courses at AxisCentre are eligible?

All course modules, individually or as a full award are potentially eligible for loan funding using the Career Development Loan scheme. What are the criteria for eligibility?

The basic criteria are that you are 18 years of age or older, resident in the UK for at least the three years prior to the start of your learning programme, and intend to work in the UK or EU when the course finishes. The various UK high street banks running the scheme also apply their own individual lending criteria.

How much will you need to borrow?

Officially on the scheme, you can borrow from £300 to £10,000, although at AxisCentre in practice you won't need anything approaching the maximum.

People already holding a graduate level qualification can gain a full 60 Credit UCPD for around £1400 in fees, while non-graduates can usually study the same route for less than £1000. The reason for the difference is the government has withdrawn almost all Higher Education funding for those already holding a degree or equivalent.

The exact figures depend on the modules you choose to tailor the qualification to your own needs. Regardless of your module choices, this represents fantastic value for money and we believe AxisCentre is amongst the class-leaders in making training of this type affordable. Please compare the fee costs with other courses available in the university or private sector.

The risks, the rewards

It's a loan not a grant, so you will have to eventually pay the funds back. However it allows you to access the skills before you earn the salaries from doing the work so in this sense removes the catch 22 of not being able to access the training because you are not yet earning.

What qualification can I gain at AxisCentre?

A UCPD is a University Certificate of Professional Development. The main course programme at AxisCentre is a UCPD titled Commercial Application of the Web and consists of a choice of 18 specialist modules, ranging from 10 to 30 UCPD credits, with attendances between 3 and 7 weeks at 1 day/week for each module.

The individual module and overall qualifications is accredited by partners De Montfort University and represents not only one of the fastest ways of gaining a professional level qualification from a highly regarded university, but also a highly practical and rapidly applicable set of skills for any business startup, or existing business or employer.

Suggested courses & pathways

We have course modules particularly suited to launching (and re-launching) the careers of professionals, business executives and senior managers, as well as Web Designers and Developers. It's also well worth pointing out that web design, graphics, web development, and eMarketing skills are in-demand by employers. An excellent opportunity to quickly boost the appeal of a CV as a primary or complimentary job function.

Eligibility checklist

• 18 years of age or older
• Ordinarily resident in the UK for at least the three years prior to the start of your learning programme
• Intending to work in the UK, the EU when the course finishes
• The bank's decision will depend on you meeting their specific lending criteria

Websites & resources

There's a lot of good information on Career Development Loans on the government's Direct.gov.uk website. The following link is recommended reading: The official guide to the scheme: Official guide

How it works

1. 1. Identify course modules/full qualification that meets your objectives. Feel free to contact us for help in choosing course modules.
2. 2. Read the advice on the links above and make an application to your chosen bank.
3. 3. Contact us when they give the approval and we can arrange the paperwork and bookings.

How to apply?

You can speak to an official UK Government CDL advisor now on 0800 585 505, or contact us on 0115 9256666. Alternatively go to the following link on the Direct.gov.uk website to apply