An important difference

•  The distinction between part-time courses and full-time courses is very important for benefit purposes.

•  The general rule is that if you are on a part-time course, you will be able to claim benefits, such as Jobseekers Allowance, Income Support, and Housing Benefit.

•  However, if you are on a full-time course, you will not usually be able to claim these benefits.

•  Employment Support Allowance / Incapacity Benefit is different. You should be able to do a part-time or full-time course and still claim this benefit although see Training if you are on incapacity-related benefits

What counts as ‘part-time' or ‘full-time'?

•  The main rule is that if your course involves more than 16 hours a week of ‘guided learning' (for example, in a classroom being taught by a teacher), then it will count as a full-time course. If it is less than 16 hours a week then it will count as a part-time course.

•  The most important evidence is the ‘learning agreement' which you should have signed with the college or whoever is running the course. The jobcentre will look at this agreement to see how many hours are involved.

•  The 16 hour rule will apply to most courses that you might do. For example, it will apply to most NVQ courses, City & Guilds courses, literacy and numeracy courses, computer courses and ESOL courses. It will also apply to courses where there is no qualification.

•  The jobcentre is also likely to apply the 16 hour rule to private-paying courses, including short-courses which might just last for a week.

So do many courses count as ‘part-time'

Yes, many. Most ESOL, maths, literacy and basic computer courses will be part-time. Many work-focussed courses, such as those leading to NVQs or City & Guilds, are part-time.

‘Access' courses

These are courses that you can take if, perhaps, you didn't follow-up education from school but now wish to return to study – see Access courses. They can be a particular problem as they can be more than 16 hours a week. Check the position before making a decision on taking an access course.

What if I do more than one course at the same time?

You will still count as studying ‘part-time', so long as the total number of ‘guided learning' hours a week is not more than 16.