If you are unhappy in your job, want to get back into work, or simply want to try something new and test your skills, then there are affordable ways to help you train and learn in your own time.

It is never too late to go back to education. There are so many resources out there to support you in getting the qualifications you are looking for. Night courses are a great flexible option for you to consider.

What are Night Classes?

Night classes are short-courses held by schools, colleges, universities and independent companies, aimed at adults who want to gain a qualification or train in a new area. Night classes are held in the evening, generally between the hours of 5 and 10 PM. Night classes are designed so that working students or students with families can attend classes without disrupting their work or family schedules.

They can run for a short number of weeks or anywhere up to a year for more challenging qualifications, this is much shorter than a traditional college or university course, due to the condensed schedules of night classes. The number of hours, days and weeks that evening classes occur over can vary greatly in order to be accessible to the greatest number of students.

Who Can Take Night Classes?

Night classes are beneficial for students who do not wish to attend classes during the day and for working parents who cannot attend daytime courses, although anyone can take night classes if they meet the course requirements.

How Much do Night Classes Cost?

Whilst some institutions may offer free courses in subjects such as maths and English to some applicants, as these are often essential requirements for jobs and further study, others will cost a fee. The night class price depends on the subject, the level, and the provider of the course. However, night courses aim to include as many people as possible in education, so they tend to be affordable. Many colleges provide the option for instalment payment, which means you can pay as you earn and not worry about paying a large sum at once.

What Kinds of Night Classes Are Available?

You can take night courses in various subjects and professions, at lots of different levels. Many colleges offer a range of vocational subjects where you can gain Level 2 and Level 3 qualifications, which are the equivalent to GCSE and A-Levels.

Besides vocational classes, night courses are very popular for creative and humanities subjects, whether to assist a career change or to learn a new skill. If you already have some qualifications but are wanting to change your career, there are endless opportunities from cookery classes to creative writing to foreign languages. Many university language departments offer night classes at levels ranging from Beginner to Intermediate, or Conversational if you would prefer a more informal class. Having a language is desirable to employers; you can interact with international clients and businesses while showing your ability to absorb and retain information. Learning a language, especially if you work in a global industry, is a great way to refresh your career and open new doors.

To find out what night classes could be available to you, research what night classes are available in your local area. Some courses may even have the opportunity for remote learning.

Benefits of Night Classes

While night classes may not be the most commonly thought of or popular way of retraining, they do provide many benefits to jobseekers wishing to change their career path or gain a new skill or qualification.

Affordable

Unlike part-time study, taking a night class means that you can keep working full-time alongside studying for your class, making it a lot more financially accessible. As stated above, night classes tend to be affordable, in an attempt to attract more people into education. Many people can be put off going to university by the high cost and student debt they would be left with. Night classes are a great way to gain the same skills on a fraction of the budget of attending university.

Possibility of Remote Work

Advancements in technology have meant it is possible to complete some night classes from home. Working from home allows you to work comfortably and more flexibly. You will be able to complete your course from wherever you are, giving you total freedom, whether you want to travel, or stay cosy in bed!

Time for Other Commitments

Due to the convenient operational hours of night classes, it means individuals wishing to take part are able to do so while still having time to work their normal job, spend time with loved ones or carry out day-to-day responsibilities. Whatever commitments you have during the day, night classes will allow you to continue carrying them out, whilst allowing you to gain extra skills and qualifications as well.

Add to Your CV

Completing night classes in a subject will allow you to gain knowledge and skills in that particular field. Being able to add new skills and even qualifications to your CV will make you more employable and will show employers that you are committed to improving as an individual and a professional.

If you are considering night classes but need some extra help deciding, you can visit our page for tips on how to retrain.