99

%

Pass rate

95

+

Courses

500

K

Students taught

60

+

Years experience

Trusted online learning

Your goals, your way

For over 60 years, we’ve been opening doors that others said were closed. Whether you’re 16 or 60, starting fresh or building on what you know, NEC understands that life doesn’t follow a traditional timetable and neither should your education. From GCSEs and A levels to professional qualifications, we don’t just offer courses, we offer possibilities, backed by the kind of personal support that turns “I wish I could” into “I actually did.”

How it works
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Flexible learning that fits your life

Study at your own pace, on your own terms, with courses designed around your lifestyle and commitments.

  • Learn anywhere, anytime
  • Choose your study schedule
  • Multiple learning formats
  • Flexible start dates
Discover a course for you

Comprehensive pastoral support

From enrolment to graduation, our dedicated team provides personalised guidance and support every step of your learning journey.

  • Personal tutor guidance
  • Responsive student services
  • Learning accessibility support
  • Career development advice
NEC’s support for students

Exam places guaranteed

Complete your qualification with confidence, knowing your exam place is secured from the moment you enrol.

  • Stressfree exam booking
  • Non-exam assessment booking
  • Nationwide exam centres
  • Flexible exam scheduling
Exams and assessment
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Qualified teacher support

Learn from carefully selected qualified teachers and expert practitioners, many of whom serve as examiners for major awarding bodies.

  • Professionally qualified tutors
  • Examiner expertise
  • Comprehensive feedback and marking
  • One-to-one tutorials
Our dedicated tutors

Awarding bodies

Online courses

Discover our most popular courses for every learner.

Online GCSEs

All GCSEs

Astronomy GCSE

£470

or from £35.25/month

spanish online course

Spanish IGCSE

£470

or from £35.25/month

combined science online course

Chemistry IGCSE

£470

or from £35.25/month

psychology gcse

Psychology GCSE

£470

or from £35.25/month

english literature online course

English Literature GCSE

£470

or from £35.25/month

Physics IGCSE

£470

or from £35.25/month

maths online course

Maths GCSE

£470

or from £35.25/month

Metal bars set out in a complicated symmetrical 3D design

GCSE Maths Resit

£355

or from £26.63/month

Wooden letters from the English alphabet

English Language Resit GCSE

£355

or from £26.63/month

sociology online course

Sociology GCSE

£470

or from £35.25/month

Collection of old photos

History IGCSE

£470

or from £35.25/month

french online course

French IGCSE

£470

or from £35.25/month

english language online course

English Language GCSE

£470

or from £35.25/month

IGCSE Double Science

Double Science IGCSE

£765

or from £57.38/month

computer science online course

Computer Science IGCSE

£470

or from £35.25/month

geography online course

Geography IGCSE

£470

or from £35.25/month

DNA strands, double helix

Combined Science IGCSE

£470

or from £35.25/month

business igcse hero

Business IGCSE

£470

or from £35.25/month

Biology IGCSE

£470

or from £35.25/month

Online A levels

All A levels
Close-up of colourful jigsaw puzzle pieces scattered on a surface, symbolising the complexity and interconnection of the human mind in psychology.

A level Psychology

£730

or from £54.75/month

Aerial view of the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben in London, symbolising British politics, governance, and democratic institutions.

A level Politics

£730

or from £54.75/month

A detailed image of a spiral galaxy in deep space, showing stars, cosmic dust, and glowing light—representing the study of astrophysics and the universe.

A level Physics

£730

or from £54.75/month

The Spanish flag waves above a cityscape in Madrid on a partly cloudy day, symbolising language, culture, and national identity

A level Spanish

£730

or from £54.75/month

A group of diverse hands arranged in a circle on a wooden table, symbolising unity, inclusion, and social connection—key themes in sociology.

A level Sociology

£730

or from £54.75/month

Close-up of hands held in prayer beside softly glowing candles in a dimly lit space, symbolising spirituality, reflection, and religious devotion.

A level Religious Studies

£730

or from £54.75/month

Close-up of chess pieces mid-move on a board, symbolising strategic thinking, logic, and philosophical decision-making.

A level Philosophy

£730

or from £54.75/month

A close-up of a person using a calculator with worksheets and pens on a carpeted surface, representing focused mathematical problem-solving.

A level Maths

£730

or from £54.75/month

Close-up of a judge’s gavel on a wooden desk with a person in a suit holding a law book in the background, symbolising legal practice and justice.

A level Law

£730

or from £54.75/month

Visitors walking through an art gallery with large classical and Renaissance paintings displayed on both sides, representing the study of art history and visual culture.

A level History of Art

£730

or from £54.75/month

Interior view of a grand historical building with arched architecture and stained-glass windows, representing the study of history and heritage.

A level History

£730

or from £54.75/month

Close-up of a globe focused on the United Kingdom and Western Europe, representing geographical exploration and global awareness.

A level Geography

£730

or from £54.75/month

Close-up of a student using a calculator while writing in a squared notebook, representing advanced mathematical problem-solving.

A level Further Maths

£730

or from £54.75/month

The Eiffel Tower rises above the Paris skyline on a clear day, symbolising French culture, language, and global influence.

A level French

£730

or from £54.75/month

A close-up view of the tops of several stacked hardcover books with colourful bindings, representing a collection of classic and contemporary literature.

A level English Literature

£730

or from £54.75/month

A student in a yellow shirt writing in a notebook at a desk, with a soft-focus book in the foreground and natural light coming through a window.

A level English Language

£730

or from £54.75/month

Upward view of modern glass office buildings in a financial district, symbolising global economics, trade, and business activity.

A level Economics

£730

or from £54.75/month

A close-up view of the ancient Roman Colosseum under a clear blue sky, showcasing its iconic arches and stone architecture.

A level Classical Civilisation

£730

or from £54.75/month

A scientist in protective clothing uses a pipette to transfer blue liquid into test tubes in a laboratory, with various glassware containing coloured solutions in the foreground.

A level Chemistry

£730

or from £54.75/month

Person typing on a laptop with financial reports, spreadsheets, and a pie chart on the desk—suggesting business planning or financial analysis in a work or study setting.

A level Business

£730

or from £54.75/month

Studying A level biology. Gloved hands handling a small plant specimen with tweezers, placing it on a glass microscope slide in a laboratory setting, with a petri dish and lab tray in the background.

A level Biology

£730

or from £54.75/month

One year online courses

Guided, flexible one-year online courses with full academic and pastoral support.

Structured GCSE programmes

All Structured GCSE Programmes
Student sitting at their desk using a calculator

Structured Maths GCSE

£1400

or from £105/month

Woman sat at a desk studying for her Structured English Language GCSE with the NEC

Structured English Language GCSE

£1400

or from £105/month

Girl in biology classroom experimenting with a plant!

Structured Biology IGCSE

£1400

or from £105/month

Chemistry aparatus sits on a desk with notes from the student alongside

Structured Chemistry IGCSE

£1400

or from £105/month

Two people star gazing looking over a town with telescope next to them. The night sky is covered in stars

Structured Astronomy GCSE

£1400

or from £105/month

Teenager sits in a room using a computer with lots of other computers showing computer script around him

Structured Computer Science IGCSE

£1400

or from £105/month

A teenage girl sits cross-legged on a sofa at home studying her course with pretty twinkling lights in the background.

Structured Psychology GCSE

£1400

or from £105/month

Teenage girl sits in a library studying History

Structured History IGCSE

£1400

or from £105/month

Structured fast track A levels

All Fast Track A levels
Close-up of wooden jigsaw puzzle pieces with one missing, symbolising the study of human thought and behaviour in A level Psychology.

Structured Fast Track A level Psychology

£1499

or from £112.43/month

A stunning image of deep space showing stars, nebulae, and glowing purple light — representing the mysteries explored in A level Physics.

Structured Fast Track A level Physics

£1499

or from £112.43/month

Close-up of a student’s hand solving trigonometric and algebraic equations on a chalkboard, symbolising advanced mathematics learning.

Structured Fast Track A level Maths

£1499

or from £112.43/month

Chemistry science lab equipment

Structured Fast Track A level Chemistry

£1499

or from £112.43/month

Student in a rust-red dress using a microscope to examine a leaf in a science lab setting, surrounded by beakers and scientific equipment.

Structured Fast Track A level Biology

£1499

or from £112.43/month

Professional courses

Advance your career with professional qualifications or explore new opportunities

Vocational courses

All Vocational courses
Hands gently holding a small plant growing in soil, symbolising support, growth, and the principles of mentoring and coaching.

Understanding Mentoring and Coaching (Level 3 Award)

£419*

or from £41.90/month

Xero Basic Skills

£135

QuickBooks Basic Skills

£135

A person looking at a digital screen filled with cascading code, symbolising artificial intelligence and data processing.

A Guide to AI

FREE

or from £0/month

A person sitting in a supportive conversation, illustrating the practical use of counselling skills.

Using Counselling Skills

£599*

or from £44.93/month

Close-up of a calculator and financial documents used in bookkeeping, alongside a pen and handwritten notes.

ICB Level 2 Certificate in Bookkeeping

£419*

or from £31.43/month

CMI-Level-5-in-Management-and-Leadership

CMI Level 5 in Management and Leadership

£415 – £1,574*

or from £31.13/month

Close-up of diverse professionals shaking hands in a workplace setting, representing leadership, teamwork, and management development.

CMI Level 3 in Principles of Management and Leadership

£415 – £1,420*

or from £31.13/month

Woman sat on the grass writing in a notepad.

Writing for Wellbeing

£163

Woman sat on floor painting on a canvas with oil paints.

Art Techniques

£419

or from £31.43/month

Historical art gallery with paintings

Art History

£419

or from £31.43/month

Corporate group meeting

Level 3 Award in Education and Training (RQF)

£629*

or from £47.18/month

Two jigsaw pieces being held up over a desk

Problem Solving

£105

A set square, compass and protractor lay on a desk

Pre-GCSE Introduction to Maths

£250

A girl sits at her desk in a sunny room at home concentrating on the big screen in front of her.

Level 2 Programming for Beginners with Python

£215*

or from £16.13/month

Ancient Latin Dictionary

Latin for Beginners

£450

or from £33.75/month

A man sits atop a hill at twilight, thinking

Critical Thinking

£105

counselling theory

Counselling Theory

£419

or from £31.43/month

online counselling courses

A Taste of Counselling

£162

Business Start-up

£524

or from £39.30/month

ONE YEAR COURSES

Your path to GCSE success!

Our newly launched Structured GCSE programmes are designed to provide a guided, flexible one-year GCSE experience and comes with full academic and pastoral support.

Find out more
Need help choosing?

Talk to one of our course advisors

Unsure which online course is right for you? Speak with our friendly course advisors or request a callback to explore all options.

Get in touch
Female tutor smiling into the camera
With you every step of the way

Enjoy 1-2-1 support from your course tutor

You’ll have access to 1:1 support from your tutor. All NEC tutors are subject experts, with experience in supporting online learners.

“I love learning and inspiring other people to learn. I’ve worked with students from primary to undergraduate level as I have taught in schools and universities. Now, I specialise in home education and distance learning, teaching people in the UK and overseas.”

Julie Houghton, Astronomy Tutor
MORE ABOUT OUR TUTORS

What past students say

Great experience! The experience studying at NEC was amazing! The course was well structured, easy to access and my tutor, Amanda, was brilliant!! Her feedback was always very prompt ad extremely useful.

I have finished my A level studies with NEC, and I am so glad I chose this college. The tutors were always friendly and their feedback was immensely useful. Whenever I had an enquiry, they were quick to respond and very helpful.

Email exchanges with my tutor and one talk on the phone – really enriched my experience so much, and kept a possibly isolating study experience grounded in a personal relationship with a wonderful tutor.

“I wouldn’t change a thing about joining NEC. It allowed me to focus on myself, and I’m proud of what I’ve achieved and learned. I’ll always be grateful for the support. Thank you for everything over the past few years.”

NEC fulfilled all of my requirements. Whenever I had any questions for the tutors or admin team, they were answered in a timely and satisfactory manner. I would recommend NEC to other people interested in distance learning. I cannot think of how things could have been done better.

Taking my online GCSE in astronomy was amazing! NEC’s support and resources made learning fun and engaging. I feel confident and inspired by the cosmos!

Read our students’ stories
Services to schools

Elevate your students’ futures

Transform your school’s educational offering with NEC’s tailored support packages. Our expert-designed course materials and qualifications from major UK exam boards provide the flexibility to meet every student’s unique needs whilst solving practical challenges like timetable conflicts and staff shortages.

  • Expand opportunities for all learners
  • Bridge gaps and build futures
Learning services

Frequently asked questions

Your common questions and concerns answered

NEC offers flexible, online GCSEs, A levels, and vocational courses that you can study anytime, anywhere. When you enrol, you’ll receive a welcome email with login details for learn@nec, our virtual learning platform.

You’ll be supported by a qualified subject tutor who provides feedback on your assignments and helps guide your progress. Our expertly designed courses include engaging materials, interactive learning activities, and selected online resources — all created by experienced teachers, examiners, and learning designers.

Our courses are designed to let you study at your own pace — all within a clearly defined enrolment period to help keep you on track. Many courses let you study your way, with flexible assignment deadlines to suit your schedule. Others may include set dates — especially for things like exams or NEAs (Non-Exam Assessment) — to help you stay on track.

Simply click ‘Enrol now’ on your chosen course page and follow the instructions. If you’d like to pay in instalments or have any questions, our team is here to help, just give us a call.

In some cases, the ‘Enrol now’ button may not be available, this usually means the course requires a quick conversation with us first. For example, some courses (like Functional Skills) involve a registration process, or you may be applying for finance. In these cases, just contact our team and we’ll guide you through the next steps.

After you enrol, you’ll receive a welcome email with your tutor’s details and access to learn@nec so you can get started right away.

Some students may be eligible for funding through support schemes, schools, charities or employers. Visit our Fee Information page for more advice.

You’ll receive expert tutor support via our online platform, plus access to our Student Support Team for help with scheduling, motivation, or extending your course duration. Support lasts as long as your course, typically two years for A levels, for example.

Yes! You can connect with other learners in your course’s online forum. Many students find discussing topics with peers helps reinforce their learning and helps them feel part of a wider learning community.

MORE FAQS

Insights

View all Insights

Why study an NEC course?

Explore expert insights, tips, and student experiences covering our wide range of courses, from GCSEs and A levels to professional qualifications.

Insights about courses

News & blogs

Browse our collection of expert articles, student experiences and practical guides covering everything from course details to exam preparation.

Insight News

Career tracks

Here, you’ll find expert advice, career resources, and clear pathways to help you move towards your goals.

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