Frequently Asked Questions

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.

Most courses have no formal entry requirements, but we recommend prior study in some cases — for example, GCSE Maths before taking A level Maths. Check the course page for details.

You’ll need good English comprehension and regular access to a computer. Some vocational courses require you to be working in a suitable setting. For language courses, some prior knowledge of the language may be necessary, depending on the level – check individual course pages for guidance. If you’re unsure, our friendly Course Advice Team can help.

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.

Yes. Most NEC courses, including all GCSEs and A levels, lead to qualifications awarded by major UK exam boards such as AQA, Edexcel, OCR and Cambridge International. You’ll earn exactly the same qualification as students in school or college.

We’re also approved to offer CMI qualifications for management, as well as TQUK-accredited courses and Functional Skills qualifications in English and Maths. These nationally recognised qualifications are designed to help learners build practical skills and are ideal for both personal development and career progression.

Some short courses, like those in the arts, are for personal development and enjoyment but don’t lead to formal accreditation.

Yes, NEC is a JCQ-approved exam centre, which means we can support your exam entry, provide verified access arrangements, and oversee non-exam assessments (NEAs) — essential for subjects like English, Science and Geography.

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.

Yes. Many students complete a one-year fast track option, especially if working towards university or career deadlines. You’ll need to commit regular study time and plan carefully around assignment deadlines and exams.

If you’re unsure whether fast track is realistic, we’ll advise you.

Yes. You can enrol any time and begin studying when it suits you. However, if your course involves an exam, you’ll need to complete all assignments and assessments (also known as coursework or NEA — Non-Exam Assessment) in time for set exam dates — so don’t leave it too late!

If you’re planning to apply to university, please also be aware of UCAS deadlines. For example, to receive predicted grades through our UCAS Application Service, you’ll need to have completed a certain number of assignments by specific dates.

Check the individual course pages for guidance, or book a call with an advisor to discuss your timeline and study plans.

Yes — NEC is ideal for international students. Many of our courses are available worldwide, but there are a few things to check before enrolling:

Exams: You’ll need to arrange a local exam centre. AQA does not offer international exams, so you’ll need to travel to the UK for those.

Qualification recognition: Ensure your chosen qualification is recognised in your country.

Our team is happy to help you explore your options.

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.

Absolutely. We support many home-educated and school-referred learners aged 13+. Parents/carers get their own login to view course content and support progress. We also offer a dedicated Parent Hub, helpful resources, and live webinars — all included at no extra cost.

We teach you the core practicals that you need to be familiar with for your exam. This varies by course, but each core practical typically includes a method, list of equipment and some sample results. You can have a go at some of these practicals safely at home – we will let you know when this is the case. If the experiment is not safe to complete at home, or if you don’t want to complete the experiment yourself, our detailed description of the investigation will give you the information you need. Where appropriate, we also link videos demonstrating the experiment.

Your assignments include speaking opportunities at set points in the course, which give you the chance to practice your oral skills with your tutor. These live discussions are completed through an online meeting space (BigBlueButton) that you access through your course.

The course materials also provide guidance on speaking. For example, the ebook included with the course contains audio files to support the listening and speaking elements of the exam.

GCSE Astronomy requires students to complete two observation tasks as part of the subject criteria:

• One unaided observation (conducted with the naked eye)
• One aided observation (using optical instruments such as a telescope, binoculars, or photographs).

These tasks are mandatory, though they are not formally assessed for marks. Instead, they are certified as complete by your exam centre (NEC, in this case), and your exam entry depends on their satisfactory completion.

To find out more about the observations, download our GCSE Astronomy Observation Tasks FAQs.

Yes. NEC offers a range of additional services including:

Past paper marking

UCAS application support

Revision tutorials

Mid-course reviews

These are optional extras designed to help you succeed.

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

Some courses require you to buy additional set texts, such as English Literature. We will tell you on the course page if this is the case. However, the majority of our courses are either self-contained or provide any set texts you need as ebook included with your enrolment.

No – the National Extension College is not an approved provider for Advanced Learner Loans, so these loans cannot be used to fund NEC courses. However, we offer flexible payment options, including instalment plans, and work with local authorities and other partners to support learners. 

If you’re unsure about funding, please contact us — we’re happy to help explore your options.

At the heart of NEC’s Structured GCSE Programme is a cutting-edge online course design that transforms traditional self-study into a personalised, interactive learning experience.

Our GCSE courses are not PDFs and passive reading. They’re dynamic, engaging, and built to adapt to how each student learns. This is self-study, redefined — giving students freedom and structure.

Every course in the Structured GCSE Programme has been:

• designed by subject experts and experienced examiners 
• mapped directly to GCSE exam board specifications 
• created using the latest in digital learning design 
• reviewed and adapted to support different learning needs and styles.

These courses are the result of decades of NEC experience in distance education — combined with modern, research-based approaches to accessibility and pedagogy.

Each of our Structured GCSE Programme subjects is built around interactive topics that adapt as you progress. This means:

• you receive tailored guidance based on you answers and engagement
• activities adjust to offer extra support or greater challenge where you need it
• you can track you progress and revisit areas independently
• every section begins with a Study Schedule
• you complete an Introductory Quiz to assess your strengths and gaps
• learning content adjusts to fill your knowledge gaps and reinforce your skills.

This helps you to build confidence quickly, even if you have struggled with the subject before.

NEC’s courses are built to support:

• visual, auditory and kinaesthetic learners
• students with SEND (e.g. dyslexia, ADHD, autism)
• learners managing anxiety or mental health needs
• those who need to study flexibly due to health, family or performance commitments.

Accessible features include:

• clear layouts, uncluttered pages, and adjustable font sizes
• screen-reader-friendly content and alt text on all visuals
• bite-sized learning to help with attention and processing
• multiple formats (text, audio, video, diagrams, quizzes) to support different learning preferences.

When you enrol, you’ll receive a welcome email with login details for learn@nec, our virtual learning platform.

You can access all of you learning materials 24/7 via NEC’s online learning platform, learn@nec — at home, in the library, or on the go.

This flexibility allows you to:

• work at your own pace
• fit your study around other life commitments
• catch up or revise when it suits you

It’s a structured timetable — but one that’s adaptable to your real life.

Yes. Most NEC courses, including all GCSEs and A levels, lead to qualifications awarded by major UK exam boards such as AQA, Edexcel, OCR and Cambridge International. You’ll earn exactly the same qualification as students in school or college.

We’re also approved to offer CMI qualifications for management, as well as TQUK-accredited courses and Functional Skills qualifications in English and Maths. These nationally recognised qualifications are designed to help learners build practical skills and are ideal for both personal development and career progression.

Some short courses, like those in the arts, are for personal development and enjoyment but don’t lead to formal accreditation.

Yes, NEC is a JCQ-approved exam centre, which means we can support your exam entry, provide verified access arrangements, and oversee non-exam assessments (NEAs) — essential for subjects like English, Science and Geography.