Skill Up programme: Retrain and upskill opportunities
Find free upskilling and reskilling opportunities through the fully funded Skill Up programme.
Skill Up offers opportunities for individuals to upskill and reskill by availing of a range of free, accredited courses. The training is delivered through further education colleges and universities in Northern Ireland.
Opportunities are available from level 1 to level 7, focusing on skills identified by industry, linked to priority economic areas, including:
- advanced manufacturing, materials, and engineering
- childcare, health, and social care
- fin-tech and financial services
- green skills
- hospitality and tourism
- software and digital
- other transversal skills
Training courses available for 2025-26
If you are interested in the training courses available from further education colleges and universities for the 2025-26 academic year, visit the provider’s website.
Queen’s University Belfast
Further information and details on how to apply for Queen's University Skill Up courses.
Ulster University
Further information and details on how to apply to the Ulster University Skill Up courses.
St Mary's University College
Further information and details on how to apply to the St Mary's University College course.
Stranmillis University College
Further information and details on how to apply to the Stranmillis University College courses.
North West Regional College
Further information and details on how to apply to the North West Regional College's Skill Up courses.
Belfast Metropolitan College
Further information and details on how to apply to the Belfast Met Skill Up courses.
Northern Regional College
Further information and details on how to apply to the Northern Regional College's Skill Up courses.
Southern Regional College
Further information and details on how to apply to the Southern Regional College's Skill Up courses.
South Eastern Regional College
Further information and details on how to apply to the South Eastern Regional College's Skill Up courses.
South West College
Further information and details on how to apply to the South West College's Skill Up courses.
The Open University
Applications are now closed for Open University Skill Up courses. The deadline for applications was midday on Monday 11 August 2025.
Find further information on the Open University Skill Up courses.
Full list of Skill Up courses
For a breakdown of Skill Up courses available across all providers, see Skill Up.