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Free resources including online courses |
Free resources including online courses for adult asylum seekers and refugees
OI Digital Institute (part of the Oxford International Education Group family)
Free courses delivered fully online. The courses cover English preparation for life in the UK and English for business. Courses are 4-weeks, Three lessons per week. Each lesson is one hour. Held Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Each week is a standalone topic, so students are able to join a course every Monday. (Not running during the summer 2026)
https://oidigitalinstitute.com/students/online-courses-for-refugees/
International House
Free online courses for asylum seekers and refugees. They use trainee teachers for free courses and other courses are not free. https://www.ihlondon.com/low-cost-english-lessons
The current available courses are 13:30-15:30 (Monday-Friday). The next start date is 4th August. 2026. The booking will open soon. However, there may be a possibility of joining an existing course before then.
Students need to complete an online English level test. Here is the link.
https://www.testmylevel.com/
Complete the test and then email test results FAO Alex Bernays [email protected]
Each application will be assessed for the most suitable course. Bookings must be made directly with Alex to avoid a fee.
Southern Regional College
Lessons across five skill levels, from Entry 1 (A1) to Level 2 (C1), designed to help you build and strengthen your language skills. Information in other languages. Mainly self-teaching. (Not running during the summer 2026)
https://www.esoldigitalpathways.org/
Learning Unlimited
A conversation club. Hour long sessions at different times of the day and days of the week. Four sessions a week during term time finishing Friday 24 July 2026. Starting again on Saturday 5th September 2026.
From Friday 24th July until 5th September 2026 just one session a week on Tuesdays 1 – 2 pm. The Zoom link is: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82215546279
It is drop in, so no need to register. https://www.learningunlimited.co/online-conversation-clubs/
WEA online courses – free for asylum seekers and refugees
Apply through website https://www.wea.org.uk/courses/esol?page=2
Various courses mainly ESOL and Living and Working in the UK. Online courses with tutors at set times. Dates, length of course and times vary. (Website not user friendly. People need to filter for online courses only, as there are none f2f in our area).
Other useful courses and resources
Code your future
Online courses: Introduction to Digital. Hybrid courses on Programming and Software development. https://codeyourfuture.io/become-a-student/
Step2Skills
Online and face to face courses related to preparation for work in Hertfordshire. A few based in Hemel Hempstead. https://events.hertfordshire.gov.uk/step2skills. May have to pay a registration fee, but can apply for exemption.
Futurelearn
A range of short courses relating to professional development. Not specifically for non-English speakers. https://www.futurelearn.com/courses
Open University
The OU Open Sanctuary Hub is a space of welcome for refugees, people in the asylum system and anyone in the community. It offers free online courses via OpenLearn in a range of subjects. https://www.open.edu/openlearn/education-development/learning/the-open-sanctuary-hub
This page will be updated regularly. When College courses fill up, these online courses are a possible alternative for some, although not suitable for absolute beginners.
Free courses delivered fully online. The courses cover English preparation for life in the UK and English for business. Courses are 4-weeks, Three lessons per week. Each lesson is one hour. Held Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Each week is a standalone topic, so students are able to join a course every Monday. (Not running during the summer 2026)
https://oidigitalinstitute.com/students/online-courses-for-refugees/
International House
Free online courses for asylum seekers and refugees. They use trainee teachers for free courses and other courses are not free. https://www.ihlondon.com/low-cost-english-lessons
The current available courses are 13:30-15:30 (Monday-Friday). The next start date is 4th August. 2026. The booking will open soon. However, there may be a possibility of joining an existing course before then.
Students need to complete an online English level test. Here is the link.
https://www.testmylevel.com/
Complete the test and then email test results FAO Alex Bernays [email protected]
Each application will be assessed for the most suitable course. Bookings must be made directly with Alex to avoid a fee.
Southern Regional College
Lessons across five skill levels, from Entry 1 (A1) to Level 2 (C1), designed to help you build and strengthen your language skills. Information in other languages. Mainly self-teaching. (Not running during the summer 2026)
https://www.esoldigitalpathways.org/
Learning Unlimited
A conversation club. Hour long sessions at different times of the day and days of the week. Four sessions a week during term time finishing Friday 24 July 2026. Starting again on Saturday 5th September 2026.
From Friday 24th July until 5th September 2026 just one session a week on Tuesdays 1 – 2 pm. The Zoom link is: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82215546279
It is drop in, so no need to register. https://www.learningunlimited.co/online-conversation-clubs/
WEA online courses – free for asylum seekers and refugees
Apply through website https://www.wea.org.uk/courses/esol?page=2
Various courses mainly ESOL and Living and Working in the UK. Online courses with tutors at set times. Dates, length of course and times vary. (Website not user friendly. People need to filter for online courses only, as there are none f2f in our area).
Other useful courses and resources
Code your future
Online courses: Introduction to Digital. Hybrid courses on Programming and Software development. https://codeyourfuture.io/become-a-student/
Step2Skills
Online and face to face courses related to preparation for work in Hertfordshire. A few based in Hemel Hempstead. https://events.hertfordshire.gov.uk/step2skills. May have to pay a registration fee, but can apply for exemption.
Futurelearn
A range of short courses relating to professional development. Not specifically for non-English speakers. https://www.futurelearn.com/courses
Open University
The OU Open Sanctuary Hub is a space of welcome for refugees, people in the asylum system and anyone in the community. It offers free online courses via OpenLearn in a range of subjects. https://www.open.edu/openlearn/education-development/learning/the-open-sanctuary-hub
This page will be updated regularly. When College courses fill up, these online courses are a possible alternative for some, although not suitable for absolute beginners.
Page last updated July 2026
