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Welcome to Higher Education and Higher Skills at Kirklees College
Pioneer Higher Skills Centre
Dedicated to Higher Skills and Higher Education, this new learning facility will continue to drive the improvement of education and increase the skills of local people.
Located in a Victorian Grade II Listed building in the heart of Dewsbury, this specialist centre will help you gain qualifications, work skills and enhance your career prospects.
The historic building has been transformed into a state-of-the-art facility as part of a £14 million restoration and refurbishment project. This centre combines the perfect mix of modern facilities, whilst maintaining many original heritage features, to provide an ideal study environment.
It offers courses in a range of subjects from art and design to computing as well as qualifications in hairdressing and beauty therapy.
View Our Higher Skills & Higher Education Course Guide
Join a course at the Pioneer Higher Skills Centre and receive a a free laptop or tablet...

To celebrate the opening of the Pioneer Higher Skills Centre and to support your studies, we are offering a FREE* laptop or tablet to the first 100 students to enrol on a Level 4 HNC or Access to HE course.
These courses are at Pioneer Higher Skills Centre in Dewsbury only.
*Terms and Conditions
This promotion is available to the first 100 new students only enrolling on an HNC or Access to HE course as listed above. Applicable to students enrolling at Pioneer Higher Skills Centre only. Choice of laptop or tablet which will be available once the first 6 weeks of the course is completed. The laptop/tablet will be provided by Kirklees College with no cash alternatives. These courses are available to adults (age 18+) within the West Yorkshire area.
For further information or to apply for one of these courses please email info@kirkleescollege.ac.uk
Everything you need to know about Higher Skills
Higher Skills is studied at Level 4 and above. The routes we offer our students are flexible, whether this is through our HNC, HND route, our professional courses at Level 4 and above, or higher and degree Apprenticeship routes.
Employment is not only about getting that first job, it is about the capacity to build a career, or for some to start their own businesses. Studying at Level 4 and Level 5 will give you the necessary skills and knowledge.
At Kirklees College, we develop people into confident, resilient individuals, capable of critical thinking. Our Higher Skills provision develops and maps out our curriculum offer based on progression routes and employment opportunities locally and nationally.
For entry requirement information please call our Course Information team on 01484 437100 or email. If you don’t meet the entry requirements they will be able to talk to you about a range of Access to Higher Education courses that are available at Kirklees College.
An Access to Higher Education course is a nationally recognised qualification which can also help you progress to University or other Higher Education or Higher Skills programmes. Designed for adults who wish to change career, study at degree level or improve job prospects.
Are you interested in a career in teaching or learning and assessment and want to pass your experience and knowledge to a future generation? You can boost your chances of a career in teaching (lifelong learning) with a professional course at Kirklees College. Take a look at what we have to offer.
To be eligible you must:
- be aged 19 or over at the start of your course,
- be undertaking an eligible course at Level 3, 4, 5 or 6 qualification,
- have been living in the UK for 3 years before starting your course and
- be a UK national or have ‘settled’ status.
You can take out the maximum amount to cover your fee or you can pay all or part of the fee yourself. You may also be eligible to apply to the college’s Loan Bursary scheme for support with travel expenses for example. Whilst the loan is not means-tested, the Advanced Learner bursary scheme is.
For more information please email or Free Phone on 0800 804 6134.
Prior attainment is not taken into account for your first Advanced Learner Loan. You can take out up to a maximum of four Advanced Learner Loans in total. You can only take out one Advanced Learner Loan at a time.
You must complete a separate application for each Advanced Learner Loan. You are unable to take out two Advanced Learner Loans for the same qualification even if the qualifications are in a different area.
Apply now at www.gov.uk/advanced-learner-loan when applying please have the following information to hand, the course you want to do and the cost, your national insurance number and your valid UK passport details.
Maintenance loans are to pay living costs for full-time students. This loan is paid into your bank account at the start of each term. The exact amount, full-time students can borrow depends on family income, where you live, what year of study you’re in, and what help you get through the Maintenance Grant.
If you receive a full HE maintenance or student support grant, you may also be eligible for a bursary. For more information please complete and return the application form. Alternatively please contact us via email or Free Phone on 0800 804 6134.
We’re proud to deliver some of our teaching qualifications through the University of Huddersfield
This new course guide features our degree-level courses including flexible HNC/HND programmes, Higher Apprenticeships and Professional courses.
Opened in November 2020, the Pioneer Higher Skills Centre is located in the heart of Dewsbury. Dedicated to Higher Skills and Higher Education, this new centre provides a blend of restoration, innovation and learning.
Discover more about the higher education and higher skills courses, adult learning, professional qualifications and specialist facilities at the new £14m Pioneer Higher Skills Centre in Dewsbury.
Experienced tutors with industry experience, lower course fees than University, smaller class sizes with specialist academic support and fit your learning around you work, life and family.
We’re always here to support you
We are committed to supporting you during your time at Kirklees College and want you to have a fulfilling experience and achieve your very best. To help us to do that we encourage you can talk to us about anything, from learning support to advice on future employment and careers. We’re here to support you.
Centres & Facilities
You are at the heart of Kirklees College
The new Pioneer Higher Skills Centre is now open, with fantastic facilities available, including a coffee shop, creative workshop and photography studio.
Did you know we have eight centres across Kirklees? Take a look around and get a better feel for college life and our fantastic facilities.