For example you can learn:

• full time or part time
• during the day or evening
• from home or work
• in a college or community centre

Courses can last anything from a few hours, to a semester or term, or even a number of years.  Many classes start during the autumn, however as more adults return to learn start dates are becoming more flexible.  Many colleges have enrolments in January and some offer courses after Easter.  You can attend classes on a regular basis, meeting others at the same time each week or choose to learn from home or work. 

Thinking about your lifestyle will help you decide what kind of learning will suit you best.
 
List your activities each week and see what time you have available for learning.  You may find you are free at a particular time each week or maybe there is no fixed pattern.  Be realistic and remember you may also need to allow time for background reading, course work or revision depending on your choice of course. 

You may need to consider:

• what effect your learning will have on other commitments, such as work, family and other interests
• if you are able to travel or need to attend a class locally
• how you will manage financially
• if you would prefer to learn intensively or over a much longer period of time

You might like to read more about different methods of study or try the find a course option to see how you could fit learning into your life.