We offer courses in a range of sectors – from social care to logistics – as well as GCSEs, A-levels and Open University Access modules. Here you’ll find information about every course we offer.
Do you work in a prison and want to help someone apply? Find out how on our support for prison staff page.
Download PET's Course Prospectus - our comprehensive guide to the distance learning courses we offer, with information on how to apply and how to prepare to study.
The following courses in the Prospectus are no longer being funded:
Download a course card featuring detailed information by clicking Download PDF on each course entry.
This course shows you how you can turn your creativity into a profession, whether through traditional or non traditional publishing paths. You will learn how to develop a portfolio of your work and explore the wide range of opportunities to earn money through your writing skills. The Non-Fiction unit gets you practising different types of writing - including reviews, articles, travel writing and biography.
Unit 1 Writing for a Living
Unit 2 Writing Non-Fiction
PET entry requirements: Level 2 English and Creative Writing Part 1
Format of course material: Paper-based
Assignments Seven Progress: Seven progress checks and two assignments
Exam: No
Prison support requirements: Support assessment submission and contact supplier for tutor support
Tutor support: Tutors give support by providing feedback answering queries.
If you want to try your hand at poetry or writing for younger readers, this course is a good place to start. In both units, you will practise how to write in a vivid, exciting and immediate way by considering your use of imagery, words and rhythm. You will study poetic forms, genre, romance and more, discovering some of the different ways to approach these forms of writing.
Unit 1 Writing Poetry
Unit 2 Writing for Younger Readers
PET entry requirements: Level 2 English
Format of course material: Paper-based
Assignments: Seven Progress Checks and Two assignments
Exam: No
Prison support requirements: Support assessment submission and contact supplier for tutor support
Tutor support: Tutors give support by providing feedback answering queries.
The Writing Autobiography unit puts you at centre stage, focusing on how you can use diaries, journals and letters to tell your story. The Playwriting and screenwriting unit gives you an introduction to writing scripts - concentrating on dialogue, acts, plots and the unique considerations of writing for stage and screen.
Unit 1 Writing About Your Life
Unit 2 Playwriting and Screenwriting
PET entry requirements: Level 2 English
Format of course material: Paper-based
Assignments: Seven Progress Checks and Two assignments
Exam: No
Prison support requirements: Support assessment submission and contact supplier for tutor support
Tutor support: Tutors give support by providing feedback answering queries.
This course will help you to develop a better understanding of the challenges that deafness could bring and how you might be able to help. The course starts with an introduction to deafness and the problems deaf people encounter, and includes a breakdown of different hearing conditions, including tinnitus and deafblindness. The course also features information on assistive technology and the American, British, and Spanish Sign Languages, as well as other useful tools for communication.
The course consists of 4 lessons:
Lesson 1
Deafness and Personal Hearing Aids
Reactions to Deafness
Problems that Deaf People Cope With
What is a Hearing Aid?
Disadvantages of a Hearing Aid
Lesson 2
Technology / How to Help a Hearing Aid User
Cochlear Implants
Expectations and Limitations
Developments
How to Help a Hearing Aid User
Lesson 3
Conditions / Communication Methods
Tinnitus
Deafblindness
Silent Communication
Spoken Communication
The History of Sign Language
British Sign Language (BSL)
Lesson 4
Sign Language Alphabets / Sense
American Sign Language
The Alphabet
Spanish Sign Language Alphabet
The Deafblind Manual Alphabet
Block Alphabet
‘Sense’ and Government Guidance on Deafblind Services
Entry Requirements: Level 2 English
Format of Course Materials: Paper-based
Assignments: Four self-assessed questions
Exams: One optional exam (funding not included – you will need to re-apply to PET for the exam fees)
Prison Support Requirements: Support completion and submission of assignments
Tutor Support: Yes
What’s Next? Open University Access Module, People, Work and Society (YO32)
Find Out More: Directly from BSY here
Written by someone with lived experience of prison, and also of running his own successful online business, this course equips you with the knowledge needed to succeed. Whether you’re looking to supplement an income or to sell items around the world, this course is for you. You will cover all aspects of selling products on eBay – one of the world’s largest platforms – and other similar online marketplaces and learn how to manage and grow your own business.
The course covers the following subjects:
Entry Requirements: Level 2 English
Format of Materials: Paper
Assignments: 8 assignments
Exams: None
Prison Support Requirements: Facilitate tutor support
Tutor Support: Yes
Understand the forces shaping global markets, governments and everyday decisions with this thought-provoking subject. The course explores how individuals, businesses and governments make choices in a world of limited resources. You will examine key topics such as supply and demand, inflation, market structures, international trade and government policy — building a clear understanding of how economic systems function and evolve. This qualification can deepen your theoretical and practical economic knowledge and sharpen your skills in critical thinking, analysis and evaluation.
The course consists of:
Entry Requirements: Level 2 English and Maths
Format of Course Materials: Paper-based
Assignments: Five written assignments
Exams: Two – invigilated, closed book exams (75 minutes each)
Prison Support Requirements: Facilitate tutor support via email. This often requires scanning learner assignments and email them to their tutor. Co-ordinate with NEC to arrange and facilitate exams.
Tutor Support: Yes
What’s Next? Economics A-Level Part 2
Find Out More: From NEC here
This course is the follow-up to Part 1, and you will continue to understand the forces shaping global markets, governments and everyday decisions with this thought-provoking subject. The course explores how individuals, businesses and governments make choices in a world of limited resources. You will examine key topics such as supply and demand, inflation, market structures, international trade and government policy — building a clear understanding of how economic systems function and evolve. This qualification can deepen your theoretical and practical economic knowledge and sharpen your skills in critical thinking, analysis and evaluation.
The course contains two themes that follow on from Part 1
Entry Requirements: Level 2 English and Maths, plus Economics Part 1
Format of Course Materials: Paper-based
Assignments: Five written assignments.
Exams: Three invigilated, closed book exams (120 minutes each)
Prison Support Requirements:Facilitate tutor support via email. This often requires scanning learner assignments and email them to their tutor. Co-ordinate with NEC to arrange and facilitate exam where necessary.
Tutor Support: Yes
What’s Next? There are range of possible progression options including an Open University Access course, or various business and management courses.
Find Out More: From NEC here
This course replaces the Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector (PTTLS) qualification, and is the first step towards working in post-16 or adult level teaching or training. It is also useful if part of your role is to train others. You will find out how to plan, deliver and assess effective learning, and discover the roles, responsibilities and relationships involved in teaching.
The course consists of four sections:
Entry Requirements: Level 2 English
Format of Course Materials: Paper-based
Assignments: Four tutor marked assignments
Exams: Yes – the “Microteach Element”. This involves a practical fifteen minute teaching session that will need to be recorded. Due to security issues, this is most often completed by learners upon release. (PET funding does not cover this element).
Prison Support Requirements: Support completion and submission of assignments, plus microteach element if possible. An additional enrolment form is also required by NEC before the learner can start on the course.
Tutor Support: Yes
What’s Next? A course in the subject you wish to teach (e.g. a vocational course like fitness). PET also offer TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) at Level 5.
Find Out More: From NEC here
Understand how the English language shapes our thoughts, identity and society with this qualification. You will focus on spoken and written communication, language diversity and social context. You will investigate how language develops in children, how it reflects identity, and how it varies across regions and platforms. This course can deepen your understanding of linguistic structures and help you develop skills in analysis, interpretation and independent research.
The course consists of the following units:
Entry Requirements: Level 2 English
Format of Course Materials: Paper-based
Assignments: Five written assignments.
Exams: Two invigilated, closed book exams (90minutes each)
Prison Support Requirements:Facilitate tutor support via email. This often requires scanning learner assignments and email them to their tutor. Co-ordinate with NEC to arrange and facilitate exams.
Tutor Support: Yes
What’s Next? English Language A-Level Part 2
Find Out More: From NEC here
This course is the follow-up to Part 1, and you will continue to understand how the English language shapes our thoughts, identity and society with this qualification. You will focus on spoken and written communication, language diversity and social context. You will investigate how language develops in children, how it reflects identity, and how it varies across regions and platforms. This course can deepen your understanding of linguistic structures and help you develop skills in analysis, interpretation and independent research.
The course contains five lessons that follow on from Part 1:
Entry Requirements: Level 2 English, plus English Language A-Level Part 1
Format of Course Materials: Paper-based
Assignments: Five written assignments, 2 pieces of coursework and 1 past paper for revision
Exams: Two invigilated, closed book exams (150 minutes each)
Prison Support Requirements: Facilitate tutor support via email. This often requires scanning learner assignments and email them to their tutor. Co-ordinate with NEC to arrange and facilitate exams.
Tutor Support: Yes
What’s Next? There are range of possible progression options including an Open University Access course, or various other courses such as Creative Writing or Journalism
Find Out More: From NEC here
© Prisoners' Education Trust 2026