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New Skills Academy Review: Courses, Pricing and Who It Suits
New Skills Academy at a Glance
New Skills Academy is an online course provider operating at newskillsacademy.co.uk. Its homepage invites visitors to join "over 1,085,000 students" and to study one of its "910+ career enhancing, confidence boosting courses". Those figures are the provider's own, and we have not verified them.
The catalogue is organised into 22 categories on the homepage. Business and Personal Development are each listed with 417 courses, and Vocational / Hobbies with 371. Smaller areas include Health & Safety (146 courses), Beauty (53) and Animal Care (39). Some courses probably appear in more than one category, so the category counts should not be added together to get a total.
The site also lets visitors switch between several currencies: GBP, USD, EUR, CAD, AUD and NZD. That suggests an international audience, although this guide cannot say how prices compare across currencies.
This guide draws only on the merchant's public pages: the homepage, a summer sale offer page and one course page, the Makeup Artist Diploma. We have not tested the platform, taken a course or spoken to learners. Everything below is what New Skills Academy says about itself, plus some reasoning about what that means for a buyer. If you are deciding whether to read on, the main question is whether a large, low-priced, self-paced library suits your goal. The sections below help you judge that.
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How the Courses and Pricing Work
The clearest picture of what a single course involves comes from the Makeup Artist Diploma page. The page lists:
- Duration: approximately 20 hours
- Access: lifetime access
- Approved by: CPD, which is the merchant's own label
- Learning types: text-based modules, images, video learning and MP3 audio lessons
- Cost: £100.00 as a standalone price
The page also says the course has 22 modules. It says learners can study at their own pace, from any device, at any time, as long as they have an internet connection. It adds that the format lets people study while working full time.
Pricing is where the picture gets more complicated. The summer sale special offer page says you can "pick any £100 course for only £25, or two for £40". The courses listed there each carry an RRP of £100.00. They include the Nail Technician Diploma, the Payroll Diploma, the Digital Marketing Diploma and the Level 3 Admin, PA and Secretarial Diploma. Banners on the homepage and the course page also advertise "79% off individual courses with code GOALS79".
Alongside the per-course prices, the site promotes an unlimited membership. The course page says you can "get this course and 700+ others for only £99.00 per year", and that the Makeup Artist Diploma is included in it.
Offers, codes and campaign pages change. A page labelled as a summer sale may no longer be running when you read this, and a code may expire. Treat every figure here as a snapshot of the merchant's published pages, and confirm the live price, the promotion dates and the terms on the website before you pay.
What New Skills Academy Does Well
Based on the merchant's own published information, several features are clearly stated and well supported.
Breadth of catalogue. The homepage presents a wide range, from "dog grooming to retail banking" in the provider's own words. The offer page backs this up with titles as varied as Tax Accounting, Payroll, Digital Marketing, Child Psychology, Floristry, Wedding Planning and Pet Sitting and Dog Walking. Someone exploring several interests could find them in one place.
Low promotional price points. The offer of £25 for one course or £40 for two is far below the £100 RRP shown on the same page. If a promotion like this is running when you visit, the entry cost is low compared with the listed standalone price. As the next section explains, that also means the £100 figure is better read as a reference than as the price most people pay.
Flexible study format. The course page states lifetime access, self-paced study and a mix of text, images, video and audio lessons. It says the course works on any device with an internet connection. For people who learn best in different ways, a mixed format is a practical advantage.
Published learner feedback. The offer page carries testimonials. Learners mention clear and concise videos, downloadable worksheets, a quick test and assignment in each module, and the ability to work at their own pace and on various devices. One reviewer says they started a dog-related course to help with their own dog and then began to consider it as a possible second income.
These testimonials are chosen and published by the merchant. They show what the provider wants prospective students to read. They are not independent verification of quality, and we have not tested the courses ourselves.
Readers who want to browse by subject can start with category listings such as Business or Personal Development on the homepage.
Limitations and Things to Check
The public pages leave several important questions open. Check these yourself before buying.
The £100 RRP. The price appears next to heavy promotional discounts, including £25 for one course and 79% off with a code. Treat £100 as a reference figure. Don't assume it is what you will pay, and don't assume today's discount will still be there next month.
What CPD approval means. The course page says the course is approved by CPD. That is the merchant's statement, and this guide has not independently verified it. CPD, or continuing professional development, labels vary in how much weight employers give them. If you need the course to count for a particular employer, purpose or professional body, ask them directly.
Level 2 and Level 3 wording. Some titles, such as the Level 2 Teaching Assistant Diploma and the Level 3 Child Psychology Diploma, use level wording. The evidence reviewed here does not establish whether these are regulated qualifications. Don't assume they are. If a regulated level matters to you, confirm the awarding body and the regulatory status first.
Support, assessment and recognition. The pages we reviewed do not describe tutor support, how rigorous the assessment is, or how employers regard the certificates. Testimonials mention quick tests and assignments, but they say little about marking or feedback. These may be answered elsewhere on the site, and the support pages are the place to ask.
Reviews. Reviews on the site are selected by the merchant. Read them as marketing, not independent testing.
Durations. A figure such as "approximately 20 hours" is the merchant's estimate. Your own time may be shorter or longer.
Health-related titles. The catalogue includes titles on CBT, ADHD awareness, autism and dyslexia. They are presented as diplomas or awareness courses, and the evidence does not support any claim that they replace professional training, clinical care or treatment. Use them as general learning, and seek qualified professional advice for health needs.
Who It Suits and Who Should Look Elsewhere
People fitting study around a job. The course page describes a self-paced format that works on any device, and says you can study while working a full-time job. That suits learners with limited, irregular spare time.
People trying a subject before committing. At promotional prices, a course can work as a low-cost first step. That could help someone testing an interest in, say, makeup, floristry or dog grooming before they spend more on a pricier route. The prices only help if the promotion is live, so check first.
Hobbyists and interest-led learners. The testimonials mention uses such as a hobby, a possible second income and workplace knowledge. These are the merchant's selected comments, so read them as examples of how some learners describe their experience, not as typical results.
Who should look elsewhere or check first. If you need a regulated qualification, live tuition or a particular awarding body, confirm those details before buying. The pages reviewed here do not establish them. Self-paced online study with no described tutor contact may not be what you need if you want scheduled classes or in-person assessment. The same applies if a job or licence requires a specific named certificate.
If you are still browsing, category pages such as Beauty, Animal Care or Admin on the homepage are a sensible way to see what is on offer in your area of interest.
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Comparing New Skills Academy With Alternatives
This guide had no data on competitors, so it makes no claims about other providers' prices or quality. What it can offer is a set of criteria for comparing any online course provider with this one.
- Price model. New Skills Academy publishes per-course pricing with an RRP of £100, frequent-looking discounts and a flat annual membership of £99.00 for 700+ courses. Ask whether another provider charges per course, per month or per year, and what a realistic total would be for what you want to learn.
- Access length. The course page states lifetime access. Compare this with time-limited access elsewhere.
- Study format. Here that means text, images, video and audio, studied at your own pace. Others may offer live sessions or fixed start dates.
- Recognition. Look at the stated approval or accreditation, who awards it, and whether the course is regulated. Don't treat similar-sounding labels as equivalent.
- Support. Check whether tutors, feedback or help with technical problems are included.
- Refund terms. Read the policy before you pay, not after.
Alternative types include free learning platforms, college courses and awarding-body-linked training. They can differ a lot in recognition and support, so read each provider's own terms. For a flat-fee comparison point, look at the unlimited membership offer on the New Skills Academy site and weigh it against what others charge for similar access.
Single Course or Unlimited Membership
AI-generated generic editorial illustration — not a retailer product photo and does not depict the reviewed product or service. Help readers choose between the discounted single-course offers and the annual unlimited membership, using only the published price points.
The published numbers give a simple starting framework. The summer offer lists one course for £25 or two for £40. The membership is listed at £99.00 per year for 700+ courses.
On those figures:
- One or two courses: the single-course offers look cheaper, at £25 or £40 against £99.00.
- Several courses: a learner planning to take a number of courses may find the membership cheaper. The more courses you want, the more the flat fee is spread out.
- Break-even: the published prices do not offer a bundle of three or more discounted courses, so this guide cannot say where the cut-off falls for you. Check the live prices.
The site states that the membership includes courses such as the Makeup Artist Diploma. It is unclear whether every title in the catalogue is included. Renewal terms, which courses count towards the membership and whether the offers are still running are not covered by the evidence. Check all three on the live site before paying, especially whether the £99.00 renews automatically and at what price.
A simple rule of thumb: decide how many courses you realistically expect to finish, then compare that number against the live single-course price and the live membership price. The best choice depends on the terms in force on the day you buy.
How to Decide Before You Buy
A short checklist can help.
- Start with a goal. Is it a hobby, a career change or upskilling for your current job? Your answer affects how much recognition matters.
- Read the course page closely. Look at the module count, the stated duration, the learning formats and the example certificate. The Makeup Artist Diploma page, for example, lists 22 modules and about 20 hours.
- Confirm what the approval means. If the course is described as CPD approved, ask whether your employer or professional body accepts it for your purpose.
- Compare live prices. Look at the single-course price, any promo code and the membership price on the day you buy. Offers can change.
- Read support and refund terms. These are outside the evidence reviewed here, so look at the support section of the site before paying.
If you want to see what a typical course page includes before you decide, the Makeup Artist Diploma page is a useful sample.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a New Skills Academy course cost?
The Makeup Artist Diploma page lists a standalone price of £100.00, and the offer page shows other diplomas at an RRP of £100.00. The summer sale page offers any listed £100 course for £25, or two for £40, and the site also advertises 79% off individual courses with the code GOALS79. Promotions change, so confirm the live price on the website.
How long do I have access to a course?
The course page for the Makeup Artist Diploma lists lifetime access. We have only seen this on that page, so check the access terms on the course you plan to buy, and whether they are different under the membership.
Is the unlimited membership worth it compared with buying single courses?
The site lists the membership at £99.00 per year for 700+ courses. Against the £25 and £40 offers, one or two courses look cheaper to buy singly, while several courses may favour the membership. Renewal terms and current offers are not covered here, so check them on the live site.
Are New Skills Academy courses accredited or regulated qualifications?
The course page we reviewed says the Makeup Artist Diploma is approved by CPD, which is the merchant's own statement. Some titles use Level 2 or Level 3 wording, but the evidence does not establish whether they are regulated qualifications. If you need a regulated qualification or a specific awarding body, confirm it with the provider and the body concerned before buying. This guide also makes no claim that health-related courses offer any treatment or clinical benefit.
Can I study on my phone or around a full-time job?
The course page says you can study from any device, at any time, with an internet connection, and at your own pace. It says this suits people working full time. We have not tested the platform on a phone, so check the device requirements before you buy.
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