Offline, On-Demand, Self-Paced Course
How to Set Up aS A ConsultanT Or FreelanceR in higher education
A practical guide to setting up as a consultant or freelancer in UK higher education.
Thinking about moving into consultancy or freelance work but unsure where to begin? This self-paced, on-demand course works through both the practical setup and the personal shifts involved in stepping out of institutional life and into a career of your own. It covers business structure, pricing, brand, systems, finding work and the questions of identity and confidence that tend to matter as much as the technical work. Drawing on over twenty years in UK higher education, including senior executive roles, it offers clear, usable guidance grounded in lived experience of the sector rather than generic business advice.
More about this course
You’ll get practical advice grounded in over twenty years of senior experience in UK higher education and the lived reality of building an independent consultancy practice. The course covers:
- What consultancy and freelance work looks like in UK higher education, and where you might fit within it.
- The choice between sole trader and limited company status, registering with HMRC and Companies House, and the practical foundations of trading.
- Insurance, contracts, data protection, and the financial habits that make invoicing and record-keeping feel manageable from day one.
- Defining your services and pricing them in a way that is sustainable for you and credible to clients.
- Building a brand and online presence without overcomplicating either.
- Putting just enough back-office system in place to deliver well and get paid on time.
- Finding your first clients: using your existing network and approaching new ones without it feeling forced.
- The shift from institutional role to independent practitioner, and the habits that sustain you through quieter periods.
This course is designed for experienced people working in or around UK higher education who are considering a move into consultancy or freelance work, whether full-time or alongside an existing role.
Please note: This course covers business setup, systems, and the principles of financial record-keeping. For in-depth coverage of UK tax obligations, Making Tax Digital compliance, IR35, and tax planning strategies, please see Finance and Tax Essentials for New Consultants and Freelancers in UK Higher Education.
Course content is delivered via audio episodes and downloadable worksheets to work through at your own pace.
How to enrol & pricing
This course will reopen for enrolment in early autumn 2026.
Early Bird rate: £169
Standard enrolment: £199
 There is also an option to add two one-hour sessions of wrap-around mentoring support at a discounted rate (£120) if you sign up to the waitlist, giving a saving on the standard rate of £140.
For discounted offers for Course Alumni and for purchasing courses as bundles, see here for details.