I was interested in doing a course on Art History, read through the course info on the site and spoke to a customer service staff member. That conversation confirmed my opinion that this was the cou... See more
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I have studied for GCSE's and A Levels with National Extension College. All the courses are very accessible online with useful information to help get started. Each course is divided into topics... See more
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Once again the advisor and tutor were very encouraging (being retired and not a teenager I wasnt sure if it would be the right thing for me). The answers to questions from the tutor were friendly enco... See more
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I retook my GCSE English, Maths, Biology and Chemistry through the NEC. I found the NEC resources good, but also chose to purchase the CGP & exam board specific texts recommended in the NEC material.... See more
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Company details
- Educational Institution
- Adult Education School
- Distance Learning Center
- Education Center
- International School
- Study at Home School
About National Extension College
Written by the company
At the National Extension College (NEC), we are dedicated to providing students with flexible and accessible online education.
As a leading distance learning provider, we offer a wide range of online courses, including GCSEs, IGCSEs, A levels, professional courses, and modern languages.
Whether you're homeschooling, advancing your career, or pursuing lifelong learning as an adult learner, our expertly designed courses and dedicated tutors support you every step of the way.
Join us to experience the freedom and convenience of top-quality distance learning tailored to your needs.
Visit NEC
Contact info
Woolpack House, 70 High Street, Sawston, CB22 3HJ, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- 0800 389 2839
- info@nec.ac.uk
- nec.ac.uk
4.6
Excellent
249 reviews
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Replied to 100% of negative reviews
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Joining NEC
I was interested in doing a course on Art History, read through the course info on the site and spoke to a customer service staff member. That conversation confirmed my opinion that this was the course for me and NEC the organisation I wanted to study with.
Since then, I have followed the guidelines on the site to get started and been in touch with my tutor.
All very impressive!
11 August 2026
Reply from National Extension College
Hi Mark,
It’s great to hear that you are enjoying your Art History course, and to read your comments about your experience of finding out about the course, speaking with our team and getting started. We always love to hear from our students, and will pass your comments on to the teams. Good luck with your studies.
Best wishes
NEC
Finally got my GCSE and A Levels in Maths and Science subjects with the NEC.
I have studied for GCSE's and A Levels with National Extension College.
All the courses are very accessible online with useful information to help get started.
Each course is divided into topics explanatory notes, quizes, links to videos and other learning materials make the whole experience very enjoyable and rewarding.
The tutors and the admin team are extremely helpful.
I loved every moment of my time studying with them.
13 August 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from National Extension College
Hi Elizabeth,
Thank you for your comments - it’s wonderful to hear that you enjoyed your time studying for GCSEs and A levels with NEC. We always love to hear about our students’ experiences and we will share your comments with the teams and tutors.
Best wishes
NEC
I like the materials for the subjects I…
I like the materials for the subjects I do. I find them helpful in learning, especially when there are interactive activities such as quizzes for each section or topic.
20 July 2026
Reply from National Extension College
Hi Claire,
Thank you for your comment, it’s great to hear that you are finding your course materials helpful - especially the interactive quizzes and activities. We will let the teams know your feedback, good luck with your studies.
Best wishes
NEC
Good comunication
22 June 2026
Reply from National Extension College
Hi jusonjosh84
Thanks for leaving us a review - it’s great to hear that you have found the communication from NEC has been good. We’re always delighted to hear comments like this from our students. Good luck with your studies.
Best wishes
NEC
Communication is excellent
Once again the advisor and tutor were very encouraging (being retired and not a teenager I wasnt sure if it would be the right thing for me). The answers to questions from the tutor were friendly encouraging and person centred. I feel happy with my decision to study with them though I do appreciate I will have to apply myself!
20 June 2026
Reply from National Extension College
Hi Mal,
Thank you for your feedback about how you have found studying with NEC and your comments about your tutor. We are always really pleased to hear from our students, and will pass your comments on to the teams. Good luck with your studies and enjoy your course.
Best wishes
NEC
Reply from National Extension College
Hi Shrka9
Thank you for your feedback, it’s great to hear that you found it easy to enrol on a course with NEC. We are always pleased to receive comments like yours, to find out how people have found joining NEC as a student - good luck with your studies.
Best wishes
NEC
GCSE Astronomy
I found it difficult to obtain this qualification and I am enjoying the course so far.
28 April 2026
Reply from National Extension College
Hi Mark,
Thank you for leaving us your review. It’s great to hear that you are enjoying your course - good luck with gaining your qualification. We are always delighted to hear from our students and will pass your comments back to the team.
Best wishes
NEC
My learning experience on NEC platform
I've been part of two courses and, even though the website may not look super "advanced", it is still user-friendly. Specifically, the learning interface is more interesting than I imagined. I don't have a call-based experience yet when it comes to student support through email based queries are responded quite well Overall 5/5.
24 April 2026
Reply from National Extension College
Thank you for sharing your experience! We really appreciate the 5-star rating.
It’s great to hear that you’re enjoying the learning interface and finding our email support helpful across both courses. We appreciate the honest feedback regarding the website design as we are always looking for ways to improve, but we are glad to know it’s still user-friendly for you.
Important for people to know
My daughter has not yet sat for the IGCSE in this subject -Combined science. We are appreciative that there exists this course in the first place as it was hard to find providers. However, in today’s world, we found that a course just reading based is tough for one to do self-paced. Video links for the lessons would help and perhaps more tests at the end of each chapter would help for memory recall and for the student to take ownership. As the course is, one is to be heavily accompanied by an adult! Also perhaps instead of HW at the end of 5 chapters, a HW after each chapter might make one go swifter and again perhaps better for recall in run up to exam. A HW after 5 chapters is daunting and slows the pace as one has to actually finish 5 chapters to write the assignment! This slows the pace. Of course at A level all this may be as the student will be older but at I/GCSE level a student is way younger for such a heavy self-paced!
7 April 2026
Reply from National Extension College
Hi Claire,
Thank you for your comments.
We are sorry that you found the resources didn’t work for your daughter. We develop all of our own courses in partnership with subject experts and in line with exam board specifications, and we work tirelessly to improve our materials to suit our students’ best interests.
We understand that independent study can be different for everyone and although we have many students who have commented extremely positively on our course materials, that doesn’t mean that it always works for everyone.
Your feedback and suggestions are much appreciated and we will feed them back to the team.
NEC’s tutors are always available to support students with aspects of their learning every step of the way. Do make use of your daughter’s dedicated tutor for any support she needs with her studies.
Best wishes
NEC
The staff were polite and experienced
The staff were polite, efficient, extremely helping and knowledgeable regarding my GCSE Astronomy course.
29 March 2026
Reply from National Extension College
Hi Natalka,
Thank you for your feedback about your GCSE Astronomy course. We are always delighted to hear from our students - we’ll pass your comments on to the team. Enjoy your course!
Best wishes
NEC
Best opportunity
I’ve had an incredibly positive experience with NEC. From the moment I joined, the support I received has been exceptional.
I enrolled relatively late in my academic journey, and NEC provided me with the opportunity and flexibility I needed to continue my studies at a crucial time. Their support has made a significant difference in helping me stay on track and work towards my exams with confidence.
Beyond academics, NEC has also helped me gain clarity about my future and feel more optimistic about my next steps, including university.
I’m truly grateful for the support and opportunities they’ve provided.
28 February 2026
Reply from National Extension College
Hi,
Thank you for your very positive review. It is always lovely to hear from our students about how you have found your experience of studying with NEC. We’ll pass your feedback on to the teams. Good luck with your exams.
Best wishes
NEC
The experience has been very positive and promising
The enrollment process was smooth, and the study platform was easy to navigate. The course content is clear, easy to understand, and relates well to practical examples. So far, the experience has been very positive.
23 February 2026
Reply from National Extension College
Hi Francis,
Thank you for your feedback about your course and the positive experience you have had. It’s great to hear that you found the enrolment process a smooth experience and that our learning platform is easy to navigate. We’ll pass your comments about the enrolment process and the course content on to the teams - we are always delighted to hear how our students are finding things.
Best wishes
NEC
Phenomenal physics course
Given the opportunity to study a well structured physics course, given that I work full time this creates an exceptionally easy structure to follow alongside my work and other studies.
25 February 2026
Reply from National Extension College
Hi Finley,
Thank you for your feedback on our Physics course. It’s great to hear that studying the online course alongside working full time is working well for you. We are always delighted to hear how our students are finding the experience of studying with NEC. We’ll pass your comments back to the team.
Best wishes
NEC
Excellent support from NEC
I had a couple of enquiries about the course I wanted to take before I went ahead with the purchase, these were promptly answered and made me feel secure that I was signing up to something supported and robust. The enrolment was an easy process and everything went as planned very quickly and smoothly.
25 February 2026
Reply from National Extension College
Hi Hillary,
Thank you for your comments on the help you received when making the decision to sign up to a course with NEC. Our Course Advice Team is always happy to talk people through the options and answer any questions. We’ll pass your comments back to the team. Good luck with your studies.
Best wishes
NEC
Excellent course
I've recently started an IGCSE language course with the NEC, and find the course pages excellent. Everything is well-laid out, with good explanations, links to external resources, self assessment tests, a forum to connect with other students or ask questions, and a pleasant tutor who made contact swiftly - altogether a very engaging and interactive course.
Thoroughly recommend.
9 March 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from National Extension College
Hi K.D-N,
Thank you for your feedback, we are delighted to hear that your IGCSE language course is going well. We always like to hear how our students are finding our course materials and the experience of studying with NEC - it’s great to hear that you are enjoying your experience of online learning. We’ll pass your comments back to the team and tutors.
Best wishes
NEC
My first experience with NEC is amazing
Though I just started studying with you, my experience so far has been delightful. My tutors have been polite and helpful with emails and feedback. And the way the programme is arranged is so amazing.
26 January 2026
Reply from National Extension College
Hi Anthony,
Thank you so much for your feedback. We always like to hear how our students are finding their experience of studying with NEC and it’s great to hear that you are enjoying yours. Your comments are much appreciated, we’ll pass them on to the team and tutors.
Best wishes
NEC
As a university lecturer and ex-teacher…
As a university lecturer and ex-teacher currently pursuing an A level for fun (it's quite the tale!), I must say I've found the course materials exceptional. The content is thoughtfully structured, highly engaging, and effectively caters to a distance learner's requirements, particularly when studying online without the company of classmates or direct interaction with a tutor.
28 December 2025
Unprompted review
Reply from National Extension College
Hi Stacy,
Thank you for your feedback, it’s great to hear your thoughts on our course materials. We’ll pass them on to our Online Learning Team.
Best wishes
NEC
Five stars all the way
Five stars all the way! The service is outstanding and prompt, offering insightful analyses of essential reading materials. It provides a superb overview and clarification of the A Level Literature qualification and examination. I highly endorse this provider.
4 December 2025
Unprompted review
Reply from National Extension College
Hi Tracy
Thank you for your feedback. It’s great to hear that you’re enjoying your experience of studying A level English Literature with NEC. Your feedback is much appreciated and has been passed on to the teams.
Best wishes
NEC
Certainly
Certainly! Please provide the review you'd like rephrased.
20 November 2025
Unprompted review
Reply from National Extension College
Hi Dennish,
It looks like you haven't previously reviewed the National Extension College. Is it possible that you have the wrong NEC as we have not requested you to rephrase anything.
Best wishes
NEC
Very satisfied till now
Very satisfied till now, and hoping that NEC will assist while booking the exams. I am positive so far.
28 October 2025
Reply from National Extension College
Hello,
Thank you for your feedback. It’s great to hear that things are going well so far.
The team will be happy to help you with booking exams so please contact them when you are ready to do this.
You can contact our Exams Team at exams@nec.ac.uk. You will find more information on our website about how they can help you: https://www.nec.ac.uk/exams-and-assessment/.
Good luck with your studies.
Best wishes
NEC
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