In September 2007 the Government withdrew HEFCE funding for students studying for a second higher qualification at a level equal to or lower than their first--the so-called equivalent or lower qualification (or ELQ) rule. This policy hit students and universities in England, though not those in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. In a recent article in "Adults Learning" Bill Jones described the ELQ policy as the "perfect storm" for university lifelong learning departments which, as a direct consequence, have suffered massive reductions in funding. In this article the authors examine the impact the ELQ policy has had on one small part of the adult education sector: the provision of archaeology programmes in lifelong learning and continuing education.