Lifelong Learning Entitlement

The Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE) student finance system will launch in academic year 2026/27 for learners studying courses starting on or after 1 January 2027.

You can read about announced LLE policy in policy statements on GOV.UK.

Students will be able to apply for finance under LLE from September 2026. To enable us to assess student eligibility and level of entitlement, we require a directory of course information. We’re planning to collect course information from HE providers, in our Courses Management Service, from June 2026. We’ll publish further information on course eligibility requirements in April 2025.

We’ve been involved in the early policy thinking to help initiate policy implementation work, and so we can be confident of being in a good position to deliver an operational system for academic year 2026/27.

Further communications and engagement

We recognise the size of the business change across the sector and the importance of working with DfE, the OfS and the FE and HE sector. DfE continues to lead on stakeholder engagement to inform policy development and raise awareness within the sector. We’ll continue to work alongside DfE and OfS to support the communication of the LLE, and we will lead on communications related to the operational arrangements.

We’re planning for different types of engagement opportunities throughout the year, with the details to follow as soon as they’re confirmed.

Feedback and insight

Currently, we are designing the operational system. We welcome feedback and insight from the sector, through our existing channels and commissioned focus groups.

We’ve created the HE Advisory Group to support the design and development of the SLC operational system. The early focus is on what we need for course management and the links to providers’ course curriculum and specifications work.

We’ll provide updates within our other user groups and regional forums will offer insight. We'll also seek input from our HE provider and FE learning provider contacts, as we plan for more widespread communications.