Lifelong Learning Entitlement FAQ

Q1: When does the LLE come into effect?

A: The LLE will be the student finance system for all level 4 to 6 loan funded courses and modules that start in January 2027 onwards, for those who are ordinarily resident in England and studying at an OfS registered provider.

Q2: When will applications be available for students to apply for LLE?

A: If a student is starting an eligible course or module that begins on or after 1 January 2027, they’ll be able to access the LLE by applying for student finance from September 2026.

Q3: When will provider systems need to change?

A: We plan to publish SIS technical specifications to the HE Gateway in autumn 2025. This will cover all export and import functions.

Q4: What is the current forecast of students starting courses that begin on or after 1 January 2027?

A: We have forecast, based on the previous year’s figure, that approximately 88,000 students will apply for courses between 1 January 2027 and 31 July 2027.

Q5: Where can students find out more information on LLE?

A: Students can keep an eye on the SFE campaign page.

Q1: Who can qualify under the LLE?

A: The LLE will be available to new learners and learners who have previously studied a course or module in higher education. Learners who are over 60 may still qualify for maintenance support, though not a tuition fee loan. Eligibility criteria for the LLE will track existing higher education student finance nationality and residency rules.

Q2: What are the eligibility rules for returning (continuing) students?

A: Students who started a course prior to 1 January 2027 will continue studying using the funding system under which the course was started. Either under relevant existing HE Student Finance (HESF) or Advanced Learner Loan (ALL) rules. This includes course transfers to a course where the first year of the course the student is transferring to begins before 1 January 2027.

Q3: Will the LLE have restrictions, will students from the devolved administrations be eligible for LLE?

A: Eligibility for student finance is a devolved matter and UK students who are ordinarily resident in the devolved administrations should contact their relevant funding authority.

Q4: Will providers be given training on eligibility rules and new system requirements ahead of the launch of the LLE?

A: We have an extensive training and awareness programme planned for information and guidance (IAG) practitioners and education provider administrators. We will be able to provide further details in due course.

Q5: What happens to students already in study when the LLE launches?

A: Any students currently in study at the point of the LLE's launch in January 2027 will remain on their current funding arrangements. It is expected that if a student is still in receipt of government support for a course they are on in January of academic year 2026/27, their access to LLE funding may be restricted until they have completed or are no longer in receipt of government support for their original course. We will provide further details in due course.

Q1: Which courses are in scope of the LLE funding?

A: LLE learners will apply for their funding in September 2026 for courses and modules starting from 1 January 2027 onwards. The LLE will fund:

• full years of study on courses currently funded by HE student finance including:
• traditional bachelor’s degrees
• Postgraduate Certificates in Education (PGCE)
• integrated master’s degrees – a 4-year programme that awards a master’s degree on top of a bachelor’s degree
• the foundation year available before some degree courses start, as long as these form part of an overall bachelor’s degree
• all HTQs, including both full courses and modules of those courses
• Level 4 to 6 qualifications currently funded by an Advanced Learner Loan where there is clear learner demand and employer endorsement
• the tuition for designated distance-learning and online courses

Q2: Will all courses need a credit value?

A: Credits will be the basis of fee limits and fee loans under the LLE. To support this, certain types of provision will need to be credit-bearing to be designated for LLE funding. Credits will be required for all LLE funded modules and for the following LLE funded courses:

• Ofqual regulated qualifications
• all parent courses of any modular provision
• courses shorter than one year

Courses that are not listed, such as degree programmes, do not need to be credit-bearing. However, all LLE courses in CMS will need to have a credit value recorded. For courses or course years that are not credit-bearing, a default credit value will be captured in CMS (for example 360 credits for a three-year undergraduate degree).

Q3: When will the Courses Management Service definition be available and when will SLC need course information?

A: The Courses Management Service definition is scheduled to be released in August 2025 and the course management system will go live in June 2026. Providers will begin uploading part-time and full-time courses in advance of the launch of the application system.

Q4: When will Courses Management Service (CMS) technical guidance be available?

A: CMS technical guidance has been available on the HE Gateway since May 2025.

Q5: Will providers need to upload both courses for continuing students and courses for the LLE for English domiciled students?

A: Yes, providers will need to submit courses for continuing students under the current student finance regulations. They will also need to submit LLE-funded courses starting on or after 1 January 2027.

Q6: Are there changes to the course information required?

A: For HE providers that currently submit course information to our Courses Management Service (CMS), it’s likely additional course information will be required. We will continue to work with the HE Advisory Group and system user group to confirm feasibility.

If you are an FE only provider, that chooses to register with OfS, you will need to submit course information onto CMS to allow English domiciled students to apply for LLE funding. We will provide a comprehensive engagement and training programme.

Q7: What do providers need to do to offer modules under the LLE?

A: DfE is inviting OfS registered providers intending to deliver modular provision in England from January 2027 to submit an expression of interest (EOI) by 17 October 2025. You can find the application form and supplementary guidance on GOV.UK.

All providers that submit an expression of interest will need to pass an assurance check as part of the approvals process. Providers will not need to submit information or evidence for this check.

A provider will be eligible for a simpler and quicker approval process if they have:

• a teaching excellence framework (TEF) rating of gold or silver
• an Ofsted rating of good or outstanding

Providers that have both TEF and Ofsted ratings will need to meet both of these conditions to be eligible for quicker approval.

To demonstrate their readiness and capability to deliver successfully, providers will need to submit more information if they:

• do not have TEF or Ofsted ratings
• have both TEF and Ofsted ratings, but only meet one of the conditions

Q1: Will LLE replace the current SFE funding package?

A: Yes, for new English domiciled students starting an eligible course that begins on or after 1 January 2027, the LLE will replace the current SFE package for level 4 to 6 study offered by Office for Students (OfS) registered providers. Students who are ordinarily resident in England on the first day of the first course year and meet the relevant eligibility criteria will be able to apply. Under the LLE a ‘course year’ is defined as the 12-month period starting on the first day of the calendar month in which the student’s course begins (‘the first course year’), and each subsequent period of 12 months in which part of the course is undertaken.

Q2: How will the LLE balance be determined. Will education providers need to be involved?

A: We will determine residual entitlement, which the student can obtain through a Tuition Fee Loan (TFL) balance application. Students will need to supply information relating to residency, previous funding and compelling personal reasons (CPR) in their personal account. We’ll then be able to calculate the student’s LLE residual entitlement, without needing any input from the education provider.

The student will first need to register as an SLC customer before they can obtain their balance without having to apply for student finance. The student will then be notified of the residual entitlement which they can view or share with their education provider’s recruitment or admissions team.

Q3: Will the student’s previous loans be taken in account?

A: Yes. Students who've received support for higher level learning from the government administrations of England, Wales, Northern Ireland or Scotland and start a course that begins on or after 1 January 2027 at an OfS registered provider may only have some, or none, of their entitlement left. Those who have not used it all will have access to a residual entitlement.

Q4: What is the tuition loan entitlement within the LLE?

A: New students (those who have not yet had government support to undertake courses at level 4 to 6) will be able to access a full entitlement equal to 4 years of full-time tuition. This is currently equal to £38,140, based on today’s maximum fee limit of £9,535 per year. This means a student could use their £38,140 to pay for more than 480 credits of learning, depending on the per-credit cost of the course.

For example, if a student can borrow £38,140 and they use £6,000 for a 120-credit course, they would have £32,140 of their Lifelong Learning Entitlement left for other courses, regardless of the size or duration of the original programme. Returning students (those who have previously received support from the government administrations of England, Wales, Northern Ireland or Scotland to undertake courses at level 4 to 6) may only have some, or none of their entitlement left, depending on previous funding they’ve received. Those who have not used it all will have access to a residual entitlement.

For example, a typical graduate who completed a 3-year degree worth £28,605 in today’s fees will have a residual entitlement of £9,535. This amount will be proportionately adjusted should the modern fee limit change. An additional entitlement, above the core 4-year entitlement, will be available for some priority subjects. Priority additional entitlement will give learners whose LLE balance is £0 as much tuition fee loan as they need to complete their course. It will come with the usual maintenance support and repayment terms.

Course types that will be eligible for priority additional entitlement are

• medicine
• dentistry
• nursing
• midwifery
• allied health profession subjects
• initial teacher training
• social work

Priority additional entitlement will only support full courses. Individual modules in these subjects will not be eligible.

Existing graduates who have already used their fee support can access priority additional entitlement to retrain in an eligible subject.

Q5: Is there a fee cap on what a higher education provider can charge for a foundation year?

A: Students enrolling on a foundation year can access tuition fee and maintenance loans for the full duration of their extended course, if it's integral and allows progression to a full degree course designated for student finance.

From academic year 2025/26, the maximum fee and loan limit for foundation years for courses will be lowered if more than 50% is delivered in a classroom setting (OfS price group D). These lower maximum fee and loan limits for foundation years will also depend on the provider’s OfS registration category, TEF and APP status. For example, for Approved (fee cap) providers with TEF and APP the fee cap will be lowered to £5,760. For courses where 50% or less is delivered in a classroom setting, the current fee and loan limit will remain as is. GOV.UK provides guidance for HE providers on tuition fees for foundation years in the 2025 to 2026 academic year.

Q6: If a student needs to repeat a full year of their course or part of a year, how would this be funded?

A: A student's fee loan funding for repeat study would be taken from their residual entitlement balance, except in cases of compelling personal reasons (CPR). In cases where CPR are present, we will add the cost of the affected study back on the learner’s LLE balance for study affected. Special additional entitlement will also be available for learners on longer courses who need to repeat study for reasons in their own control. We will share further details on this in due course.

Q7: Will loans to help students with living costs still be available when the LLE is brought in?

A: Maintenance funding will be provided for all courses that qualify for LLE loan funding, if the course is not a distance learning course. Maintenance loans are designed to help students with living costs while they study. There is a maximum limit based on a student’s course features, living location, personal eligibility and household income. This will broadly remain the same as the current criteria.

Q8: What courses, in scope of the LLE, will attract maintenance support?

A: Maintenance loans will be available for all designated courses and modules that are not distance learning courses.

• Maintenance support will be subject to personal criteria such as household income, and these criteria will broadly remain the same as now.
• As now, maintenance support will be available for distance learning students who are unable to attend a course in person for a reason related to their disability.

Extra financial help will also be available for:

• learners with disabilities
• support with childcare

Q9: Will there be equivalent or lower qualification restrictions under the LLE?

A: The LLE will remove the existing equivalent or lower qualifications rule meaning that students can use their entitlement to fund further tuition fee costs. This is regardless of any prior qualifications they’ve attained (subject to having sufficient entitlement left).

Q10: What will happen to Advanced Learner Loan funding at level 4 to 6?

A: Some level 4 to 6 courses offered by providers not registered with the Office for Students (OfS) will be eligible for extended Advanced Learner Loan funding in the 2025/26 to 2029/30 academic years.

Q11: How will LLE funding work for modules?

A: Modular funding will be available for modules starting from 1 January 2027. This will be for modules of higher technical qualifications (HTQs) and level 4, 5 and 6 modules from full level 6 qualifications which address priority skills gaps and meet the government’s industrial strategy in:

• computing
• engineering
• architecture, building and planning (excluding the landscape gardening subgroup)
• chemistry
• physics and astronomy
• mathematical sciences
• economics
• nursing and midwifery
• health and social care
• allied health

This list will remain under review and may be amended.

To be eligible for funding, modules must be:

• part of an existing designated full course, its ‘parent course’
• at least 30 credits, or a bundle of modules from the same ‘parent course’ equalling at least 30 credits
• have a single qualification level which should be level 4, 5 or 6 to determine if they are eligible for funding
• assessed and given a standardised transcript when they’re completed, to support credit transfer and facilitate labour market currency

Modules must not be delivered via franchise arrangements.

Examples of module bundles that equal at least 30 credits are:

• two 20-credit modules (40 credits)
• one 10-credit module and a 20-credit module (30 credits)
• two 15-credit modules (30 credits)
• three 10-credit modules (30 credits)

Unless they wish to, there is no need for providers to redesign their course structures if they do not already operate on a 30-credit basis.

This funding will only be available to students living and studying in England at a provider registered with the Office for Students (OfS). Eligible students will be able to apply for LLE funding for modules from September 2026.

Q12: Is franchising allowed under LLE?

A: At launch of LLE English providers can franchise out full courses to registered and non-registered English providers, however modular courses cannot be franchised out.

Q13: How will credits help determine the fee limits in LLE?

A: The fee limit will relate to the amount of study in the course, rather than the time spent studying. A credit-based method for setting fee limits will be introduced. This will work across all courses and modules funded by the LLE, regardless of whether they’re studied on a full-time, part-time, or accelerated basis.

Q1: How will repayments work for LLE?

A: Students must start repaying their loan once they’ve left their course and earn more than a certain amount. This amount is known as the repayment threshold. A student’s repayments will depend on what they earn over the threshold; not the total amount that's owed. Repayment of LLE loans will follow the repayment terms and conditions of Plan 5, introduced on 1 August 2023 for academic year 2023/2024 onwards.

This means that repayments will only start once a student earns more than £25,000 a year before tax, equal to £2,083 a month or £480 per week. The amount repaid is 9%, or 9p for every £1, of a learner's gross salary over the repayment threshold. For most, this is automatically deducted from their salary at the same time as tax and National Insurance. Repayments continue unless:

• students have repaid their loan
• a student's salary drops below the threshold
• a 40-year period has passed since the loan entered repayment status
• the borrower receives a disability-related benefit and because of the disability is permanently unfit to work and the loan is cancelled

Those with an existing undergraduate student loan, who then choose to use the residual entitlement they have left under the LLE to fund further undergraduate level study, will continue to make a single repayment of 9% of their gross salary above the repayment threshold.

Q1: Will providers need to capture a record of their students’ learning?

A: All universities, colleges and other providers currently record a student's achievements in some form. To support the LLE, the government will introduce a standardised transcript template. This will capture a student’s assessed achievements under the new credit-based system.

When a student completes a module, they'll have evidence that they can use when entering a new course or module, or to share with employers. This evidence can also be used to transfer between university, college or training centre.

Q2: Will registration be required for each module?

A: Yes, for all individual modules we will need providers to confirm registration.

Q3: Who makes the final award when a student with aggregated modular study is enrolled on a course to complete all modules of a full qualification?

A: This is not really for the student finance system to determine. The university or college will make an offer for a full award or modular components, at their discretion. Either way, the student will be able to take out fee loan support to the value of the remaining credits being studied, assuming they have sufficient LLE balance available.  

Q1: As a Welsh provider do I need to register with OfS?

A: OfS is the independent regulator of higher education in England, therefore, Welsh providers need not register.

Education is a devolved matter. The government will work closely with partners in the devolved administrations towards the LLE rollout from 2027.

Q2: If a provider wants to extend delivery beyond its current ALL offering, will they need to change to an existing registration category?

A: Yes, a provider would need to register with the Office for Students (OfS).

Q3: What should providers do if they are not currently registered with OfS?

A: To access the LLE from 1 January 2027, providers must be registered in one of the OfS registration categories. To find out more about registering with the OfS, visit the OfS website.

Q4: For providers in Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland how will the implementation of LLE impact their course submission?

A: Providers in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, with new England domiciled students from January of AY 2026/27 will be impacted by the introduction of the LLE. To allow new England domiciled students from January AY 2026/27 to access LLE funding, regardless of where they are studying in the UK, providers need to submit an LLE version of the course so that students can be assessed correctly. More information on course submission will follow in due course.

Q1: SLC currently pays providers on a 25/25/50 split across a standard 3 academic terms in HE, and in monthly instalments for Advanced Learner Loans. What is the arrangement under the LLE?

A: We are currently analysing various delivery options to address the new payment needs for the LLE. Using and building upon our existing student finance infrastructure and platforms to deliver the LLE will help improve delivery timescales.

Q2: Will there be system changes under the Student Information Service (SIS)?

A: Yes, there will be changes to SIS export and upload functions. Work is progressing to issue technical specifications in August and November. 

Q3: How will SLC interact with employers under the LLE?

A: The main interactions with employers will be through education providers. SLC is developing resources to help employers understand the repayment system. It would only be by exception that SLC staff would directly support employer/provider engagements. The loan contract will remain between SLC and the employee/student.  

Q4: Is SLC communicating with my IT supplier?

A: SLC has a mailing list of all IT suppliers and known contacts at providers that supply IT systems internally. Any communications to IT suppliers will be copied out to all our HEP contacts, so please help by forwarding our comms to known IT contacts you have, as a precaution.