Attendance Management

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?

(Updated 5 November 2025)

A: For year 1 of the LLE, academic year 2026/27, tuition fee payment instalments will be made to providers in respect of the number of quarters (13-week intervals) between the start and end date of the specific year of the course. This starts on the first day of study as recorded on CMS, and ends with the last day of study as recorded on CMS, inclusive of any holiday periods within these study periods, but exclusive of any holiday periods that fall after the final study day. This will mean a minimum of 1 payment, and a potential maximum of 4 payments are made for each course year.

The total tuition fee loan for the year will be split evenly across each instalment. This would exclude a course year that qualifies for three instalments where the established 25% / 25% / 50% payment split will apply.

Payment dates under this model will be scheduled based on traditional HE student finance payment points with sequencing relative to the appropriate AY quarter in which the course start date falls.

All Tuition Fee Loan payments will remain subject to a positive confirmation of attendance.

This table illustrates the sequencing of TFL payments under the TFS payments model for service year 1 of the LLE:

Under the current HESF system, the July payment date is only used in respect of summer AY quarter start courses. This will continue to be the position under the LLE.

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.

Q5: Do the tuition fee instalment points define the maximum fee that a provider may charge at each point? Or can providers charge according to the number of credits studied, with the SLC releasing the outstanding balance should a student withdraw?

(Added 27 February 2026)

A: Tuition Fee Loan payments are made in set instalments. Each instalment is a pre‑determined percentage of the total tuition fee for that course year.

If a student leaves their course before the end of the year, the provider will receive an amount that reflects the number of credits the student is liable for at the time they withdraw. Providers are responsible for determining the number of credits a student is liable for when they leave.

If a provider determines that the student has studied more credits than the value of the tuition‑fee payments already received, the provider must submit a Change of Circumstances notification. They must state the number of credits they consider chargeable at the point of withdrawal.

If the chargeable amount is higher than the amount already paid, the outstanding balance will be scheduled for an additional payment.