Courses included under the LLE

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

A: LLE learners will apply for their funding from the end of October 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:

• full courses at level 4 to 6, such as degrees, technical qualifications, and designated distance-learning and online courses
• postgraduate level courses currently funded by the higher education student finance system, including:
• postgraduate initial teacher training
• postgraduate diploma in healthcare
• postgraduate certificates in education
• integrated Master’s degrees
• foundation years (as long as these form part of an overall bachelor’s degree)
• modules from full level 6 qualifications such as degrees that align to:
• priority skills needs
• the government’s modern industrial strategy

It will fund level 4 to 6 qualifications currently funded by Advanced Learner Loans where a provider is registered with the OfS, if there is clear learner demand and employer endorsement. You can find the list of qualifications with LLE funding approval on GOV.UK.

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. For example, credits will need to be assigned to:

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

We’ll assign default credit values for non-credit bearing study. Fee limits for non-credit bearing course years will be the number of credits, multiplied by the per-credit fee limit.

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

A: The DfE has now published a list of approved providers from the first modular delivery expression of interest round. A second application round of the LLE modular funding expression of interest (EOI) will open in October 2026, for providers intending to deliver modules from September 2027. You can find further information on how to complete the expression of interest for LLE modular funding on GOV.UK.

It is important for providers interested in applying for LLE modular funding approval to note that, to be eligible for funding, modules must:

• be part of an existing designated full course, and its parent course delivered by the provider
• be worth at least 30 credits, or a bundle of modules from the same parent course equalling at least 30 credits
• have a single qualification level that should be level 4, 5 or 6 to determine if they are eligible for funding
• be assessed and given a standardised transcript when they’re completed, to support credit transfer and facilitate labour market currency
• not be delivered through franchised arrangements

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

Q4: Are foundation years funded?

A: Yes, foundation years that are integrated with an undergraduate course are regarded as specialist periods and will continue to form part of the designated courses under the LLE. For more information, please refer to the per-course amount section in the Tuition fee limits in the Lifelong Learning Entitlement - GOV.UK.

Q5: Why is there little mention of part-time courses? Are these included under the LLE?

A: The LLE uses a credit-based system to directly relate fee limits to the amount of study in the course, rather than the number of academic years that are studied, or their intensity. This will work across all higher-level courses and modules funded by the LLE, regardless of whether students study them on a full-time, part-time or accelerated basis.
We understand that providers will continue to describe and market their courses as full‑time or part‑time, and nothing in the LLE is intended to prevent this.

Q6: How will SLC interact with employers under 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.