Courses included under the LLE

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
• foundation years available before some degree courses start, as long as these form part of an overall bachelor’s degree
• foundation degrees

It will fund all higher technical qualifications (HTQs), including both full courses and modules of those courses.

It will fund level 4, 5 and 6 modules from full level 6 parent qualifications – for example, degrees – in subject groups that address priority skills needs and align with the government’s industrial strategy. 

It will fund level 4 to 6 qualifications currently funded by Advanced Learner Loans, if there is clear learner demand and employer endorsement.

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: DfE invited providers intending to deliver modular provision to submit an expression of interest (EOI) last year, and a further EOI will launch later in 2026. Guidance on this process is now withdrawn as the window for EOI1 has closed, but some principles of the EOI1 will remain into the second EOI window. DfE intends to update guidance on EOI2 in due course and will notify providers when this is available.

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 September 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.