Who will be eligible for the LLE

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 at the start of their course may qualify for loans for living costs, though not a tuition fee loan. Eligibility criteria for the LLE will align to existing higher education student finance nationality and residency rules.

Q2: What are the eligibility rules for returning (continuing) students and students already in study when the LLE launches?

A: Students who began a course before 1 January 2027 will continue under the funding system they originally started with, such as Higher Education Student Finance (HESF) or the Advanced Learner Loan (ALL).
This also applies if they transfer to another course, provided the first year of the new course also begins before 1 January 2027. In these cases, they are not eligible to apply under the Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE).

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 body.

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.
So far we have delivered:

• LLE Funding Information Services (FIS) Webinar (September 2025)
• Regional seminars
• CMS Webinar (December 2025)
• Technical Specifications for CMS, SIS and BAS
• LLE Courses Service Definition
• FIS Webinar (March 2026)
• CMS functional training
• CMS user guidance
• LLE - Attendance Management and Change of Circumstances Service Definition
• LLE Service Level Agreement
• SIS functional training

And we are planning to deliver the following:

• LLE - Attendance Management and Change of Circumstances Service Definition
• CMS functional guidance
• SIS functional training
• SIS functional guidance
  
  

Q5: How long must a student be out of HE before they move from the current funding model to the LLE? 

A: The core rule for this is:

• where a student is studying on an HE course that commenced prior to 1 January 2027 then they will fall under existing Higher Education Student Finance (HESF) funding systems.
• where a student is studying an HE course that commenced on or after 1 January 2027 then they should apply under the LLE.

If a student takes a break in their studies and is deemed to be continuing on the same HE course that began before 1 January 2027, they will remain on the HESF funding model. If, after the break, the student is considered to be on a new HE course at an OfS registered provider that starts or started on or after 1 January 2027, they will move to the LLE. The funding model essentially depends on whether the HE course they are undertaking after the break is deemed a continuation of their original course or the start of a new one.
Additionally, students will be able to apply under the LLE if they are no longer in receipt of undergraduate HESF funding (subject to meeting eligibility qualifying conditions).