The Lifelong Learning Entitlement explained

WarningThese are the rules for England in the 2026/27 academic year (1 August 2026 to 31 July 2027). They change each August.

The Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE) is a new way to pay for courses at Level 4, 5 and 6 in England. It starts with courses and modules that begin on or after 1 January 2027. Applications opened at the end of October 2026.

It’s a loan, not a grant. It replaces student finance loans and Advanced Learner Loans for most courses at these levels. You pay it back once you earn over a set amount.

What it is

The LLE gives each adult a lifetime limit of tuition fee loans, which you can use when you need them. You can use it for:

full courses at Level 4 to 6, such as degrees, foundation degrees, HNCs and HNDs
Higher Technical Qualifications (HTQs) at Level 4 and 5
modules, which are parts of a course you can study on their own (at launch, mostly HTQ modules and some Level 6 modules in subjects with skills gaps)
some Level 7 courses, such as integrated master’s degrees and some teaching qualifications

You can study full time, part time or a module at a time. This is the big change: before, you usually had to sign up for a whole course to get a loan.

How much you can get

If you’ve never had government tuition funding before, you can borrow up to £39,160. That’s the same as 4 years of study at the highest tuition fee for 2026/27, which is £9,790 a year.

Some things to know:

It’s counted in credits. You can use up to 180 credits a year, and you must study at least 30 credits in a year to get a loan.
Previous funding counts. If you’ve had student finance before, it’s usually taken off your £39,160. If you didn’t pay tuition fees before, the amount you would have paid is taken off at today’s value. Say you had loans for a 3-year degree. You’d have roughly one year’s worth left, but Student Finance England works out the exact figure.
Some subjects get extra. Some longer or priority courses, such as medicine, nursing and social work, can get more.

Who can get it

You can usually get an LLE tuition fee loan if:

you’re under 60 on the first day of your course
you normally live in England
you’ve lived in the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man for 3 years before your course starts (some people with other immigration status can also apply)
your course or module is approved, and your provider is registered with the Office for Students

You may be asked about your household income if you apply for help with living costs.

Living costs

If you study in person, you may be able to get a maintenance loan for living costs too. You may also be able to get a grant or allowance if you’re on a low income, are disabled or have children.

If you study by distance learning, you usually can’t get a maintenance loan. There are some exceptions, so check with Student Finance England. Disabled Students’ Allowance is available for courses or modules of 30 credits or more.

Paying it back

LLE loans are paid back on Plan 5:

You start paying when you earn over £25,000 a year before tax (£2,083 a month).
You pay 9% of what you earn over that amount. If you earn £30,000, that’s about £37 a month.
If your income drops below £25,000, your payments stop.
Anything left after 40 years is cancelled.

Interest is added to your balance even when you’re not repaying. The Plan 5 rate is currently 4.1% (checked 20 October 2026) and can change.

How to apply

Check the course. Ask your college or university if the course or module is approved for LLE funding.
Make a new account. You need a new Student Finance England account for the LLE, even if you already have one.
Apply for each course or module. You apply separately for each one, and again for each year of a longer course.
Apply in time. You can apply after your course starts, but there’s a deadline. It’s the end of the ninth month of your course year, or the day your course ends if that’s sooner.

If you can’t apply online, contact Student Finance England. They can help you apply, including with a form.

If you’d have used an Advanced Learner Loan

For courses at Level 4 to 6 that start on or after 1 January 2027, the LLE replaces the Advanced Learner Loan. LLE funding is only for providers registered with the Office for Students, so if yours isn’t, ask them how your course is funded. For Level 3 courses, the Advanced Learner Loan carries on as before.

Next steps

Ready to apply? Read Lifelong Learning Entitlement: applications now open.
Thinking about studying part time or by distance learning? Read part-time degrees and modules from January 2027.
Not sure which funding fits your course? See all funding for adult courses.

Check if you can get a course for free

Whether you can study for free depends on the course you choose and on finding a provider that can fund you. So start with the course:

Choose a course you're interested in.
Answer a few quick questions in the "Am I eligible?" check on its page.
See whether you're likely to be eligible, and which providers offer that course.

Find a free course

Or choose a subject:

The check is a guide, not a promise. The provider makes the final decision.

Questions

When can I apply for the Lifelong Learning Entitlement?

Now. Applications opened at the end of October 2026, through Student Finance England. They're for courses and modules that start on or after 1 January 2027.

Is the Lifelong Learning Entitlement free money?

No. It's a loan. You pay it back through your wages once you earn over £25,000 a year before tax. If you never earn over that amount, you don't pay anything.

I already have a degree. Can I still use it?

You may be able to. The government takes off what you've already had in tuition funding, and you can use what's left. For example, if you had loans for a 3-year degree, you'd have roughly one year's worth left, but Student Finance England works out the exact figure.

Can I get a loan for living costs if I study online?

Usually not. Maintenance loans for living costs are for courses you attend in person. Distance learning courses don't get them. There are some exceptions, for example for some disabled students, so check with Student Finance England.

I'm 60. Can I use it?

You can't get a tuition fee loan if you're 60 or over on the first day of your course. You may still be able to get help with living costs.

I started my course in 2026. Do I need to switch?

No. If your course started before 1 January 2027, you stay on the current student finance system for that course. Use your existing Student Finance England account.

Sources

Last reviewed: 20 October 2026

Cookies on adulteducation.org.uk