Student finance is changing. From January 2027, the Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE) will become the new way students in England access funding for higher education.
The LLE is designed to give you more flexibility, making it easier to study when the time is right for you, whether that’s straight after school, later in your career, or alongside work and other commitments. In this blog, we break down exactly how student finance works under the new system, how to apply and when, and who's eligible.
What is the Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE)?
The LLE is the new student finance system which helps you pay for your studies by providing access to both a Tuition Fee Loan and, for courses with in-person teaching, a Maintenance Loan to help with everyday living costs.
The LLE gives you more choice over how and when you study, helping you gain new skills, change career direction, progress in your role or achieve personal goals. The LLE is all about making higher education more flexible, accessible, and tailored to your future plans.
In short: Student Finance – the LLE – is designed to make higher education more accessible by helping cover both tuition fees and the extra costs that can come with studying.
When does the LLE launch?
The LLE applies to courses starting on or after 1 January 2027, including September 2027 entry, and applications are open now. If you’re already studying and have student finance in place under the current system, you’ll keep your existing funding arrangements.
What can you use the LLE for?
The LLE can fund a wide range of higher education courses, including:
- Full qualifications at levels 4 to 6, such as degrees
- Eligible online and distance learning courses
- Foundation years that form part of a bachelor's degree (for instance, many of St Mary’s 3-year BA or BSc programmes )
- Postgraduate teacher training courses, including PGCEs
- Other selected higher education courses, which you can find listed on gov.uk
Who is eligible for student finance through the LLE?
Whether you can receive student finance through the LLE depends on a few things, including:
- The course you want to study
- Your nationality and residency status
- Any previous higher education study you’ve completed
- Your age (you must normally be under 60 when your course starts)
The LLE is available to both new students and returning learners, making it easier to start or continue your HE journey.
What if I’m studying part-time, online, or through modules?
The LLE has been designed to support more flexible ways of learning. This means eligible students can study:
- Individual modules
- Short courses
- Part-time courses
If you’re studying remotely, Maintenance Loan support is usually only available if you’re unable to attend in person due to a disability. Different funding rules apply if you’re on a placement year or receiving support through another funding scheme.
I’m over 60, will I receive any financial support?
If you’re aged 60 and over when your course starts, you won’t normally be eligible for a Tuition Fee Loan through the LLE.
However, you may still qualify for support with living costs through a means-tested Maintenance Loan, depending on your circumstances.
If you’re considering returning to education later in life, it’s worth checking the latest Government guidance to understand
I’m returning to study; can I still receive a loan?
If you’ve studied at university before and received student finance, you may still be eligible for funding through the LLE. However, the amount you can borrow could be reduced depending on how much funding you’ve already used.
Not sure if you’re eligible? The best way to find out is to check the latest government guidance, or , who can help you understand what funding may be available to you.
How much does university cost in England?
For the 2027/28 academic year, university tuition fees in England are:
- £10,050 full-time
- £7,530 part-time
- £12,060 accelerated
What student loans are available in England?
If you’re studying at university in England, there are two main types of student finance that can help you cover the cost of studying:
- Tuition Fee Loan – helps pay your university tuition fees
- Maintenance Loan – helps with everyday living costs while you study
Under the LLE, you can use this funding to support either a qualification or eligible modules and course studied over time.
To be eligible for Tuition Fee and Maintenance Loans, you’ll generally need to be studying at least 30 credits in an academic year. For context, a typical full-time bachelor’s degree year is worth 120 credits.
Tuition Fee Loan
A Tuition Fee Loan covers the cost of your course, so you don’t need to pay tuition fees upfront. It’s paid directly to your university and isn’t affected by your household income.
You can use your Tuition Fee Loan for courses such as:
- A bachelor’s degree
- A foundation degree
- A foundation year (if it forms part of a bachelor’s degree)
- An integrated master’s degree
- A PGCE
If your course is longer than usual or leads to a priority profession, you may be able to get extra funding on top of your standard entitlement.
How many years of student finance can I get?
If you’re a new learner, you can borrow up to £39,160 in Tuition Fee Loans – roughly equivalent to four years of full-time undergraduate study (480 credits). You can use this across different courses throughout your life, not just in one go.
Because the entitlement is a cash amount rather than a fixed number of years, it could stretch to more than 480 credits if you choose courses with a lower cost per credit.
You’re a new learner if you haven’t previously received government funding for higher education, or an Advanced Learner Loan for a level 4 to 6 course. If you have, you may have less entitlement left.
Priority additional entitlement
Some courses lead directly into professions where there is a national skills need. If you’re studying one of these subjects, you may be able to access Priority additional entitlement (PAE) funding to complete your qualification:
- Medicine
- Nutrition
- Physiotherapy
- Teacher training
- Social work
Special additional entitlement
Special additional entitlement (SAE) will give learners access to funding for longer courses that are not priority subjects, such as veterinary surgery and architecture. This will also include students taking foundation years, studying abroad, and going on a work placement.
Maintenance Loan
A Maintenance Loan helps with the day-to-day costs of being a student, including rent and accommodation costs, food and groceries, travel expenses, and study materials.
Unlike the Tuition Fee Loan, the amount you receive is based on your individual circumstances, including where you live and your household income.
How much Maintenance Loan will I get?
The amount of Maintenance Loan you receive will depend on several factors, including:
- Where you live during your studies
- Whether you study in London or elsewhere in the UK
- Your household income
- Whether you study full-time, part-time or through individual modules
- Your age and personal circumstances
Students who:
- Live away from home may receive more support than those living with parents or carers
- Study in London may receive a higher loan because of the increased cost of living
- Study abroad as part of their course may receive different levels of support
- Receive certain bursaries, such as NHS funding, may receive a reduced Maintenance Loan
One of the key changes under the LLE is that there will no longer be separate maintenance funding systems for full-time and part-time students. This is intended to create a fairer and more flexible approach to student finance, particularly for learners studying alongside work or other commitments.
The most accurate way to estimate the funding you may receive using the .
How household income affects your Maintenance Loan
For most students, household income plays an important role in determining how much Maintenance Loan they can receive.
In general:
- Students from lower-income households can access a higher level of support
- Students from higher-income households may receive a lower loan amount
- If household income information isn’t provided, only the minimum Maintenance Loan is usually available – so make sure to speak to your parent, carer, partner, or supporter where possible when submitting your application.
Household income assessments work similarly to the current student finance system and are designed to ensure support goes to those who need it most.
Remember: Your household income affects the amount of Maintenance Loan, but it does not affect your eligibility for a Tuition Fee Loan.
Do my parents or carers have to help pay for university?
The student finance system assumes that students from higher-income households will receive some financial support from their family, and so a lower Maintenance Loan may be awarded.
Tip: Every family’s circumstance is different, so it’s worth having an open conversation – where possible – with your family about finances before starting university.
Additional sources of student finance
You may also be able to get extra funding support if you:
- Have a disability or additional support needs (read more about the )
- Need help covering childcare costs
- Require assistance with travel expenses
I have dependants, can I receive extra funding?
If you have children or adult dependents, you may be able to access additional financial support alongside your student finance package.
Extra support may be available to help with:
- Childcare costs
- Adult dependents who rely on your financial support
- Additional costs related to a disability or long-term health condition
The exact support available will depend on your individual circumstances and the student finance regulations in place when you start your course.
Tip: If you're balancing study with family responsibilities, it’s worth exploring early, as there may be additional grants, bursaries, or university-specific funding you can apply for.
How to apply for student finance
Applying for student finance is usually a straightforward online process.
Applying for student finance step-by-step
- Check your eligibility and the course funding available to you. You’ve started this by reading this guide but check out the too.
- Create a
- Complete your application and provide all requested evidence
- Submit your household income information (if you’re applying for a Maintenance Loan)
- Receive confirmation of the funding you’re entitled to
- Important: make sure to enrol on your course when you arrive!
- Receive your Maintenance Loan payments once your enrolment has been confirmed.
Tip: Don’t worry if you’re not sure on the university you want to put down. This can be amended at a later stage. Put down the university you’re aiming to get into.
When should I apply for student finance?
It’s best to apply as early as possible once applications open, even if you’re still deciding where to study. Applying early helps ensure your funding is in place before your course begins.
Applications for 2027 entry open are open now. If your plans change, you can update your application later.
Tip: You don’t need to wait until you’ve received all your university offers before applying.
Applying from Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, or Ireland
Student finance arrangements can vary depending on where you normally live.
If you’re from:
- Wales – apply through Student Finance Wales
- Scotland – apply through the Student Awards Agency Scotland
- Northern Ireland – apply through Student Finance Northern Ireland
- Ireland – funding arrangements depend on your residency status and eligibility criteria
Tip: If you’re unsure which funding organisation you should apply through, the general rule is that you apply through the finance body linked to where you normally live, rather than where you plan to study.
How do the payments work, and how do I repay?
Once your application has been approved:
- Your Tuition Fee Loan will be paid directly to your university when your course starts and you’ve enrolled
- Your Maintenance Loan will be paid into your bank account when your course starts and you’ve enrolled
How many times does student finance pay you?
Maintenance Loans are usually paid directly into your bank account in three instalments during the academic year, typically at the beginning of each term. It’s important , as your Maintenance Loan is intended to cover your costs until the next instalment is paid.
How do I repay the loan? And how much will I be expected to pay?
One of the biggest misconceptions about student finance is that it works like a traditional loan. In reality, repayments are linked to what you earn, not what you owe. You’ll only start making repayments once your income is above the repayment threshold.
Under the current LLE plans, graduate will repay 9% of earnings above £25,000 a year. Repayments are automatically deducted through payroll, similar to tax, and if your income falls below the threshold, repayments stop. Any remaining balance will be written off after 40 years.
Myth-busting student finance
Here are the top student finance myths debunked:
- "A student loan will affect my credit score." - UK student loans don’t appear on your credit file and don’t directly affect your credit score. However, mortgage lenders will usually take your student loan repayments into account when assessing what you can afford to borrow. They’re interested in your monthly income and outgoings, rather than how much debt you have.
- "I can't afford university." - Student finance is designed so that most students don't pay tuition fees upfront and can access support with living costs while they study. University is more affordable than many people think. You only repay your loan once you earn over the threshold, and there are various scholarships and bursaries available that you don’t need to pay back.
- "I need to have all the money before I start university." - Most students don't pay tuition fees upfront. Student finance is designed to help cover course costs and contribute towards living expenses while you study.
- "Only students from low-income households get student finance." - Most eligible students can access a Tuition Fee Loan regardless of household income. Household income mainly affects the amount of Maintenance Loan available.
Still have questions about student finance?
Understanding student finance can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re applying for the first time or supporting a young person or friend through the process. The good news is, we’re here to help.
Find out more about that's available to you, explore our , or now.
If you’re a teacher or adviser, you can also reach out to our Schools and Colleges Team who deliver to help explain this system to your learners.