Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE)

The Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE) is a UK Government scheme offering flexible access to student finance throughout your life
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Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE)

The Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE) is a UK Government scheme offering flexible access to student finance throughout your life
The Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE) is a new UK Government funding scheme intended to provide greater flexibility in accessing student finance throughout your lifetime.
The information and proposed timelines below are based on current government guidance and may change. This page will be updated as further details become available.

What is LLE?

The Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE) is a UK Government initiative created to give individuals more adaptable ways to finance higher education and training across their lives. It is designed to improve access to higher education and support ongoing learning, whether you are developing new skills, retraining, or returning to study at different points in your career.
Under current proposals, eligible learners may be able to access funding equivalent to up to four years of higher education study. This funding could be used in different ways over time, such as completing a full qualification or gradually building credits through smaller modules or short courses.
The LLE is expected to apply only to approved courses and study modes, as defined by the UK Government and the Student Loans Company (SLC). Not all courses or study options will be included.
Eligibility, course coverage, and the level of funding available will be determined by Student Finance England / the Student Loans Company, not by universities.

What the LLE is designed to do?

The aim of the LLE is to make higher education more flexible and accessible. Subject to government policy and individual eligibility, the LLE is intended to support learners to:
  • study at various stages of life: complete a full qualification in one period or spread learning across modules, short courses or professional development programmes 
  • develop or change skills over time: build on existing knowledge or retrain for a new career path 
  • access financial support: contribute towards eligible tuition fees and, where applicable, maintenance support.

What the LLE will fund?

The Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE) is expected to provide funding primarily for tuition fees on approved higher education courses and modules at Levels 4 to 6. This includes full qualifications, such as undergraduate degrees, as well as shorter courses that can be studied flexibly over time. Funding will generally be limited to an individual’s overall LLE entitlement, with learners able to draw on this across their lifetime for eligible study. 
Students enrolled on designated priority courses (including Medicine and Dentistry, Nursing, Midwifery, Allied Health Professions, Initial Teacher Training and Social Work) are expected to be able to access the full amount of tuition fee loan required to complete their course, even where this exceeds the standard LLE entitlement.

Will maintenance support be available?

Under current proposals, the Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE) may include access to maintenance support to help with living costs while studying, such as accommodation, food, and travel. The availability of maintenance loans is expected to depend on factors such as your mode of study (for example, full-time or part-time), course intensity, and personal circumstances, including household income. As with existing student finance, any maintenance loan would need to be repaid and would form part of your overall student loan balance. Full details on eligibility, amounts and how maintenance support will operate under the LLE are still to be confirmed by the UK Government.

When will the LLE be available?

It is currently expected that applications for LLE funding will open from September 2026, for eligible courses or modules beginning from January 2027. These dates are based on current government plans and may change.

How will repayments work?

Full repayment arrangements for the Lifelong Learning Entitlement have not yet been confirmed by the government. It is expected that repayment terms will vary depending on the type of loan taken and personal circumstances such as income. Different repayment thresholds, rates and loan conditions may apply.
For the most accurate and up-to-date information on eligibility, applications, funding amounts, repayment terms and how the LLE may apply to you, please refer to the .