Lifelong Learning Entitlement Funding
The Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE) will transform the post-18 student finance system in England. From September 2025, learners will be able to apply for LLE funding for the first time for courses and modules commencing from January 2026 onwards. When fully rolled out, the LLE will create a single funding system to help people pay for college or university courses, and train, retrain and upskill flexibly over their working lives.
The LLE will allow people to develop new skills and gain new qualifications at a time that is right for them. This could be through a full-time degree, or individual modules, or other courses such as higher technical qualifications (HTQs).
From its launch, the LLE loan will be available for:
- full courses at level 4 to 6, such as a degrees, technical qualifications, and designated distance-learning and online courses
- modules of high-value technical courses at level 4 to 5
Under the LLE, eligible learners will be able to access:
- a tuition fees loan, with new learners able to access up to the full entitlement of £37,000, equal to 4 years of study in today’s fees
- a maintenance loan to cover living costs (only available for courses with in-person attendance)
Targeted maintenance grants will also be available for some groups such as learners with disabilities, or for support with childcare.
An additional entitlement may be available in certain cases – for example, for some priority subjects or longer courses such as medicine.
Learners will be able to see their loan balance through their own LLE personal account. This will help them make choices about the courses and learning pathways available.
