The Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE) is the new Student Finance system in England for courses starting on or after 1 January 2027. Instead of counting years, it gives you a lifetime Tuition Fee Loan entitlement, measured in credits, plus Maintenance Loans for living costs. What you can get depends on your eligibility and circumstances. You must be under 60 when your course starts to get a Tuition Fee Loan.
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The LLE in 30 seconds
| Question | Answer (from GOV.UK) |
|---|---|
| Which courses? | Courses and modules starting on or after 1 January 2027 |
| How much tuition money? | Up to £39,160 for new learners (4 years at £9,790) |
| Living costs? | Maintenance Loan, separate from the £39,160 |
| Age limit? | Under 60 on the first day of the course for a Tuition Fee Loan |
| Studied before? | Funding you had is taken off; you keep what is left |
| When to apply? | From the end of October 2026, with a new account |
| Who gets the tuition money? | Your university or college, directly |
Source: Lifelong Learning Entitlement overview, GOV.UK.
Who the LLE applies to
If your course starts on or after 1 January 2027, you will usually apply for Student Finance through the LLE. That includes January 2027 starts on degrees with a foundation year. It covers most courses from level 4 to 6, such as bachelor's degrees, foundation degrees and Higher Technical Qualifications, some level 7 courses such as a PGCE, and some courses that used to be funded by Advanced Learner Loans.
The loans still have the same names: Tuition Fee Loan and Maintenance Loan. What changes is how much you can have and how it is measured.
How the Tuition Fee Loan works under the LLE
- A lifetime entitlement that you can use for a full course, or split across several courses over time.
- Funding per credit: the amount for each year depends on how many credits you study and your university's fee.
- Extra entitlement may be available for courses with a foundation year, placement or year abroad, for courses of 5 years or more, and for priority subjects such as nursing, midwifery, teaching and social work.
GOV.UK's overview says new learners get up to £39,160, equal to four years of study at the 2026 to 2027 maximum fee of £9,790 (LLE overview, GOV.UK). You must study at least 30 credits in a course year to get a loan. Your university sets its fee, and the loan is paid to it directly. Student Finance England decides what you can get. Current figures are on gov.uk: what student loans you can get.
Credits, not years
Every eligible course is worth a number of credits. One credit is about 10 hours of learning, and a full-time year is usually 120 credits. You normally need to study between 30 and 180 credits a year to get funding. This is what lets you study a full degree, or shorter courses and modules, and use your entitlement over time.
If you have studied before
Any government funding you have had for tuition fees before is taken off your entitlement. The upside is that you can now be eligible even if you have studied before, including for a second undergraduate degree, as long as you have entitlement left. Since September 2026 your online Student Finance account can show an estimate of what you have left, without you having to apply.
Low-balance rule: GOV.UK says if you have less than £1,587.50 of tuition entitlement left (2026 to 2027 rates), you can only get a Maintenance Loan if you use that remaining balance on the course, and you may have to pay any fees above it yourself.
Age and status
You must be under 60 on the first day of your course to get a Tuition Fee Loan. If you are 60 or over, you may be able to get a loan to help with living costs. If you have pre-settled status, GOV.UK says you "may only be eligible for a Tuition Fee Loan and not a Maintenance Loan" (eligibility, GOV.UK). You also need to meet the status and residence rules: see am I eligible for Student Finance.
Maintenance Loans
Maintenance Loans help with living costs and are paid into your bank account. If you give your household income details you may get more than the minimum; if you choose not to, you can still apply for the minimum Maintenance Loan. The amount also depends on where you live while you study, for example in London. Your first payment arrives once your university confirms you have registered.
Repayments
LLE loans use Plan 5. GOV.UK says you repay 9% of your earnings above £25,000 a year (£2,083 a month), repayments stop if you earn less than that, and anything left is cancelled after 40 years. Repayments are taken through your pay, like tax. The current terms are on gov.uk.
Grants and extra help still exist
Disabled Students' Allowance, the Childcare Grant, Parents' Learning Allowance and Adult Dependants' Grant continue under the LLE. See grants for mature students.
What this means if you start in January 2027
If you are an adult who has not studied at university before, you apply through the new system, and Student Finance England confirms what you can get based on your circumstances. If you have studied before, the new rules may open doors that were closed under the old "one degree" rule. Either way, it is worth checking your estimated balance before you choose a course. When you are ready, follow our step-by-step January 2027 application guide.
How Dream Wise can help
We help adults living in England choose a course, apply to university and prepare their Student Finance application under the new LLE rules. Our guidance is free to students. Student Finance England makes all decisions on eligibility and amounts. See how our Student Finance application help works.
Quick answers
What is the Lifelong Learning Entitlement?
It is the new Student Finance system in England for courses starting on or after 1 January 2027. It gives you a lifetime Tuition Fee Loan entitlement, measured in credits rather than years, plus Maintenance Loans. What you get depends on your eligibility and circumstances.
Does the LLE apply if I start university in January 2027?
Yes. If your course starts on or after 1 January 2027, you will usually apply for Student Finance through the Lifelong Learning Entitlement.
Can I get a second degree under the LLE?
You may be able to, as long as you have Tuition Fee Loan entitlement left. Any funding you had before is taken off, and Student Finance England confirms what you can get.
Is there an age limit for the LLE?
You must be under 60 on the first day of your course to get a Tuition Fee Loan. If you are 60 or over, you may be able to get a loan to help with living costs.
When do I repay LLE loans?
You only repay once you have left your course and earn over the repayment threshold set by government. You repay 9% of earnings above £25,000 a year, and anything left is cancelled after 40 years (GOV.UK).
Who decides what I get?
Student Finance England. Dream Wise is an independent consultancy and cannot decide or promise any outcome.
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This article is general information only, not financial or legal advice, and is not affiliated with Student Finance England, UCAS, any university or government body. Rules, amounts and processes can change. Always confirm current details at gov.uk and with the relevant provider. © 2026 Dream Wise Education Ltd.
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