Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE)

What is the Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE)?

Tuition fee loans for your undergraduate degree are now called the Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE). In England, students will apply for LLE each year to Student Finance England. There is no change to the systems in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
What’s new is that loans will also be available for shorter study, such as modules. Every adult until the age of 60 will have a maximum amount they can borrow in their LLE account of £39,160 (based on 2026-27 levels).

Essentially, if you are planning on studying a standard degree (for example a 3-year undergraduate programme, or an undergraduate programme with an integrated foundation year or Masters year), the LLE changes very little in practice. You borrow roughly the same amount and follow the same repayment term as the current Plan 5.

The real change is for people who are applying for Recognition of Prior learning (RPL), repeating, studying in shorter chunks or retraining.

What courses can I use LLE for?

You may be eligible for LLE if you’re studying most qualifications from level 4 to 6, and some postgraduate level 7 courses. Eligible courses include:

• A bachelor’s degree
• A PGCE
• An integrated master’s degree
• A foundation year (as part of a bachelor’s degree for example BA Architecture with Foundation Year)
• Modules from level 6 qualifications
• Postgraduate Nursing
• Top up degrees.

If you are unsure whether your course qualifies for student finance through LLE, please get in touch with our Student Fees and Funding team studentfinance@gre.ac.uk.

When can I apply for LLE?

Applications for student funding through LLE open in September 2026 for courses starting from 1 January 2027.

How much can I borrow in for my tuition fees through LLE?

New students who have not previously received higher education funding can currently borrow up to a maximum of £39,160 (based on the 2026/27 academic year). This is equivalent to 4 years of undergraduate degree funding based on the current £9,790 per year fee.
Returning students may have residual entitlement, depending on their previous study.

Can I get a Maintenance Loan?

You will still be able to access maintenance loans if you meet these conditions:
*You attend your course in person
*You still have at least £1,587.50 left from your Tuition Fee Loan amount (if you are applying for the first time to a standard 3- or 4-year undergraduate degree, this will apply to you)
Distance learning courses are excluded.
The amount you receive will depend on where you live while you study and your household income, but it will now also consider the number of credits you study and how many weeks you study each year.

When do I have to start paying back my loans?

For courses starting from 1 January 2027, you’ll start repaying your loans from the April following your completion of the programme and when your income is more than £25,000 a year. You’ll repay 9% of the amount you earn over the income threshold. You’ll be charged 3.2% interest from the day the first loan payment is made to you or your university, until your loans are repaid in full or written off. Your loans will be written off 40 years after the April you’re first due to repay. See the gov.uk website for student finance for more information.

I’ve already had a tuition fee loan, can I apply for another loan?

Previous study at levels 4 to 6 is taken into consideration when assessing how much you could borrow. If you borrowed less than the maximum Lifelong Learning Entitlement, you will still be able to apply for loans up to the maximum of £39,160 (2026/27 figure). For example, if you only took a tuition fee loan for one year previously, you will be entitled to apply through LLE.

If I withdraw from my course, do I still have to pay my tuition fee loan back?

Yes, if you withdraw from your course you’ll still be charged therefore, you’ll still have a loan to repay. The fees charged is not dependent on completion of the credits, but the credits the student enrolled for and what the provider considers the student to have undertaken at the point they exit the course. For more information on tuition fees - see these helpful FAQs.

Can I study at two different universities at the same time?

Yes. A student can study at more than one higher education institution under the LLE. In theory a student could study 120 credits at one institution and 60 credits at another, or another variety of study.

What happens if I’ve deferred the start of my course from September 2026 to a later date?

If you defer your place from September 2026 to a later start date, the funding arrangements available to you may change depending on when your course begins and the government guidance in place at that time.

From 1 January 2027, the new Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE) student finance system is expected to apply to eligible new students. This means your funding may be assessed under the new arrangements rather than the current student finance system.

As guidance from the Department for Education and the Student Loans Company continues to develop, we recommend checking the latest information before confirming a deferral.

If you are considering deferring your studies, please contact the University’s Admissions or Student Finance team for advice specific to your circumstances.

Can I use LLE to fund one or two years of a full three-year degree?

Yes. You can use LLE to fund a top-up degree, for example, if you have already completed a relevant Level 4 or 5 qualification such as a Certificate or Diploma in Higher Education and wish to top up to a full bachelor's degree. Alternatively, if you have previously used some of your LLE allowance, you can use the rest to complete further higher education and then you will have the option to self-fund any studies on top of that which you have received funding for.