Student Loans Company Opens Applications for New Lifelong Learning Entitlement

What was announced

On 30 October 2026, the Student Loans Company opened applications for the Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE). Learners living in England who plan to start qualifying undergraduate or postgraduate courses between 1 January 2027 and 31 August 2027 can now apply online.

The LLE replaces the old Student Finance England system for undergraduate study. It also covers postgraduate teaching and healthcare courses, as well as selected training previously funded by the Advanced Learner Loan. To apply, students need a GOV.UK One Login account to confirm their identity. Applications for the 2027 to 2028 academic year will open in Spring 2027.

What it means

Students entering the new system can access different types of financial support depending on how many credits they take. A standard year of full-time degree study equals 120 credits. Learners who have never taken student finance before get a baseline tuition loan allowance of up to £39,160, which covers around 480 credits. Anyone who previously received student loans will have that historical funding subtracted from their LLE limit.

Eligible students can also apply for up to £15,415 per year in maintenance loans to help cover living costs. The exact maintenance sum varies based on credit count, living arrangements, and household income. Low-income, disabled, or parenting students may receive additional grants.

Repayment works under Plan 5 rules. Borrowers pay back money only after finishing or leaving a module or course and crossing the income threshold. Interest accrues from the first payout, and any balance remaining after 40 years from the initial April repayment date is written off.

What the announcement does not tell us

The announcement leaves several operational details unexplained. It does not list every specific postgraduate or former Advanced Learner Loan course that qualifies for LLE funding. Instead, it instructs applicants to search the main portal for full eligibility details.

The document does not detail how prior student funding is calculated or subtracted from the £39,160 cap for returning students. It also omits the exact earnings threshold figures for Plan 5 repayments or the precise interest rates applied from the first loan disbursement.