Overview
The Lifelong Studying Entitlement ( LLE ) will remodel the post-18 scholar finance system in England. From September 2025, it’ll create a single funding system to assist individuals pay for faculty or college programs, and practice, retrain and upskill flexibly over their working lives.
The LLE will permit individuals to develop new expertise and achieve new {qualifications} at a time that’s proper for them. This might be by way of a full-time diploma, or particular person modules, or different programs (like increased technical {qualifications}).
From the 2025 to 2026 tutorial 12 months, the LLE mortgage shall be accessible for:
full programs at degree 4 to degree 6, equivalent to a level or technical {qualifications}
modules of high-value technical programs at degree 4 to degree 5
Beneath the LLE , eligible learners will be capable of entry:
a tuition charges mortgage, with new learners in a position to entry as much as the total entitlement of £37,000, equal to 4 years of research in at this time’s charges
a upkeep mortgage – to cowl residing prices
Focused upkeep grants will even be accessible for some teams equivalent to learners with disabilities, or for help with childcare.
An extra entitlement could also be accessible in sure circumstances – for instance, for some precedence topics or longer programs equivalent to medication.
Learners will be capable of see their mortgage stability by way of their very own LLE private account. This may assist them make selections concerning the programs and studying pathways accessible.
Why we want the LLE
The federal government’s ambition is for each scholar, with the aptitude and the need, to get the help they should pursue higher-level studying. It desires to provide learners an actual selection in life, and to not really feel like there is just one route, or one shot at success. Many learners must entry programs in a extra versatile method, to suit research round work, household and private commitments in response to employers’ wants.
In 2019, an unbiased panel chaired by Sir Philip Augar revealed its report ‘Assessment of Publish-18 Schooling and Funding’. This contained a sequence of suggestions together with the introduction of the LLE . When the Prime Minister introduced the Lifetime Talent Assure within the Expertise for jobs: lifelong studying for alternative and development white paper (revealed January 2021), the LLE was certainly one of its principal commitments.
Who shall be eligible for the LLE
The LLE shall be accessible to new and returning learners. For returning learners, the quantity they’ll borrow shall be lowered relying on the funding they’ve beforehand acquired to help research. LLE tuition loans shall be accessible for individuals as much as the age of 60. Learners who’re over 60 should still qualify for upkeep help, although not a tuition payment mortgage. Eligibility standards for the LLE will monitor current HE scholar finance nationality and residency guidelines.
Programs included below the LLE
The LLE shall be accessible for each full years of research at increased technical and diploma ranges (ranges 4 to six), and modules of technical programs of clear worth to employers. Because of this, from tutorial 12 months 2025 to 2026, the LLE will fund:
full years of research of programs presently funded by HE scholar finance – in addition to conventional levels, this consists of: postgraduate certificates in schooling ( PGCE ) built-in grasp’s levels (a 4 12 months programme which awards a grasp’s diploma on prime of a bachelor’s diploma) the muse 12 months accessible earlier than a point programs begin
scholar finance – in addition to conventional levels, this consists of: all increased technical {qualifications} ( HTQs ), together with each full programs and modules of these programs
), together with each full programs and modules of these programs {qualifications} presently funded by superior learner loans the place there may be clear learner demand and employer endorsement
modules of some technical {qualifications} at ranges 4 and 5 presently funded by way of superior learner loans with a transparent line of sight to an occupational map and proof of employer demand
The federal government will take a phased method to supply modular funding. We count on to broaden modular funding to modules of extra programs from the 2027 to 2028 tutorial 12 months .
Credit
The federal government is introducing a good and constant credit-based methodology for setting payment limits that may work throughout all higher-level programs and modules the LLE funds. That is no matter whether or not college students research them on a full-time, part-time, or accelerated foundation. Because of this the payment restrict will straight relate to the quantity of research within the course, quite than the variety of tutorial years that are studied. Credit are already utilized in HE and FE to document and measure the quantity of studying a scholar completes.
Mortgage entitlement
New learners (those that haven’t but acquired authorities help to undertake higher-level studying) will be capable of entry a full entitlement equal to 4 years of full-time tuition. That is presently equal to £37,000 throughout 4 years based mostly on at this time’s most payment restrict of £9,250 per 12 months.
This implies a scholar may use their £37,000 to pay for greater than 480 credit of studying, relying on the per-credit value of the course. For instance, if a scholar can borrow £37,000 they usually use £7,000 for a 120 credit score course, they’d have £30,000 of the LLE left for different programs, whatever the measurement or length of the unique programme.
Returning learners (those that have beforehand acquired authorities help to undertake higher-level studying) could solely have some, or none of their entitlement left, relying on earlier funding acquired.
Those that haven’t used all of it may have entry to a residual entitlement. For instance, a typical graduate who accomplished a 3 12 months diploma price £27,750 in at this time’s charges may have a £9,250 residual entitlement. This quantity shall be adjusted ought to the fashionable payment restrict change.
An extra entitlement, above the core 4 12 months entitlement, shall be accessible for some precedence topics and longer programs equivalent to medication.
Tuition charges and payment loans
Tuition payment limits are presently set on an annual foundation by the federal government. For instance, the utmost an authorized (payment cap) supplier can cost in tutorial 12 months 2023 to 2024 is £9,250. Charges shall be frozen at this degree till not less than tutorial 12 months 2025 to 2026.
Beneath the LLE , tuition payment limits shall be based mostly on credit. That is as an alternative of being based mostly on the variety of tutorial years within the course, as is the case below the present system. There shall be a most monetary quantity per credit score and a most variety of credit which might be charged for in every course 12 months. This shall be set by the federal government. We are going to publish the record of normal numbers of credit for each course kind, in addition to the utmost or default numbers that may be charged for in anyone course 12 months in the end.
We are going to deal with sure course varieties below the LLE as “non-credit-bearing”. Because of this completely different guidelines will apply. Non-credit-bearing programs embrace programs equivalent to medication and PGCEs, and programs the place the supplier has not assigned a qualifying credit score worth. The record of relevant course varieties shall be revealed in the end.
Upkeep loans and grants
Upkeep loans are designed to assist learners with residing prices whereas they research. There’s a most declare quantity based mostly on a scholar’s course, location and private circumstances.
Beneath the LLE , the upkeep mortgage for residing prices and focused help grants, such because the Disabled College students’ Allowance and the Childcare Grant, shall be made accessible for all designated programs and modules that require in-person attendance. Upkeep help shall be topic to non-public standards equivalent to earnings. This may broadly stay the identical as the present standards.
The LLE is not going to impression learners who’re already eligible for focused help grants. That is cash that doesn’t have to be repaid.
LLE mortgage repayments
College students should begin repaying their mortgage as soon as they’ve left their course and earn greater than a certain quantity. This quantity is called the reimbursement threshold. A borrower’s repayments will rely on what they earn over the brink; not the full quantity that’s owed.
Compensation of LLE loans will observe the brand new system of student-loan repayments referred to as Plan 5. Because of this repayments will solely begin as soon as a borrower earns greater than £25,000 a 12 months earlier than tax, equal to £2083 a month or £480 per week.
The quantity repaid is 9%, or 9p for each £1, of a person’s gross wage over the reimbursement threshold. For most individuals, that is routinely deducted from their wage concurrently tax and nationwide insurance coverage. Repayments proceed except:
you’ve repaid your mortgage
your wage drops under the brink
a 40 12 months interval has handed, and the mortgage is cancelled
These with an current undergraduate scholar mortgage who then select to make use of the residual entitlement they’ve left below the LLE to fund additional undergraduate degree research will proceed to make a single reimbursement of 9% of their gross wage above the reimbursement threshold.
LLE private account
Anybody entitled to the LLE may have a web based private account. The LLE private account will assist learners perceive and make selections on find out how to spend their LLE . Their account will present their accessible tuition mortgage entitlement. We are going to present data so learners can discover one of the best recommendation and steerage to assist plan their studying and to additional their profession aspirations.
Document of studying
All universities, faculties and different suppliers presently document learners’ achievements in some kind. To help the LLE , the federal government will introduce a standardised transcript template. That is to make sure a learner’s assessed achievements are at all times captured below the brand new modular, credit-based system.
Regulation of the LLE
Regulation of upper schooling protects college students from poor experiences and outcomes. It additionally protects taxpayers’ cash and ensures the sector’s success.
The Workplace for College students (OfS) will regulate all suppliers providing LLE -funded provision. Because of this all suppliers wishing to supply LLE -funded provision might want to register with the OfS. By legislation, the OfS should regulate suppliers in a method that’s proportionate to danger. The federal government will help the OfS to make sure that suppliers are totally conscious of the regulatory regime.
There are presently 2 classes accessible to suppliers when registering with the OfS. Forward of the LLE , the OfS expects to seek the advice of on the event of a brand new, everlasting third class of registration to permit suppliers providing superior learner mortgage provision to use for inclusion within the OfS register. The OfS expects to seek the advice of on the main points of the third registration class later this 12 months. This third registration class shall be along with the present 2 classes:
Accepted Accepted (Charge Cap)
What is going on now
Lifelong studying payment restrict laws
The Lifelong Studying (Larger Schooling Charge Limits) Invoice acquired royal assent in September 2023. This laws introduces the brand new credit-based payment restrict.
Piloting and testing
As a part of the pathway in direction of the LLE , the federal government launched the HE brief course trial in September 2022. That is run by the OfS. It checks a extra versatile method to studying at ranges 4 to six by trailing short-course mortgage provision in tutorial years beginning in 2022, 2023 and 2024. Twenty-two suppliers developed brief programs for the trial, in topics equivalent to STEM , healthcare, schooling, web zero and digital innovation. Learn extra concerning the HE brief programs.
In September 2023, the federal government launched a focused programme to speed up the supply of particular person modules of upper technical {qualifications} forward of the launch of the LLE in 2025. This DfE-led grant competitors will ship as much as £5 million of recent funding to profitable suppliers throughout tutorial years 2023 to 2024 and 2024 to 2025. Eligible suppliers should register with the Workplace for College students and be delivering, or planning to ship, full-course HTQs in tutorial years 2023 to 2024 or 2024 and 2025. The competitors bidding window for suppliers closes on 3 November 2023.
Subsequent steps
In autumn 2023:
we plan to supply additional details about the entitlement
we’ll work with the regulator, awarding organisations and suppliers of present superior learner loans (ALLs) funded Ofqual-regulated {qualifications} to embed adjustments we set out in HMG’s response to the LLE session
session OfS will launch a session on the event and introduction of a brand new third registration class
In spring 2024:
we’ll launch a technical session on the broader growth of modular funding
we’ll lay secondary laws protecting the payment limits for the LLE in parliament
In autumn 2024:
we’ll lay the secondary laws that may set out the remainder of the LLE funding system in parliament
In spring 2025:
