Student finance for courses starting from January 2027
Find out how to apply for funding under the new Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE) system for courses starting in January 2027.
If you are ordinarily living in England and starting an undergraduate course from January 2027 onwards, you will apply for funding under the new Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE) system.
The LLE is designed to give students more flexibility to study full qualifications or smaller amounts of learning over time.
What student finance is available?
Eligible students may be able to apply for the following:
Tuition Fee Loan
A Tuition Fee Loan helps cover the cost of your course tuition fees. The money is paid directly to the University by Student Finance England (SFE).
Maintenance Loan
A Maintenance Loan helps with living costs such as accommodation, food, travel, and study materials.
The amount you receive depends on factors including:
- Household income
- Where you live while studying
- Your course intensity
- Whether you study in London or outside London
Additional support
Extra financial support may also be available for students who:
- Have a disability or long-term health condition
- Have children or adult dependants
- Need additional learning support
How LLE works
Under the LLE system, funding is based on the number of credits you study.
- Most full-time study equals 120 credits per academic year
- Students can normally access funding for up to 480 credits, which is equivalent to around four years of full-time study
- Funding can be used flexibly across eligible Level 4 to Level 6 qualifications
This means students may choose to:
- Study a full degree (120 credits each year)
- Take modules or shorter courses (at least 30 credits)
- Study over a longer period
- Return to education later in life
To apply for student finance under the LLE, you will usually need to meet rules relating to:
- Your course
- Your university or college
- Your residency status
- Previous study
In most cases, students must:
- Be living in England on 1 January or 1 September, depending on when your course starts in January or September, and
- Have lived legally in the UK, Channel Islands, or Isle of Man for at least 3 years before the course starts
Some students with settled, pre-settled, refugee or other protected immigration status may also be eligible.
Different rules can apply depending on your nationality and immigration status.
Your course must usually:
- Be an eligible Level 4, 5 or 6 qualification
- Meet minimum study intensity requirements of 30 credits in a year
Important: Student Finance regulations may change, and eligibility is determined by SFE on individual circumstances.
Previous study
Most students can access funding equivalent to around 4 years of study (480 credits).
If you have already completed higher education study, this may affect the amount of funding available to you.
Please note that students who already hold a qualification and wish to study an exceptions course in Allied Health or Social Work will be eligible for full funding for each year of their course.
Equivalent or Lower Qualifications (ELQ):
Under the LLE, some students may be able to receive Tuition Fee Loan funding even if they already hold a qualification at the same level or higher than the course they want to study.
This is different from previous student finance rules, where ELQ were often not funded.
ELQ eligibility will depend on:
- The course studied
- The modules chosen
- Previous qualifications
- Government funding rules in place at the time of application
Students with previous higher education study or qualifications should check their eligibility with the University’s Money Advice Team before applying.
Applying for student finance
Applications are made through Student Finance England. You will need to create an account before making an application.
Students starting courses from January 2027 are expected to be able to apply at the end of October 2026 – please do not apply before LLE opens for new applications.
You will need to apply for funding for each academic year of study.
It is recommended that students apply early to ensure funding is in place before their course begins. You do not need to wait for a confirmed offer of a place on course to be able to apply for your funding.
Repaying your student loan
Loans will be repayable in the April following graduation but only if you are earning a gross salary above £25,000 per year. Your monthly loan repayment will be calculated on 9% of earnings above the gross income threshold of £25,000 which is £2,083 per month.
Using the current Plan 5 repayment threshold of £25,000 and a repayment rate of 9% of earnings above the threshold, the estimated monthly repayments are shown below:
Plan 5 Student Loan Estimated Monthly Repayment
Graph
Table
| Salary | Monthly repayment |
|---|---|
| £25,000 | £0.00 |
| £30,000 | £37.50 |
| £35,000 | £75.00 |
| £45,000 | £150.00 |
| £60,000 | £262.50 |
How this is calculated
Monthly repayment = (Salary − £25,000) × 9% ÷ 12
Note that actual payroll deductions may vary slightly because HMRC calculates repayments per pay period and rounds deductions through PAYE.
If you are employed, a deduction will automatically be taken from your monthly salary, via your National Insurance Contributions.
If you are self-employed, repayment will be arranged when you complete your self-assessment.
Please note that interest begins to accrue as soon as you receive the first instalment of the Maintenance Loan, or when the first instalment of the Tuition Fee Loan is paid to the university.
Interest will continue to accrue until the loan is repaid in full or has been written off. The interest rate is in line with the Retail Price Index (RPI). RPI is a measure of inflation. The interest is calculated daily and then applied to your balance of loan each month.
Balance of loans that remain outstanding after 40 years will be written off.
Interest on student loans
Interest is charged on student loans from the date the first payment is made until the loan is fully repaid or written off.
The interest rate is currently set at 3.2% (as at 29/05/26). Interest rates are set by the UK Government and may change over time.
Need more information?
For further information, contact the University’s Money Advice Team on 01242 714535 or email [email protected].
Comprehensive information about LLE can be found on the GOV.UK website.