In short
- From 1 January 2027, student finance in England moves to a new system called the Lifelong Learning Entitlement.
- It’s for courses starting on or after 1 January 2027. If your course starts before then, nothing changes for you.
- You can currently borrow up to £39,160 for tuition across your working life. Any tuition funding you’ve had before is usually taken off.
- You may be able to get funding even if you’ve studied before, as long as you have some left.
- You apply through a new student finance account. Applications open at the end of October 2026.
Does this apply to me?
It depends on when your course starts, not when you apply.
- Your course starts on or after 1 January 2027: you apply under the new system. This includes January 2027 and September 2027 starts.
- Your course starts before 1 January 2027: you stay on the current system, including for later years of the same course.
- You’re starting a new course after a break: if it starts on or after 1 January 2027, you apply under the new system. If you’re going back to a course that started before then, you reapply through your existing student finance account.
How much you can get
Tuition fee loan
Currently up to £39,160 in total, which is about 4 years of full‑time study. This figure may change. In any one year you can get up to £9,790 for every 120 credits you study, rising to £10,050 from August 2027. A full‑time year is usually 120 credits. The loan is paid straight to your university or college.
Maintenance loan, for living costs
Up to £15,415 for a year of up to 30 weeks, depending on where you live, your household income and how much you study. You need to attend your course in person. Distance learning courses don’t normally qualify, unless you can’t attend because of a disability or long‑term illness. You also need at least £1,587.50 of your tuition entitlement left.
Age
You must be under 60 on the first day of your course to get a tuition fee loan.
If you’ve studied before
This is the biggest change. Under the old rules, you usually couldn’t get a loan for a qualification at the same level as one you already had, or a lower one. Now you may be able to, as long as you have entitlement left. Any government tuition funding you’ve had before is usually taken off your £39,160.
| Your situation | Roughly what’s left |
|---|---|
| Never had student finance | £39,160, about 4 years |
| Started a degree and left after 1 year | About 3 years’ worth |
| Finished a 3‑year degree | About 1 year’s worth (£9,790) |
You can get an estimate of what you have left by creating an account on GOV.UK, without applying. Some subjects, such as nursing, social work, medicine and teacher training, may get extra funding.
Which courses it covers
Most courses from level 4 to level 6, at a university or college registered with the Office for Students, the regulator for higher education in England. That includes:
- bachelor’s degrees, including a foundation year that’s part of the degree
- foundation degrees and Higher Technical Qualifications
- some postgraduate courses, such as the Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) and integrated master’s degrees
Higher National Diplomas (HNDs) and top‑up degrees are at these levels too, and may be eligible if the course is approved for student finance. Most standalone master’s degrees aren’t covered. They usually have a separate Postgraduate Master’s Loan. Before you apply, check your course is approved. Ask us and we’ll check it for you.
Who can get it
- If you’re a UK or Irish citizen or have settled status, your home needs to be in England and you need to have lived in the UK for the 3 years before your course starts.
- With pre‑settled status, you may be able to get a tuition fee loan, but not a maintenance loan.
- Some other immigration statuses also qualify.
You can check your own situation with the GOV.UK eligibility checker.
How to apply
- Choose your course and apply for your place. Your adviser can help with this.
- Create a new student finance account on GOV.UK. You need a new one even if you’ve had student finance before.
- Apply for funding for your course. You apply once for each course, then again for each new year.
- Send any evidence you’re asked for, such as proof of identity or household income.
Applications open at the end of October 2026 for courses starting from 1 January 2027, and in spring 2027 for courses starting from August 2027. Apply as early as you can, so your funding is ready when you start.
Paying it back
It’s a loan, so you pay it back once you’re earning. Repayments work the same way as for other recent students (Plan 5):
- You only repay once you earn over £25,000 a year.
- You repay 9% of what you earn above that, usually taken from your pay automatically.
- Anything left after 40 years is cancelled.
For example, if you earn £30,000 a year, you repay 9% of £5,000. That’s £450 a year, or £37.50 a month.
Official sources
- Student finance for courses starting on or after 1 January 2027
- Who’s eligible
- What student loans you can get
- How to apply
- Repaying your student loan
This guide is general information, not financial advice. Rules can change, so always check GOV.UK before you apply.