Lifelong Learning Entitlement for school or college leavers
Student finance for college or school leavers progressing to the next level of study, a new flexible way to fund your education.
*Started a university course before 1 January 2027? This doesn’t apply to you, keep using the SFE portal to reapply*
Because your learning pathway should be flexible, from 1 January 2027, student finance will be flexible too. The Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE) is a new form of funding for university fees and living costs. It gives you more choice in how you learn by giving you a pot of funding you can access throughout your working life.
Who is it for?
Students who live in England and have home student status, and who are planning to start a course at university level after 1 January 2027. The guidance on this page is aimed at sixth form, school or college leavers who have never applied for student finance before. You’re classed as “new learners” in the government guidance. If you’re a mature student (21+), or have had student finance funding in the past, there’s more guidance around how the LLE will work for you on our 'LLE' for mature students' page.
How does the LLE work?
You’ll have access to a pot of funding up until the age of 60, which you can track through an online portal. You can still choose to study a 3 or 4-year degree in one go, or build your skills step by step, module by module in a way that fits your life. It uses a new system of “credits” to allow for more flexible study. A standard 3-year degree is worth 360 credits. The minimum you need to study to apply for LLE funding is 30 credits.
How much funding can I get?
You will have a fixed £39,160 pot to cover tuition fees. You’ll also be able to get a maintenance loan to cover everyday living costs like accommodation, food, books and travel. But the maintenance loan won’t be a set amount; it will depend on whether you’re studying in person and the number of credits you’re studying. There will be a new digital calculator you can use to check how much funding you could get.
£39,160 = 480 credits
Standard 3-year undergraduate degree = £29,370 (360 credits)
One 40 credit module = £3,263 (40 credits)
How and when do I apply?
You can apply for LLE from September 2026 for courses and modules starting in January or September 2027. There is still time to apply for healthcare and social work courses starting in January 2027, if you already have your Level 3 results (A Level, BTEC, T Level etc.). Find January start courses through Clearing here.
What courses are eligible for LLE funding at BCU?
All of our undergraduate courses starting after 1 January 2027 are eligible to be funded by the LLE. So, if you’re a student in England (with home student status) applying to an undergraduate course in any subject, or a postgraduate allied health professions course that starts in January, you need to apply using the LLE portal. Also, all students applying for our undergraduate courses starting in September 2027 and beyond.
Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE) FAQs
-
Is the LLE still a loan and how does repayment work?
Yes, the LLE is a loan. It does have interest, but unlike traditional loans you won’t pay anything back until you’re earning over the threshold. Once you’re earning enough to make repayments, they’ll be taken from your payslip like a tax. Repayments for the LLE will follow the rules of Plan 5.
-
Do BCU offer any modules funded by the LLE?
Yes, for January 2027 we will be offering two modules as flexible study options. These are aimed at people returning to university-level study, or who want to study while they earn.
-
Does this replace Student Finance England (SFE)?
Yes, for all new learners applying for courses that start after 1 January 2027, the LLE replaces Student Finance England (SFE). A lot of the information and guidance you find online or on social media will be about the old SFE funding process. Refer to official Government guidance wherever you can. We will also be creating a guide to help you talk to parents and carers about the new process.
More finance help and information
Finance support
If you do struggle with money at university, we'll be there to help. Whether you’re a commuter student, have childcare responsibilities or are just concerned about making ends meet, we're here to support you with your finances.
What financial support is available?Continuing students
If you're already a student here and want to check your fees, then head to our continuing students page.
Information for BCU studentsSpending
See a breakdown of how we invest our income to benefit students and our city.
How we spend our moneyA-Z of Finance
You might encounter some terms you're not familiar with in your attempt to prepare for uni. Here's an A - Z of student finance, funding and money matters providing useful definitions, information and answers to some common questions.
Finance terms explainedFAQs
If you still have some more questions about Student Finance, our FAQs can help answer them. You can also read our FAQs for Student Finance England.
Frequently asked questions