The Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE) is a new way to fund study in England from January 2027. It gives you flexible access to student finance across your working life, whether you're starting out, changing career or learning something new, at a pace that fits your life.
The Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE) is government loan funding you could use across your working life, up to the age of 60. You could study a full qualification in one go, or build your skills one module at a time. It could work for you if you're:
Coming back to study after a break? The LLE makes it easier to pick up where you left off.
Ready for something new? Retrain in a different field or build on your existing skills.
Juggling work, family, or other responsibilities? Study at a pace that fits your life.
Prefer to take things step by step? Study individual modules without committing to a full programme.
You could get tuition fee loans worth up to four years of full-time study: up to £39,160 at 2026 to 2027 rates. If you've had student finance before, you may have less to use. Use your entitlement in the way that works best for you:
For a full qualification
Spread across your career
Build skills step by step
Return whenever you need
Skills for Careers, the government's careers website, explains the LLE and where to go next.
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Apply nowNot at all. You can:
In many cases, yes. The LLE is designed to help you retrain or refresh your skills, and you could study again in priority subjects even if you already have a degree.
Any student finance you’ve had before may reduce how much you have left. How much LLE you could get on GOV.UK explains how it’s worked out.
You won’t repay anything until you’ve finished or left your course, and then only once you earn over £25,000 a year.
Student finance if your course starts on or after 1 January 2027 on GOV.UK has the details.
We’ll support you every step of the way. You can:
Everyone’s situation is different, so it’s worth checking what applies to you. These GOV.UK pages explain the LLE:
The government’s Skills for Careers LLE page is a good place to start. You can also ask us anything using the form below.
