Policy paper

Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE): overview

Find out what the LLE is and how this new post-18 student-finance system will work from academic year 2026 to 2027.

Applies to England

Documents

Details

Information for the public about the LLE, including:

  • what the LLE is
  • how the funding will work
  • who is eligible
  • which courses we will include
  • how learners can repay their LLE
  • how we will regulate the LLE
  • what the next steps are

Updates to this page

Published 19 September 2023
Last updated 4 November 2024 + show all updates
  1. Update to 'Lifelong Learning Entitlement overview' to reflect changes in tuition fees from academic year 2025 to 2026.

  2. Updated 'Lifelong Learning Entitlement overview' to reflect the launch of the LLE in the 2026 to 2027 academic year.

  3. Added a link to guidance for higher education providers on tuition fees for foundation years in the 'Courses included under the LLE' section.

  4. Updated 'Lifelong Learning Entitlement overview' to reflect the phased delivery of the LLE in the 2025 to 2026 academic year.

  5. Updated the date for the IfATE consultation end date to 8 April 2024 due to an extension.

  6. Removed out-of-date content relating to autumn 2023 in the 'Next steps' section of the 'Lifelong Learning Entitlement overview'.

  7. Added information about the qualification gateway, which is an approval process for LLE-funded qualifications, and advanced learner loan funding at providers not registered with OfS.

  8. Updated to allow more time for introducing the Office for Students' third registration category.

  9. 'Lifelong Learning Entitlement overview' updated to reflect changes to fee limits and residual entitlement.

  10. First published.

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