Lifelong Learning Entitlement
Build your qualification around your life with the Lifelong Learning Entitlement
Designed with flexibility in mind, modular learning provides practical pathways to study around your existing commitments.
Introduction
From January 2027, the Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE) will offer eligible learners a new way to access student finance for Higher Education, making it easier than ever to upskill, retrain or progress in your career.
The LLE can be used to fund eligible full-time and part-time Higher Education qualifications, eligible Level 4 to Level 6 qualifications that would previously have been supported through an Advanced Learner Loan and selected individual modules.
For selected courses, instead of committing to a full qualification from the outset, you will have the option to study smaller units of learning, known as modules, and build your qualification in a way that works for you.
Whether you’re an employer wanting to upskill your workforce, a college leaver planning your next step, or a professional wanting to progress in your career or retrain, modular learning offers greater flexibility and choice.
What is the Lifelong Learning Entitlement?
The Lifelong Learning Entitlement gives eligible learners access to student finance that they can use at different times throughout their working life.
This means you can study when it suits you, whether you want to learn new skills for your current job or train for a different career, while balancing work, childcare or other responsibilities.
Traditionally, most education has been designed for people studying full-time straight after school or college. However, this doesn’t suit everyone. Many people need more flexible ways to learn or want to return to education later in life to gain new skills.
Applications for the Lifelong Learning Entitlement are available from September 2026 through Student Finance England, for courses and modules starting in January 2027 onwards.
Build Your Qualification
Think of your qualification as building blocks. With eligible modular learning options, you can:
- Start with a single module
- Gain valuable skills and knowledge in a specific area
- Accumulate credits as you progress
- Combine eligible modules over time towards a recognised qualification
- Learn at a pace that fits around your life and commitments
This means you don’t have to choose between work, family and education. You can build your qualification step by step.
For College Leavers
Not sure you’re ready to commit to a full three-year degree?
A full-time HNC or HND offers a practical, university-level qualification and can provide a stepping stone towards further study, including progression to a degree. You can gain recognised qualifications and valuable career-focused skills at each stage of your journey.
Where modular study is available, individual modules offer an additional flexible option for those who are not yet ready or able to begin a full qualification.
For Adult Learners
Whether you’re aiming for a promotion, returning to education after a break, or considering a career change, modular learning can help you reach your goals.
With the ability to study smaller portions of selected qualifications, you can:
- Upskill in your current role
- Develop specialist knowledge
- Gain recognised Higher Education credits
- Retrain for a new career
- Fit learning around work and family commitments
Build your qualification in a way that works for your lifestyle.
For Employers
The Lifelong Learning Entitlement creates new opportunities for workforce development.
Employers can support staff to identify targeted modules that directly address business needs, while eligible employees mat be able to use their own Lifelong Learning Entitlement fund their tuition fees.
Benefits include:
- Flexible staff development
- Access to industry-relevant skills
- Targeted learning aligned to business needs
- Improved employee retention and progression
Employees gain valuable skills now while working towards a recognised qualification for the future.
Why Choose the University Centre?
At the University Centre, we’re committed to helping learners succeed at every stage of life.
Through flexible Higher Education pathways and modular learning opportunities, we’ll help you:
- Gain the skills employers need
- Study around your existing commitments
- Access expert support and guidance
- Progress towards recognised qualifications
- Build your qualification one step at a time
If you would like to explore our courses, click here
Register Your Interest
The Lifelong Learning Entitlement will be available for courses and modules starting from January 2027 onwards, opening up new opportunities for flexible Higher Education and career development.
If you’d like to find out more about available modules, qualifications and funding options, register your interest today and be among the first to receive updates.
Build your skills. Build your future. Build your qualification.
FAQs:
The LLE is designed for:
- Employees and employers exploring flexible workforce development
- College leavers exploring Higher Education options
- Adults looking to upskill or gain a promotion
- Individuals wanting to retrain for a new career
- Employees and employers exploring flexible workforce development
Yes. The LLE provides a repayable tuition-fee loan, which will need to be paid back. You will only begin making repayments after leaving your course and once your income is above the repayment threshold, currently £25,000 a year.
Modular learning means studying a qualification in smaller sections, known as modules, rather than enrolling on an entire course from the start. Where this option is available, each module helps you gain knowledge, skills and credits that can contribute towards a larger qualification over time.
No. The LLE can be used to fund a range of eligible full-time and part-time qualifications, not only degrees. For selected courses, you may also be able to study individual modules without committing to a full qualification immediately.
Eligible modules will carry academic credits that can contribute towards a recognised qualification. How the credits build towards a qualification will depend on the course and progression pathway.
The LLE is designed to support lifelong learning, allowing people to build qualifications over time. Specific timescales will depend on the programme and funding rules.
Employers can support staff development more flexibly by identifying modules that meet specific business needs. Eligible employees may be able to use their own Lifelong Learning Entitlement to cover the tuition-fee costs while gaining skills that benefit them and the organisation.
For courses starting from January 2027 onwards, you can use the Lifelong Learning Entitlement to fund eligible full-time or part-time University Centre qualifications. This includes Higher Education courses such as HNCs, HNDs, foundation degrees and bachelor’s degrees.
The LLE will also fund eligible Level 4 to Level 6 qualifications that would previously have been supported through an Advanced Learner Loan.
You will also have the option to study individual modules from selected qualifications, beginning with:
- HNC (HTQ) Mechanical Engineering for England
- HNC (HTQ) Quantity Surveying for England
- HNC (HTQ) Construction Management for England
Explore our full range of University Centre courses.
The Lifelong Learning Entitlement will be available for eligible courses and modules starting from January 2027 onwards.
It means you can study in stages. You might start with one eligible module that develops a specific skill, then complete additional modules when you're ready. Over time, these can build towards a recognised Higher Education qualification.
Yes. Our modular learning options are designed to provide greater flexibility, making it easier to balance study alongside work, family and other commitments.
Our initial modular learning offer includes HNC (HTQ) Mechanical Engineering for England, HNC (HTQ) Quantity Surveying for England and HNC (HTQ) Construction Management for England. More subjects may be added in the future.
Absolutely. The LLE is designed to support new and returning learners, subject to eligibility, whether you're looking to refresh your skills, progress your career or change direction altogether.
For further information, you can visit: Skills for Careers: Lifelong Learning Entitlement.
