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 2025.

From:: Department for Education
Published: 19 September 2023
Last updated: 2416 ~~November~~January ~~2023~~2024 — See all updates

Applies to England

Documents

Lifelong Learning Entitlement overview

HTML

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

Published 19 September 2023
Last updated 2416 ~~November~~January ~~2023~~2024 + show all updates

16 January 2024
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.

24 November 2023
Updated to allow more time for introducing the Office for Students' third registration category.
15 November 2023
'Lifelong Learning Entitlement overview' updated to reflect changes to fee limits and residual entitlement.
19 September 2023
First published.

Update history

2025-09-15 10:39
We have updated the guidance on the priority additional entitlement in the ‘How funding will work’ section. Our update adds detail on the support available to students who choose medicine or dentistry as a second degree.

2025-08-14 11:44
Updated to clarify that the lifelong learning entitlement will replace Advanced Learner Loans for qualifications at levels 4 to 6.

2025-07-09 09:53
Updated to reflect changes on eligibility, courses and modules, funding, and approval.

2025-04-09 15:33
Updated with minor clarifications, including definitions for foundation years and foundation degrees, and examples of module bundles.

2025-03-06 14:24
Updated ‘Why we need the LLE’ section to clarify existing policy.

2025-02-26 15:00
We have updated the ‘Next steps’ section to give providers more information on upcoming policy announcements.

2024-11-04 17:03
Update to ‘Lifelong Learning Entitlement overview’ to reflect changes in tuition fees from academic year 2025 to 2026.

2024-10-30 14:06
Updated ‘Lifelong Learning Entitlement overview’ to reflect the launch of the LLE in the 2026 to 2027 academic year.

2024-05-10 10:58
Added a link to guidance for higher education providers on tuition fees for foundation years in the ‘Courses included under the LLE’ section.

2024-04-18 10:29
Updated ‘Lifelong Learning Entitlement overview’ to reflect the phased delivery of the LLE in the 2025 to 2026 academic year.

2024-03-22 11:43
Updated the date for the IfATE consultation end date to 8 April 2024 due to an extension.

2024-02-28 16:14
Removed out-of-date content relating to autumn 2023 in the ‘Next steps’ section of the ‘Lifelong Learning Entitlement overview’.

2024-01-16 15:33
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.

2023-11-24 13:41
Updated to allow more time for introducing the Office for Students’ third registration category.

2023-11-15 14:17
‘Lifelong Learning Entitlement overview’ updated to reflect changes to fee limits and residual entitlement.