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For most courses and modules starting on or after 1 January 2027, you’ll need to apply for student finance through Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE) funding.

LLE is the new student finance system for certain courses and modules from levels 4 to 6, as well as some level 7 courses.

This includes:

• most undergraduate courses
• some postgraduate-level qualifications (such as PGCEs and integrated master’s)
• some further education courses previously funded by Advanced Learner Loans

You may be eligible for student finance including:

• a Tuition Fee Loan to help pay your course or module tuition fees
• a Maintenance Loan to help with your living costs
• extra funding such as a grant or allowance, for example, if you’re on a low income, are disabled or have children

Before you apply, you should check your eligibility for LLE funding.

When you should use a different service

• an undergraduate course starting before 1 January 2027 (including postgraduate-level courses funded through undergraduate finance, such as PGCEs, integrated master’s degrees, and architecture courses)
• a Postgraduate Master’s or Doctoral course - master’s or doctoral degrees not covered by LLE
• a further education course funded by an Advanced Learner Loan - for courses starting before 1 January 2027, or courses offered by providers not registered with the Office for Students (OfS)

If you normally live outside England

There’s a different process if you normally:

When applications open in September 2026

Applications for LLE funding will open in September 2026 for courses and modules starting on or after 1 January 2027.

If you want student finance, you’ll have to apply for each course or module you want funding for. You can manage multiple applications using your student finance account.

If a course lasts longer than a year, you’ll only need to reapply for each year you want funding.

If your course started before 1 January 2027

You cannot apply for LLE if you started your course before 1 January 2027 and you are:

• going into the next year of your course
• transferring directly onto a new course that also starts before 1 January 2027

Sign in to your existing student finance account and apply online.

If you’re returning to study after taking a break

If you suspended or took a break from your course and want to return to your studies on or after 1 January 2027, how you apply depends on how long you’ve been away. 

If you’ve been away for less than 12 months

Your existing account remains open, and you do not need to start a new application. Once your university or college notifies Student Finance England that you’re resuming your studies, your application will be reactivated.

Sign in to your online account to check and update your details.

If you’ve been away for 12 months or more

Your previous application will have been closed. How you apply depends on the course you’re returning to:

• if you’re returning to a course that started before 1 January 2027 (or entering a later year of a course that began before this date), apply through the existing student finance service
• if you’re starting a new course or module on or after 1 January 2027, you must apply for Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE) funding

If you cannot apply online

When applications open in September 2026, if you cannot use a computer without help or want to apply using a form, you’ll need to Contact Student Finance England.

You can apply from September 2026 for courses and modules starting on or after 1 January 2027.

For courses starting from 1 August 2027, you’ll be able to apply from spring 2027.

Opening dates and deadlines

When you apply for your Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE) funding depends on when your course or module begins. However, you can still apply after your course or module has started. You must apply by whichever is sooner:

• the last day of the ninth month of your course or module year (the 12-month period starting from the month your course or module begins)
• your course or module end date

Example

You’ll be asked to prove your identity before you set up your new Student Finance England account to apply for Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE) funding. This normally involves a digital check using a photo ID, such as a valid passport or driving licence.

If you’re not able to prove your identity at this stage, you can skip the step and enter your valid UK passport details later when you apply for funding.

If you do not have a UK passport or it has expired

How you prove your identity depends on your nationality.

If you’re a UK national with an expired or missing passport

You can either:

• upload a copy of your birth or adoption certificate to your student finance account
• send a copy of your birth or adoption certificate to SFE by post

You do not need to send your original birth or adoption certificate. If you’re a care leaver and do not have a copy of your birth certificate, your local authority care team or Personal Adviser can request one for you.

If you’re an Irish national

You can upload a copy of your valid Irish passport to your student finance account.

If you’re not a UK or Irish national

You must provide details from one of the following valid documents when you apply:

• passport
• national identity card
• biometric residence card
• biometric residence permit (expired permits are accepted)

If you cannot upload your documents

If you cannot upload your proof of identity, you can send a copy to SFE by post.

If you do send any original documents, include your 11-digit customer reference number (CRN) and return address. SFE will return your documents within 4 weeks.

You do not need to include a prepaid or self-addressed envelope.

You must provide details of your household income if you apply for any of the following:

• more than the minimum Maintenance Loan amount to help with your living costs
• a Childcare Grant
• an Adult Dependants’ Grant
• a Parents’ Learning Allowance

If you choose not to provide your household income, you can still apply for a Tuition Fee Loan and the minimum Maintenance Loan.

Which tax year to use

You’ll need to provide household income details for the 2024 to 2025 tax year if your course or module starts between 1 January 2027 and 31 July 2027.

After you apply, Student Finance England (SFE) will ask the people in your household to confirm their income. They might need to provide evidence.

What counts as household income

What counts as household income depends on your individual circumstances. It can include:

• your own income, such as salary, savings, investments or property (for example, dividends or rent)
• your parents’ income, if you live with them
• your partner’s income, if you live with them

If you’re under 25 and financially depend on at least one parent

Your household income includes:

• your parents’ income, if you live with them or depend on them financially
• the combined income of one of your parents and their partner, if you live with them or depend on them financially

If you’re under 25 and do not financially depend on your parents

Your household income does not include your parents’ income if:

• you have supported yourself financially for at least 3 years
• you have been married or in a civil partnership at any time before the start of your course or module
• you spent at least 13 weeks in the care of your local authority before you turned 16 - in this case, you might be able to apply as a
• you’ve had no contact with your parents for over a year - in this case, you might be able to apply as an

If you’re over 25

Your household income will not include your parents’ income if you are over 25, as you will be classed as an .

Your household income will include your partner’s income if you live with them (even if they spend most of their time abroad).

If you’re a care leaver

If you’re a care leaver, your household income is not used to calculate your Maintenance Loan. You can choose to borrow the maximum amount. SFE will still use your household income to check what other funding you can get.

You must let Student Finance England (SFE) know if any details in your application change. You’ll need to report some changes yourself. Your parents or partner will need to report others.

Changes you must report

You must tell SFE if:

• you’ve changed your course, module, university or college
• you’re repeating a module or part of your course (including repeating credits)
• you’ve changed your name or marital status
• your Tuition Fee Loan amount has changed
• you’re living somewhere new (for example, if you move out of your parents’ home)

If the year you applied for has started

Ask your university or college to tell SFE if you change or repeat your course or module, or if there are any changes to your tuition fees.

You’ll still need to contact SFE yourself if you’ve changed your name or marital status, or if you’re living somewhere new.

How to report changes to Student Finance England

Once applications open in September 2026, you can make all of these updates - including changes to your personal details, living situation, or courses and modules - directly through your online account.

Sign in to your student finance account to report any changes.

If you cannot make changes online

You’ll need to Contact Student Finance England and ask for a form instead.

Changes your parents or partner must report

If your application is based on your household income, your parents or partner must:

• report any changes relating to their household income
• tell SFE if they think their household income will be at least 15% lower than the tax year they submitted details for
• tell SFE if they have any more children

They can make all of these changes through their own online account.