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Student Finance and the Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE)

The UK Government is introducing the Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE) as a new approach to student finance in England. The LLE will replace the current student finance system for new students who:

  • Live in England
  • Are eligible for funding from Student Finance England

Students who are already studying and receiving student finance will continue under the current system.

Students from Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland

At present, there are no changes to student finance arrangements for students from Wales, Scotland, or Northern Ireland.

  • The Welsh Government continues to set its own student support policies.
  • Students from Wales will continue to apply under existing arrangements.
  • The same applies to students funded by Scotland or Northern Ireland.

Study and Funding in Wales

The LLE applies to the current student finance system in England and does not currently affect student finance systems in Wales, Scotland, or Northern Ireland.

In Wales:

  • Students typically enrol on full qualifications (such as degree programmes)
  • Funding for individual modules or short courses, through LLE support, is not currently available in Welsh higher education

Previous Study and LLE Funding

Under Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE), English domiciled students who qualify for LLE and have previously undertaken higher education studies and received Student Finance support, may still be eligible for funding for a new course. The level of support available will depend on how much Student Finance has been used during previous studies.

When you apply for Student Finance, any funding you have already received will be taken into account. This means that any future entitlement may be reduced by the amount of funding previously used. The remaining funding available to you is known as your residual entitlement. Student Finance will assess your previous funding history and calculate the balance of support that remains available for further study under the LLE. If you do not have enough residual entitlement to cover the duration of a whole course, then you would be liable to pay the additional fees yourself.

How to Apply

You should apply through the student finance body linked to where you normally live (your domicile):

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

For courses at Cardiff Metropolitan University, students eligible for the LLE are expected to be able to apply from January 2027 (subject to confirmation), for courses starting in September 2027.

The LLE will fund full years of study on courses currently supported by higher education student finance, including:

  • Undergraduate degrees (e.g. BA (Hons), BSc (Hons), BEng, LLB)
  • Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE)
  • Integrated master’s degrees (e.g. MEng)
  • Foundation years (where part of a degree course)
  • Foundation degrees
  • Higher National Diplomas (HND)

No. LLE funding is not currently available for individual modules being studied in Wales. This applies regardless of whether funding is from Student Finance Wales (SFW), Student Finance England (SFE), Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS), or Student Finance Northern Ireland (SFNI).

Under the LLE, eligible students may be able to access:

  • A tuition fee loan of up to £39,160 (based on four years of study at 2026–2027 fee rates)
  • A maintenance loan to help with living costs (for courses involving in-person study)

Additional support may be available for:

  • Students with disabilities
  • Childcare costs
  • Travel costs

Extra funding may also be available for certain priority subjects or longer courses (such as medicine or architecture).

If you are ordinarily resident in England and funded by Student Finance England, and you begin a course in Wales or at Cardiff Met once LLE is introduced:

  • You will be funded under the LLE system
  • This may affect your overall loan entitlement and how you use it over time

You will study a full degree (or one of the courses listed previously), rather than individual modules.

If you are ordinarily resident in Wales and funded by Student Finance Wales, and you begin a course in Wales or at Cardiff Met once LLE is introduced:

  • You will continue to apply through Student Finance Wales.
  • Current student finance arrangements will remain in place.

In most cases, no.

Your student finance body is based on where you normally live at the start of your course and will usually remain the same for the duration of your studies.

Where can I get further information?

You can find more information from: