Alongside choosing a course and imagining student life, it's natural to have questions about how you'll fund your studies when deciding to go to university.
If your home is in England and you're planning to start university from January 2027 onwards, there are some important changes to student finance that you'll need to know about.
Introducing the Lifelong Learning Entitlement
The Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE) is a new student finance system* designed to support learning throughout your career. Instead of using student finance once, you'll have access to a funding entitlement worth up to £39,160 at current fee caps, which can be used across different stages of your life.
Under the LLE, eligible students will be able to access:
- A tuition fee loan of up to £39,160, equivalent to four years of study at current fee limits
- A maintenance loan to help with living costs for courses that include in-person study
- A personal student finance account where you can track your funding balance
*LLE is for students whose home is usually in England. If your home is in Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man, funding arrangements may differ. You can find more information about the financial support available to you on the GOV.UK website.
What does LLE mean for you?
If you're planning to study a traditional three-year or four-year degree, very little changes in practice. You'll still be able to:
- Access tuition fee funding for your degree
- Apply for maintenance loans to support living costs
- Repay your loan only once you're earning above the repayment threshold
- Study a full degree in the subject you're passionate about
The biggest difference is flexibility. LLE will allow learners to use their funding on shorter courses and modules, making it easier to upskill, retrain or return to education later in life.
Understanding your funding options early can help you feel more confident about taking the next step towards university.
Additional Financial Support
Alongside the LLE, you may be eligible for extra financial help, for example:
- A grant or allowance if you’re on a low income, are disabled, or have children
- Money from your university, such as a bursary, scholarship or hardship fund
- NHS funding or a bursary if you’re studying certain courses such as nursing and radiography
You can learn more about extra financial support here. You can also explore the bursaries, grants and scholarships available from the University of Cumbria here.
Understanding cost
Many students worry about the cost of university, but it's important to remember that student finance works differently from most types of borrowing.
- Tuition fee loans are paid directly to your university, so you won't need to pay fees upfront.
- Maintenance loans are available to help with accommodation, travel and day-to-day living costs.
- Repayments are linked to earnings, meaning you'll only start repaying once your income reaches the repayment threshold.
- Any remaining balance is written off after the repayment period ends.
We’re here to help
If you have any questions about funding your studies, our friendly Money Advice team is here to help. See how you can get in touch below and we'll be happy to talk through your options and support you on your journey to university.
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