Budget 2024: Lifelong learning entitlement delayed again

Fundable higher education courses will now not start until January 2027

Fundable higher education courses will now not start until January 2027

30 Oct 2024, 14:22

More from this author

The lifelong learning entitlement has been delayed again. 

Windows for student applications and course start dates for the flagship higher education scheme have been pushed back by a year in today’s Budget.

Applications were initially due to open in February 2025 for courses starting in September 2025. 

In April, the previous government delayed opening the application window to September 2025 and course start dates to January 2026. 

However students can now not apply for LLE funding until September 2026 for courses starting in January 2027. 

Treasury documents published today do not explain the reasons for the delay.

“The government will deliver the lifelong learning entitlement, but will postpone its launch by one year. The LLE will launch in September 2026 for learners studying courses starting on or after January 1, 2027,” the Treasury said.

The scheme will, when launched, give students access to student loans to cover tuition and maintenance for higher education courses and higher technical qualifications between levels 4 and 6. 

Its main selling point is the ability to access loan funding for shorter courses and modules worth up to £37,000. 

The scheme was delayed in April to give the Student Loans Company more time to develop and test its systems.  

This further delay will give the Department for Education more time to work out what courses can be delivered by higher education providers and how much they can charge.

It will also give independent training providers more time to register and gain approval from the higher education regulator, the Office for Students.

Today’s budget provides £10 million for the LLE in financial years 2027-28, 2028-29 and 2029-30.

Maintenance loans are another stand-out feature of the LLE, but no detail has emerged on what students will have access to, despite being announced in 2023. 

Latest education roles from

KS2 Classroom Teacher

KS2 Classroom Teacher

West Thornton Primary School

Public Services Teacher

Public Services Teacher

Barnsley College

Learning Support Assistant / Teaching Assistant / SEN / SEND

Learning Support Assistant / Teaching Assistant / SEN / SEND

MidKent College

Job Coach

Job Coach

MidKent College

Learning Mentor

Learning Mentor

MidKent College

Director of Governance (Part-time)

Director of Governance (Part-time)

Halesowen College

Sponsored posts

Sponsored post

The college roadmap to AI maturity – and a reskilled workforce

AI is poised to drive economic growth, reshape jobs, and transform industries, demanding urgent upskilling. Education must swiftly adapt,...

Code Institute
Sponsored post

Assessing Skills for Job-Ready Learners 

Discover how hands-on practice and authentic assessments help educators build both technical expertise and essential soft skills in learners.

Advertorial
Sponsored post

Sandwell College and NHS Trust launch £18 million Learning Campus, creating hundreds of jobs and training opportunities in the West Midlands

Sandwell College and Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust recently announced a landmark agreement, which is set to secure...

Advertorial
Sponsored post

#GE2024: Listen now as Let’s Go Further outlines the FE and skills priorities facing our new government

The Skills and Education Group podcast, Let’s Go Further, aims to challenge the way we all think about skills...

Advertorial

More from this theme

Budget 2024

Budget 2024: What the chancellor announced for FE and skills

Additional funding committed to further education and apprenticeships as national insurance and minimum wages rise

FE Week Reporter
Budget 2024

Budget 2024: Extra £300m for FE

Shorter and foundation apprenticeships to also get £40m next year

Billy Camden
Apprenticeships, Budget 2024

Apprentice minimum wage to rise to £7.55

New rate will apply from April 2025, chancellor set to announce at tomorrow’s budget

Anviksha Patel
Budget 2024

Streamlined skills and jobseeker support to cut ‘ballooning’ benefits bill

Chancellor also vows to ‘protect’ education priorities at Wednesday’s budget

Josh Mellor

Your thoughts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *