UK Names First Providers for Lifelong Learning Entitlement

Overview

• The government confirmed the first 130 universities and colleges approved to offer new bite-sized modules under the Lifelong Learning Entitlement, with 12 based in Yorkshire including York College, York St John, the University of Leeds, Sheffield Hallam and Bradford College.
• The scheme gives each person a loan pot worth up to £39,160, equal to four years of study, that they can draw down over their working life for modules, short courses or full degrees.
• Applications for this finance open in September 2026, with the first new modular courses starting in January 2027.
• Students can also apply for maintenance support, with living-cost payments scaled to the size of the course they take.
• People who already hold a degree may still get funding to retrain in priority subjects or if they have entitlement left, which the government links to closing skills gaps and to its aim for two-thirds of young people to reach advanced training or university by age 25.