Student Loans and Lifelong Learning Entitlement CPD Session

00:00 – Welcome and introduction
Rob Scott introduces Go Higher West Yorkshire, the CPD programme, and the purpose of the session.

01:33 – About Go Higher West Yorkshire and Uni Connect
An overview of Go Higher West Yorkshire, its partnership of higher education providers, and its work to support access to higher education for underrepresented groups.

06:17 – Introducing the Student Loans Company speaker
Samantha Fletcher from the Student Loans Company is introduced, including her role and the focus of the session.

07:19 – Lifelong Learning Entitlement: session overview
The session outlines the key areas covered, including eligibility, study options, tuition fee support, maintenance loans, repayments, and guidance resources.

08:54 – What is the Lifelong Learning Entitlement?
An introduction to the Lifelong Learning Entitlement, including how it will replace some existing student finance routes from January 2027 and support more flexible study.

10:04 – Student eligibility and key terminology
Explains who may be eligible for LLE funding and introduces important terms such as course year, service year, period of eligibility, and concurrent study.

15:53 – Courses, modules and study options covered by LLE
Covers the types of courses and modules that may be funded through LLE, including full courses, higher technical qualifications, modular study, and subject areas linked to skills needs.

19:59 – Module requirements and standardised transcripts
Explains the criteria modules must meet to be eligible for LLE funding, including minimum credit values, parent courses, assessment, and transcript requirements.

22:06 – Tuition fee loans and credit-based funding
Introduces the standard LLE tuition fee loan entitlement, how credit-based fee limits work, and how funding is calculated for different providers and types of study.

29:14 – Previous study and residual entitlement
Explains how previous government-funded study may reduce a student’s remaining LLE funding entitlement, with examples of how residual entitlement is calculated.

33:36 – Additional entitlement and special circumstances
Covers situations where students may be able to access extra tuition fee loan support, including priority subjects, longer courses, special study periods, repeat study, and compelling personal reasons.

35:54 – Living cost support and maintenance loans
Explains the types of living cost support available under LLE, including maintenance loans, special support loans, reduced loan elements, and how payments are calculated.

42:18 – Maintenance loan rates and worked examples
Provides examples of how maintenance loan entitlement may be calculated based on household income, location, age, study length, and study intensity.

46:26 – Maintenance support, credit levels and study intensity
Explains how maintenance support links to a student’s tuition fee loan balance, minimum credit requirements, and study intensity calculations.

50:24 – Supplementary grants and Disabled Students’ Allowance
Summarises additional support available under LLE, including grants for dependants, travel grants, and Disabled Students’ Allowance.

50:42 – Loan repayments under Plan 5
Provides a recap of Plan 5 repayment rules, including repayment thresholds, interest, repayment dates, and how repayments work for multiple courses or modules.

53:03 – Student accounts, guidance and resources
Introduces the online student account, indicative loan balance information, government guidance pages, Student Finance England resources, and practitioner support materials.

58:03 – Key messages for advisers and providers
Recaps the main points for those supporting students, including the importance of using LLE terminology, explaining credit values, funding entitlement, additional support, and study options.

01:00:38 – Questions and answers
A Q&A section covering residual entitlement, repeat study, PGCE funding, maintenance loan payments, full-time intensity, student resources, modular study providers, and application system guidance.

01:17:49 – Closing remarks
Final comments, follow-up information, slide sharing, and thanks to attendees.