Advanced Learner Loan
- Available to those aged 19 years old and over studying a level 3 to 6 qualification; with the exception if you are aged 19 to 23 years old and it is your first level 3 qualification
- Available from the Student Loans Company
- Repayments linked to your level of income
- Payments only start when you earn over £21,000 in a year
- Loan written off if you take an ‘Access to HE’ course, then move onto and pass a degree (with the exception of Foundation Art Degrees)
What is an Advanced Learner Loan?
If you are over 19 years old and wanting to go back into education, the Advanced Learner Loan is there to help you pay for your course.
You will have nothing to pay for your course in the first instance; Students will be able to apply for a loan to meet the upfront costs of their qualification, which will be paid directly to the College on their behalf. This is a great way to access courses that previously, for financial reasons, may have been out of your reach.
Also if the loan is for an Access to Higher Education programme and you subsequently go on to pass a Higher Education course (with the exception of Foundation Art Degrees) you won’t have to pay back your Advanced Learner Loan at all, the full loan will be written be off.
What will you get?
This all depends on the type of course, course fees and the maximum loan available for your course. You don’t have to borrow the full amount of your course if you would like to pay for some of it yourself. The loan is paid directly to the College.
To be eligible for an Advanced Learner Loan you must be:
- Aged 19 or over at the first day of your course
- Studying a level 3, 4, 5 or 6 course, Access to HE courses, A Levels and Advanced and Higher Apprenticeship
You must usually:
- Be living in the UK on the first day of your course
- Have been living in the UK, Channel Islands or the Isle of Man for 3 years before starting your course
- Be a UK national or have ‘settled status’ (this means there are no restrictions on how long you can stay)