FAQs

Advanced Learner Loans are for learners aged 19 and over studying at
Levels 3 to 6. In this section we answer questions you might have. If you
need more information or would like to speak to us click the chat button.

FAQ: FAQ

Am I eligible for an Advanced Learner Loan?

To be eligible for one of these loans you must:
• be aged 19 or over at the start of your course;
• be undertaking an eligible course at a Level 3, 4, 5 or 6 qualification offered by an approved
college or training provider in England. See below for more details on which type of courses
are eligible. Your college or training organisation will be able to confirm exactly which courses
are eligible and if they’re an approved organisation.
• be living in the UK on the first day of your course
• have been living in the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man for 3 years immediately
before starting your course
• be a UK national or have ‘settled status’ (this means there’s no restrictions on how long you
can stay). You may also be eligible if you:
- are an EU national or a family member of one
- are a refugee
- have humanitarian protection (as a result of a failed application for asylum)
- are a migrant worker
- are the child of a Swiss national
- are the child of a Turkish worker
- are a stateless person , or a relative of one*
*To be eligible as a ‘stateless person’ you must:
- be a new student starting on or after 1 August 2018
- have been ordinarily and lawfully resident in the UK and Islands for 3 years before the first
day of the first academic year of your course
• have been granted leave to remain, or are the child of someone granted leave to remain, under
Section 67 of the Immigration Act 2016.
To be eligible under Section 67 you must have been living in the UK for at least three years before
the first day of the first academic year of your course.

Does getting a loan depend on my income or credit history?

No. Getting a loan doesn’t depend on your income and credit checks aren’t carried out.
Repayments are based on your income and won’t begin until your income is over £524 a week,
£2,274 a month or £27,295 a year.

Is there an upper age limit for someone applying for a loan?

No. There’s no upper age limit.

Which qualifications can I get a loan for?

You’ll need to be doing a Level 3, 4, 5, or 6 qualification which is eligible for loan funding. Level 3 to 6 qualifications include A Levels, Access to HE Diplomas and other Vocational Qualifications. These loans don’t cover Degrees or other forms of Higher Education where separate student support arrangements exist. You can get further advice on which qualifications are eligible for loans from your college or training organisation. If you are 19 to 23 and are studying your first full Level 3 qualification you might be able to get a grant to help pay for your course. You can choose to fund your Level 3 qualification with either a grant or an Advanced Learner Loan, but you if you choose to fund it with an Advanced Learner Loan, you lose your entitlement to grant funding. If your Learning Provider does not offer a grant-funded course, you’ll need to find a Learning Provider that does. The National Careers Service will be able to advise you which Learning Providers in your local area offer the course you want to do with grant funding. For advice on your future skills, career, work and life choices you can contact the National Careers Service at www.nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk or call an advisor on 0800 100 900.

How do I apply for a loan?

Once you’ve identified the qualification you’d like to study you should contact the college or training organisation who can provide it. That college or training organisation will confirm whether there are places available on the course and give you a Learning and Funding Information Letter. You’ll need the information set out in this letter to complete an application and submit this to Student Finance England. This is usually carried out during course enrolment.

What information do I need to provide when applying for a loan?

You’ll need to provide details of the:
• course you wish to study;
• college or training organisation you wish to study at;
• fee you’re being charged; and
• amount of loan you want to take out.
The college or training organisation will give you details about your course in your Learning and
Funding Information Letter. You’ll need to decide how much loan you want to take out.
You’ll also be required to provide your personal details (name, address, etc) and evidence to
confirm your identity. For UK passport holders this will just be your valid UK passport details (not
a physical passport).
If you’re a UK national but don’t have a passport you’ll be asked to provide another form of
evidence such as a UK birth certificate, which will be returned to you.
If you’re not a UK national you’ll need to provide physical identity evidence, as well as evidence
that you’re a permanent resident inside the UK.
You’ll also need to provide a valid National Insurance number so that the loan can be paid to the
college or training organisation on your behalf.

What happens if I change my mind once I’ve started my course?

No loan payments will be made to your college or training organisation on your behalf until you’ve
attended the course for at least two weeks. If you leave the course after more than two weeks
then you’ll be liable to repay the loan payments that have been made to the provider on your
behalf, for the time you have been on the course.

How much loan can I take out?

There’s a maximum amount of loan available to you based on the type of qualification you’re doing. Your college or training organisation will be able to advise you of this amount. The fee charged by the college or training organisation may be less than the maximum loan amount available - so in this case you’d only need to take out a loan to cover the fee being charged. You can take out a loan for the maximum amount to cover your fee or you can pay all or part of the course fee yourself.

Will I have to repay the full loan amount if I leave part way through the course?

No. Your loan will be paid to your college or training organisation in line with your attendance on the course. When you stop attending, payments will stop and you’ll only be liable to repay the amount (including any interest accrued on that amount) that’s already been paid to the college or training organisation.

If I leave my course part of the way through will I be required to pay the remainder of the fee to my college or training organisation even if my loan payments have stopped?

Before you enrol on the course you’ll need to enter into an agreement with your college or training organisation. This agreement should include the fee they’re charging you and what you’ll be required to pay if you don’t complete the course.

How much of the course costs will the loan cover?

The loan should cover the fee charged by the college or training organisation. You’ll need to agree with the college or training organisation upfront all of the costs associated with the course and that the loan will be able to cover these costs.

Can I get additional support to help with childcare and travel?

The Advanced Learner Loan only covers the fee you’re being charged by the college or training organisation for your course. However, it’s possible the college or training organisation will be able to provide financial support for course related costs for those facing financial hardship. Your college or training organisation will be able to provide you with more information on the help and support they can make available to you.

What happens if I change my mind about the course and want to do something different?

It’ll depend on how much of the course you’ve undertaken. If you’ve done less than two weeks you can simply cancel the loan and this won’t count against the total number of loans available to you. After two weeks on a course, the college will confirm your attendance and you’ll become liable for the loan. It will count against the total number of loans available to you. Before making this decision you should speak to your college or training organisation, as it may be possible to transfer to a new course under the same loan rather than having to apply for a new one.

What happens if I’m unable to complete my course and I’m forced to withdraw?

Where there are compelling personal reasons preventing you from completing your course this won’t count as one of your four loans. You’ll still be expected to repay any loan paid in connection with the course, but you’ll be able to take out a loan to complete the course again.

How will I pay back the loan?

Repayments will be automatically deducted from your income through the tax system from the April after you complete or leave the course and your income is more than £27,295 a year.

When will repayments start?

You’ll be due to start repaying your loan in the April after you complete or leave your course. You’ll only start making repayments when your income is over £524 a week, £2,274 a month or £27,295 a year. If your income falls below these thresholds, repayments will stop and only re-start when your income is over these thresholds. You can make voluntary repayments direct to SLC at any time in order to accrue less interest and pay off your loan more quickly.

How much will the repayment be?

Repayments will be made at 9 per cent of your income over £524 a week, £2,274 a month or £27,295 a year. For example, if you’re paid monthly and earn £2,500 before tax you’d repay 9% of the difference between what you earn and what the threshold is:

£2,500 - £2,274 = £226

9% of £226 = £20.34

So your student loan repayment would be £20 in that month.

The repayments are based purely on income, not on the amount borrowed or number of loans. So, regardless of how much you owe, the repayments will be the same. If your income falls below £27,295 , repayments will stop and only re-start when your income increases to more than £27,295.

Can I get impartial advice about managing my finances?

If you’re unsure about taking out a loan and want to seek advice then you’ll have the opportunity to do so. If you want advice on managing your finances, the Money Advice Service, established by the UK government, can offer free, impartial money advice. Visit their website at moneyadviceservice.org.uk

Can I get independent careers advice?

If you’re unsure whether the course you’d like to take is right for you, then you can find support and advice on the National Careers Service website at nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk or call their helpline on 0800 917 8000.