Advanced Learner Loans

To qualify you must be:

You can apply once you have received your ‘Learning and Funding Information Letter’ from the college during your enrolment appointment, which gives you the information you will need to apply for the loan. We will support you with your loan application during enrolment. You will also be required to provide personal information.

The Skills Funding Agency determines the maximum loan amount for each qualification it funds. In some cases there may be a shortfall which you will have to pay if the cost of the course exceeds the maximum loan amount. This information will be in your 'Learning and Funding Information Letter'. The minimum amount you can borrow is £300.

Find out more by visiting our financial support for adult learners page.

You can apply for up to 4 loans and you can get more than one at the same time. You can apply for another loan to take the same level of a course, for example the same level qualification in Adult Care if you’ve already had a loan for the same level in Business. You can only apply once for an Access to Higher Education course.

You won’t have to pay anything back until you are earning over £25,000 a year, and the loan will be written off after 30 years. Interest on the loan will be at the rate set by the Student Loans Company which will be lower than anything available from the high street.

Learners who take out an Advanced Learner Loan for an Access to University course may be able to get the balance of the loan written off after completing a designated and prescribed higher education course.

Repayments are based on your income, not on what you borrow or the number of student loans you have. You'll repay 9% of your income over the £25,000 threshold. Even if you don’t earn £25,000 a year but exceed the thresholds of £524 a week or £2,274 a month at any point in the year (e.g. if you work overtime) then a loan deduction will be made.