What are Advanced Learner Loans?
Advanced Learner Loans are designed to support individuals aged 19+ to study and gain Level 3 qualifications and above. Whether you need to gain new skills, further your employment or progress/change role in your current position, an Advanced Learner Loan can help cover either the full costs or part of the costs of a training course. Advanced Learner Loans are monitored by the Skills Funding Agency (SFA) and administered by the Student Loans Company (SLC).
Key Benefits for You:
- NO repayments until you earn the equivalent of £21,000 per year
- NOT dependent on your income
- NOT credit checks
- For BOTH employed and unemployed individuals
- ONLY 9% loan repayment from your salary
- NO prior qualification restriction (but cannot repeat same subject area/level)
- If you start a HE course eligible for student finance, previous “Access to HE” loans are WRITTEN OFF
Eligibility
- Click here to see official Advanced Learner Loan Eligibility
- Course must be at Level 3 or above
- You must be aged 19 or above on the first day of your course
- Been living in the UK for 3 years prior to starting the course
- Be a UK National or have “indefinite leave to remain”/”settled status”
You may* still be eligible if you are:
- Live elsewhere in the EEA as an EU national or family member of one
- A refugee or migrant worker or child of a Swiss National or Turkish Worker
- How to Apply for the Loan
How to Apply for the Loan
You can apply online or download an application form to send by post. After confirming your choice of course and meeting the course eligibility criteria, please ask us for a ‘Learning and Funding Information’ letter containing course information which you will need to make your loan application. Please note you will need an NI number before the loan can be paid but you can make the initial loan application without one.
Click here to visit the www.gov.uk site to download relevant application forms, guidance notes or complete your application online
Repayments
You only have to repay once you earn more than £404/week, £1750/month or £21k/year. If your salary drops below this, you stop making repayments. Repayments are 9% of your salary – please see the table below for more information:
| Annual Income before Tax | Monthly Salary | Monthly Repayment |
| Up to £21,000 | £1,750 | £0 |
| £22,000 | £1,833 | £7 |
| £25,000 | £2,083 | £30 |
| £30,000 | £2,500 | £67 |
| £35,000 | £2,916 | £105 |
The interest rate that applies to your loan is based on the RPI (retail price index) and can vary depending on your circumstances. The RPI is updated once a year.
To find out how much you will have to repay – CLICK HERE