LLE calculator 2027: estimate what funding may remain
Free LLE calculator for courses from January 2027: estimate how much of the £39,160 Tuition Fee Loan may remain after previous study. SLC decides.
This free, interactive calculator helps you prepare for the Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE), which applies to most eligible courses in England starting on or after 1 January 2027. You answer questions about your course start date, where you live, your residency status, your age, your previous study and the public tuition funding you received, and whether you need living-cost support. No documents are needed.
What the calculator estimates
An indicative remaining Tuition Fee Loan balance out of the standard £39,160 (2026/27 fee rates), how many standard years of tuition that could cover, whether a Maintenance Loan may be possible, and which EduForYou courses are worth checking. Under the LLE, tuition is funded by credits: up to £9,790 for 120 credits, for example £4,895 a year for 60 credits.
Application status: GOV.UK says LLE applications for courses starting January to July 2027 open at the end of October 2026, and for courses starting from August 2027 in spring 2027. When we checked on 27 October 2026, applications were not yet open. Creating an LLE account to see an estimate is not an application.
The result is an estimate, not a funding decision, and it does not guarantee funding or admission. The Student Loans Company (SLC) decides eligibility and amounts. Do not share personalised result links, as they may contain personal information.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the Lifelong Learning Entitlement?
For most people the LLE gives access to up to £39,160 of Tuition Fee Loan, at 2026/27 fee rates (4 × £9,790). Government funding you received before for tuition is usually deducted, so the amount left may be lower. The Student Loans Company (SLC) confirms the official amount.
Does previous study reduce my LLE balance?
Usually, if it was publicly funded. Previous Tuition Fee Loans are deducted and may take inflation into account; if you did not have to pay tuition fees, the amount you would have paid is deducted at today's equivalent value. According to the SLC provider FAQ, post-2012 study you paid for entirely yourself does not reduce the entitlement, and pre-2012 self-funded study has a reduced deduction rate.
How is the Tuition Fee Loan worked out for part-time study?
Under the LLE it is worked out by credits: up to £9,790 for 120 credits. For example, 60 credits a year gives up to £4,895 a year, and a 360-credit degree over six years uses £29,370, leaving £9,790 of a full £39,160 entitlement. You normally need to study between 30 and 180 credits a year.
Can I also get a Maintenance Loan?
Possibly. You usually need at least £1,587.50 of entitlement left and to attend your course in person. The maximum is £15,415 per course year of up to 30 weeks, paid proportionally if you study fewer than 120 credits a year; the amount depends on your household income and where you live.
I already have a degree. Can I get funding for a second degree?
Under the LLE you may be eligible for a qualification at the same or a lower level, such as a second undergraduate degree, but previous public funding is normally deducted. If you have used the full £39,160, certain priority courses, such as nursing, may qualify for extra Tuition Fee Loan.
When can I apply for LLE funding?
GOV.UK says applications for courses and modules starting on or after 1 January 2027 open at the end of October 2026, and for courses starting from 1 August 2027 in spring 2027. When we checked on 27 October 2026, applications were not yet open. Creating an LLE account to see an estimate is not an application.
Is the result an official decision?
No. The calculator gives an indicative estimate based on your answers. Only the Student Loans Company decides your eligibility and the amounts. The result does not guarantee funding, admission or a place on any course. You must be under 60 on the first day of your course to apply for a Tuition Fee Loan.
Sources: GOV.UK: LLE eligibility, including previous study · GOV.UK: what student loans you can get under LLE · GOV.UK: getting an extra Tuition Fee Loan · GOV.UK: when to apply for LLE funding · SLC: Lifelong Learning Entitlement FAQ for providers. Last fact-checked 27 October 2026.
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