Advanced Learner Loan - Eligibilty
You may be eligible to apply for an Advanced Learner Loan if you are studying a course leading to a level 3, 4, 5, or 6 qualification at an approved college or training provider in England.
You can apply if you are 19 or older on the first day of your course, as long as it started on or after 1st August 2021.
Generally, the following criteria must be met:
You must be living in the UK on the first day of your course.
You should be a UK national, an Irish citizen, or have ‘settled status’ (no restrictions on how long you can stay).
You must have lived in the UK, British Overseas Territories, Channel Islands, or Isle of Man for three consecutive years before the start of your course (with some exceptions for temporary absences like holidays).
For more details on eligibility, please visit www.gov.uk/advanced-learner-loan/eligibility
Application Process
Once you’ve confirmed that your course qualifies for an Advanced Learner Loan, you need to request a ‘Learning and funding information’ letter from your course administrator. This letter contains essential information you will need to apply for the loan.
You can apply online through the Student Finance England portal.
If you prefer, you can also apply by post by downloading the application form from Student Finance Forms - GOV.UK.
It’s not necessary to have your National Insurance number when applying, but you must have one before the loan can be fully processed.
You will need to provide proof of identity:
UK nationals will need their valid UK passport details. If you don’t have a passport (or it has expired), you can use your original birth or adoption certificate.
Applicants from other nationalities or those living outside the UK will need to provide one of the following:
Valid passport
National identity card
Biometric residence card
Biometric residence permit
Key Facts
You can borrow from £300 up to the full cost of your course, or the maximum amount set by the government (whichever is lower). You don’t have to borrow the full amount – you can choose to pay part of the cost yourself.
You can apply for up to 4 loans from the Student Loans Company, and you may have more than one loan at the same time.
The loan is paid directly to Fareport Training by the Student Loans Company.
The Advanced Learner Loan is classified as a ‘Plan 5’ loan, with a repayment threshold of £25,000 per year (this threshold may be updated annually).
Loans are repaid through the HMRC tax system.
You will begin repayments in April 2026, provided you earn above the threshold.
Interest on the loan is currently set at 4.3%.
You can make early or additional payments by logging into your account.
Your loan will be written off 40 years after the April you were first due to repay, if there is still an outstanding balance.
For full guidance, please refer to the Advanced Learner Loan: Overview - GOV.UK.
