Advanced Learner Loans make further education accessible to everyone.
We would advise researching the many grants available to fund your further education, as you won’t need to pay these back. Advance Learner Loans, however, make further education possible for those who don’t qualify for a grant.
You’ll be given a loan that covers the cost of your course, and you begin to repay the loan through the tax system when you complete the course and earn £25,000 per year.
Advanced Learner Loans are for students aged 19 and over (further education is already free for younger students), who are UK residents, regardless of their household income, and you won’t need a credit check.
You’ll qualify for an Advanced Learner Loan if:
- You’re aged 19 or over on the first day of your course.
- You’re living in the UK on the first day of your course, and have lived in the UK, the Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man for last three years. (There are some exceptions to this requirement. Find out more in the Advanced Learner Loan FAQ.)
- You’re studying with a college or training organisation in England approved for public funding. This includes New College Durham.
- You’re enrolling on a qualifying Level 3–6 course. This includes A levels, Access to HE Diplomas and other Vocational Qualifications.
Applying is easy
Apply online or download an application form at gov.uk/advancedlearnerloan
Making the right choice
It’s important you consider your own circumstances and look into all options for paying for your course before choosing to take out a loan.
If you are aged 19 and above and are studying your first full Level 3 qualification, your course fees could be free if you meet the eligibility criteria.
If you want advice on managing your finances, you can get impartial money advice from the Money Advice Service at moneyadviceservice.org.uk
How much can I get?
The amount you can get depends on your course, the fees for that course, and maximum amounts set by the government.
The minimum loan amount is £300.
You can take out a loan for the maximum amount to cover your fee or you can pay all or part of the fee yourself.
How is the Advanced Learner Loan paid?
Student Finance England will pay your agreed loan to New College Durham once it’s confirmed that you’ve registered on your course.
How many Advanced Learner Loans can I get?
You can have up to a maximum of four Advanced Learner Loans in total.
For A Levels you can apply for a loan to fund each course you take towards your A Levels - up to a maximum of 4 A Levels. This means you can have up to 8 loans at once if you’re taking each A Level as two separate courses. The courses must be in the same subject to qualify for a full A Level. You can also get up to three loans for non A Level courses.
Access to HE Diplomas
If you’re undertaking an Access to HE Diploma and then go on to complete an HE qualification, the outstanding balance of your Advanced Learner Loan will be written off.
- You can only get one Advanced Learner Loan to fund an Access to HE course.
- To qualify for this write off you must have fully completed both courses.
- You don’t need to take out a loan for the HE course.
- The HE course doesn’t need to relate to the Access to HE course you complete.
- The HE course must be eligible for funding by Student Finance England.
Advanced Learner Loans do not cover degrees or other forms of Higher Education (HE). For information on funding for HE go to gov.uk/student-finance.