Our response to the consultation on the lifelong loan entitlement (LLE)

The introduction of the LLE is a welcome and exciting programme of reform. These reforms can unlock opportunities for learners and deliver on the country’s skills needs.

Universities want to work to get the changes right, deliver on the government’s ambitions and ensure future success for all sections of society. To do this, the LLE must be available for all learners and support a range of routes into higher education.

University leaders are committed to redesigning courses, improving wellbeing support for flexible learners, and providing careers advice so everyone can see how upskilling could progress their careers.

Our response has five key messages:

LLE has the potential to transform teaching in England. But who will it help and how?

We've put together some examples of how the LLE could benefit people's lives and make change in our society.

Rachel, 48, wants to become a nurse

48-year-old Rachel would like to use her lifelong loan entitlement to fulfil her dream of becoming a nurse.

Having worked as a health care assistant and more recently a nursing associate to deliver hands-on care to dementia patients, Rachel knows this is the career for her.

Under the new system, Rachel might be able to complete the remaining parts of her nursing degree over several weekends and week-long residential study sessions at university to qualify as a nurse while continuing to work for the NHS. 

Robert, 26, wants to go into cyber security

Robert, 26 years old, wants to use his lifelong loan entitlement to combine studying with his caring responsibilities before finding employment in cyber security.

Robert completed two years of a degree in cyber security but had to leave this to care for his father when he fell seriously ill.

Under any new system, Robert could continue to be the primary carer for his dad while using his lifelong loan entitlement to complete the remaining two years of his course over four years part-time at a local university.

Dawn, 38, wants to find a green job

38-year-old Dawn plans to use the lifelong loan entitlement to find a green job after working for twenty years in various retail positions.

With consumers doing more of their shopping online, Dawn has recently struggled to find employment locally. Dawn is passionate about tackling the climate crisis. Having noticed lots of job vacancies at wind farms, hydro-power projects, and with her local energy supplier, she wants to use her communications and planning skills as a project manager for renewable energy projects.

Using her lifelong loan entitlement to do a renewable energy degree will help her forge a new career and provide vital skills needed in the economy. It's estimated that the UK will need 170,000 more workers to qualify each year in jobs like home insulation, renewable energy and electric vehicle manufacturing if we are to meet our net-zero targets, and 1.7 million jobs will need to be created in the net-zero industries by 2030.