Why not fund the cost of a training programme through a UK Government 19+ Advanced Learner Loan?
19+ Advanced Learner Loans can help you pay the fees of training in England, whether you are studying a Qualification and Credit Framework (QCF) Certificate or a Diploma at level 3, 4 and 5. The amount you can get depends on your course, the fees for your specific course and the maximum amounts set by the UK government.
- You can take out the maximum amount to cover your fee or you can pay all or part of the fee yourself
- Previous study won’t affect the application for your first 19+ Advanced Learner Loan
- You can have up to a maximum of four 19+ Advanced Learner Loans in total. You can only take out one loan at a time for non-A Level courses.
For each loan you must complete a separate application.
Courses
We offer an extensive range of qualifications to individuals through the provision of Advanced Learner Loans.
How and when do I start repaying a loan?
- You only start making repayments when your income is over £21,000 a year. However, if your income falls below £21,000, repayments will stop and only re-start when your income is over £21,000
- If you’re employed, your employer will take your repayments directly from your salary
- If you’re self-employed, you’ll make repayments as part of your annual self-assessment tax return
- You’ll start repaying your loan in the April after you complete or leave your course. However, if you complete or leave your course before April 2018, you won’t start making repayments through the tax system until after this date
- You can make voluntary repayments at any time in order to pay off your loans more quickly
- If you have more than one loan or a combination of further education (FE) and higher education (HE) loans visit gov.uk/advancedlearningloans and read ‘19+ Advanced Learner Loan: A guide to terms & conditions’
- If you retire, loan repayments are not taken from Pension Income, so if you’re paid a pension you’ll only repay if you have other taxable income above £21,000
- In the event of your death, all outstanding loan amounts are written off
- After 30 years any remaining loan balance is written off.
Top tips
- Be quick - complete and submit your application to Student Finance England as soon as possible to ensure your loan is in place for the start of your course
- Apply online - it’s easy and your application will be processed quickly. You should hear from us within two weeks. If you don’t apply online, or you don’t send us the evidence we ask for at the time of application, it will take longer to process your application
- Repayments are based on your income, not on what you borrow or the number of student loans you have
- You’ll repay 9% of your income above the £21,000 annual threshold. Even if you don’t earn £21,000 a year but exceed the thresholds of £404 a week or £1,750 a month at any point in the year (e.g. if you work overtime) then a loan deduction will be made.
Some of the interest on your loan will be based on inflation (Retail Price Index (RPI)). The table below shows how interest is calculated.
| Yearly income | Monthly repayments |
|---|---|
| While you’re studying and until the April after you complete or leave your course, whichever comes first | Retail Price Index (RPI) plus 3% |
| If you complete or leave your course before April 2018 | RPI plus 3% until the April after you leave your course then RPI until April 2017 |
| From April 2017 | Interest will be based on your income. £21,000 or less - RPI £21,000 - £41,000 - RPI plus up to 3%, depending on your income |