What are Advanced Learner Loans?
Advanced Learner Loans are a form of government-backed financial support designed to help adults aged 19 and over, pay for further education and training in England. These loans can be used to cover tuition fees for approved courses at levels 3, 4, 5 and 6, including vocational and technical qualifications, A levels and Access to Higher Education diplomas.
The cost of education can be a barrier to career progression and skills development. Advanced Learner Loans help reduce this barrier by allowing learners to spread the cost of training over time rather than paying fees upfront. They support lifelong learning and provide opportunities for individuals to upskill, retrain or change career at any stage of life.
How Advanced Learner Loans work
Advanced Learner Loans are administered by the government and paid directly to the college or training provider once approved. The loan covers all or part of the course tuition fees, depending on the qualification and provider.
Learners do not begin repaying the loan immediately. Repayments only start after the learner has finished or left the course and their income rises above a set repayment threshold. Repayment amounts are based on income, not on the total loan amount, and interest is applied from the point the loan is paid to the provider.
Who is eligible for an Advanced Learner Loan?
To be eligible for an Advanced Learner Loan, learners must generally:
- Be aged 19 or over at the start of their course
- Be studying an eligible qualification at Level 3 or above with an approved provider in England
- Meet residency and nationality requirements
Eligibility rules can vary depending on individual circumstances and course type. Training providers can confirm whether a qualification is eligible for loan funding before learners apply.
What courses can Advanced Learner Loans fund?
Advanced Learner Loans can be used to fund a wide range of regulated qualifications at Levels 3, 4 and above, provided they are approved for funding and delivered by an eligible training provider. Many Focus Awards qualifications are approved for loan funding, subject to learner eligibility and provider arrangements.
Examples of Focus Awards qualifications that may be funded through Advanced Learner Loans include qualifications from a range of sectors such as:
- Beauty and wellbeing – Including the Focus Awards Level 3 Diploma in Beauty Therapy and the Focus Awards Level 3 Diploma in Combined Beauty Therapy Skills
- Sport and fitness – Including the Focus Awards Level 3 Diploma in Personal Training
- Management and leadership – Including the Focus Awards Level 5 Diploma in Management and Leadership
- Education and training including assessor, internal quality assurance and external quality assurance qualifications such as the Focus Awards Level 4 Award in Understanding the External Quality Assurance of Assessment Processes and Practice
Not all Focus Awards qualifications are eligible for Advanced Learner Loans, and eligibility can change over time. Centres delivering Focus Awards qualifications can confirm which qualifications are currently approved for loan funding and which funding route applies.
Focus Awards and funding
Focus Awards does not provide funding or manage loans. We are an awarding organisation that develops and regulates qualifications. Decisions about funding eligibility, loan applications and learner finance are managed by training providers and government agencies. Learners and centres should always confirm funding arrangements directly with the provider delivering the course.
Advanced Learner Loans offer an important route for adults who want to continue their education without paying course fees upfront. They support access to higher-level qualifications, encourage lifelong learning and help remove financial barriers to career progression.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Advanced Learner Loans the same as university student loans?
No. Advanced Learner Loans fund further education courses at Levels 3 to 6 rather than undergraduate degree programmes.
When do repayments start?
Repayments begin only after the learner finishes or leaves the course and earns above the repayment threshold.
Can I apply for more than one Advanced Learner Loan?
Yes. Learners can apply for multiple loans for different eligible courses, subject to eligibility rules.
To check if a regulated qualification is funded, you can use the link provided below.
More information can be found on the Education and Skills Funding Agency’s website.
If you’d like to find out more visit our website on https://focusawards.org.uk/funding/ or contact our team directly at info@focusawards.org.uk or on 0333 3447 388.
