19+ Advanced Learner Loan: Making study more affordable than you think
Returning to education or furthering your career is exciting! But sometimes the biggest barrier is cost. If you’re considering starting a new qualification, whether that’s a Level 3, Access to HE, or something higher, it’s easy to assume studying just isn’t affordable right now.
Even when a course could lead to a new career, a higher salary, or progression to university, upfront tuition fees can feel like a step too far. Without financial support, you might delay - or even miss out on - training that could genuinely change your future.
But what if there was an easy way to make it affordable? Thanks to a 19+ Advanced Learner Loan, there is.
The 19+ Advanced Learner Loan
The Advanced Learner Loan is a government-backed loan designed to remove that upfront cost barrier, so you don’t have to pay everything at the start.
You can use it to cover tuition fees for eligible Level 3, 4, 5 and 6 courses at East Sussex College.
Minimum loan amounts start from £300, it’s easy to apply, and there’s no fuss or any upfront tuition fees.
Are you eligible?
You may be able to apply if you:
- Are aged 19 or over
- Have lived in the UK for at least three years
- Have settled status
How repayment works
You won’t start repaying anything until you’ve finished your course and are earning over £25,000 a year. Until then, you don’t pay a thing.
And if you’re using the loan to cover the fees of an Access to Higher Education course and you go on to finish a degree qualification funded by Student Finance, your Advanced Learner Loan will be completely written off.
Will it affect your credit score?
The best thing about applying for an Advanced Learning Loan, unlike other finance, it won’t impact your credit score because your credit history isn’t part of the application process.
Chelsey King, Access to HE (Medicine) graduate, said, “The option to take out an Advanced Learner Loan to support my further education has been incredibly helpful. Although many scholarships and bursaries are available, I didn’t qualify for any and couldn’t cover the costs upfront. I wanted to change my career and become a doctor, but I lacked the A-Levels required. This loan and the Access to Medicine course has made that possible, and I’ve now applied to and received an offer to attend medical school this year, fulfilling my goal.”
If you’re ready to take the next step, you can explore your eligibility and find out how to fund your studies here: