Can mature students get student loans in the UK? Yes. Returning to university in your 20s, 30s, 40s or 50s does not automatically prevent you from borrowing for an eligible course. You may qualify for a Tuition Fee Loan, a Maintenance Loan or additional grants. What matters is your course, where you normally live, previous study and, increasingly, when your course begins.
There is one date to check first: 1 January 2027. Most eligible courses starting from then in England move to the Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE), with different rules for age, previous study and flexible learning. Courses that started earlier generally remain under the previous funding system. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own arrangements.
This guide explains student finance for mature students, with verified 2026/27 figures, 2027 loan rules, Open University funding and help for learners with family responsibilities. The aim is simple: understand your options before treating a university offer as a funding decision.
Can Mature Students Get Student Loans in the UK?
The short answer is yes, if you meet the eligibility criteria. A mature student is generally someone beginning undergraduate study aged 21 or over, although UCAS describes mature entry more broadly as returning after time away from full-time education. Your age alone does not determine what you can borrow.
Mature student funding has two main loan types. A Tuition Fee Loan helps pay an eligible provider's course fees and normally goes straight to that provider. A Maintenance Loan helps with rent, food, travel and other living costs. It is normally paid to you, and the amount can depend on household income and study arrangements.
Not everyone gets both. Residency, course eligibility, previous qualifications and attendance can change the result. If you want the wider rules rather than the mature-student-specific details, the way UK student finance eligibility is assessed is a useful starting point.
Student Finance for Mature Students: 2026/27 vs 2027
The change in 2027 goes beyond an annual rise in loan amounts. In England, the LLE changes how eligible learners access tuition funding across courses and modules. The exact date your course starts determines which route usually applies.
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Question
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Course begins before 1 January 2027
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Most eligible courses beginning from 1 January 2027
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Main system in England
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Existing Student Finance England arrangements
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Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE)
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Tuition funding
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Usually assessed for a designated course
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Drawn from a tuition entitlement, initially £39,160 for a new eligible learner
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Previous study
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Existing previous-study rules and exceptions
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Earlier government-funded tuition usually reduces remaining entitlement
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Tuition-loan age
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No general upper age limit under the existing undergraduate system
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Applicant must be under 60 on the first day of the course
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Flexible study
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Part-time rules depend on course intensity
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Usually 30 to 180 eligible credits per course year
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Under the Department for Education's LLE guidance, applications for eligible courses starting in January 2027 are scheduled to open at the end of October 2026. Applications for courses starting from 1 August 2027 are expected to open in spring 2027. The new route covers most eligible qualifications at levels 4 to 6 and some level 7 provision. It does not make every standalone short course eligible.
Students who already began a course under the previous system do not normally switch to LLE part-way through that same course. If you are planning a 2027 intake, settle this distinction before comparing loan amounts.
Who Qualifies for Student Finance as a Mature Student?
Eligibility depends on more than whether you have been out of education for years. For LLE-funded study, Student Finance England's published criteria consider your course and provider, annual study credits, previous government-funded study, nationality or residence and age.
Are students aged 25 or over independent?
Students aged 25 or over are generally classed as independent for the relevant student finance household-income assessment. That usually means your parents' income is not included. If you live with a partner, however, their relevant income may count. Your own circumstances and applicable income categories also matter.
Someone under 25 can qualify as independent too, for example after supporting themselves for three years, having dependent children, being married or in a civil partnership, or meeting the rules for care leavers or estranged students. The official household-income explanation sets out those categories.
Example: A 34-year-old student returning to study while living with their spouse will not normally be assessed using their parents' earnings. Their spouse's relevant income may still affect how much Maintenance Loan they receive. Being independent is not the same as automatically receiving the maximum loan.
Does nationality or residence affect eligibility?
Yes. UK or Irish citizenship or settled status can be relevant, but the required residence history also matters. Some people with other qualifying UK statuses or long residence can receive full funding; others may qualify for tuition funding only. An overseas applicant should never assume a government loan is included with a university offer. The different funding possibilities for international applicants need to be considered separately.
For LLE, an eligible provider generally needs to be registered with the Office for Students. Always confirm that the specific course, not merely the institution, meets the relevant criteria.
Tuition Fee Loans for Mature Students
Mature student loans can cover tuition costs for qualifying courses, but the published fee cap is not the price of every course. Universities set fees within the rules applying to their provider category and study mode.
At an approved English fee-cap provider with the relevant Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) award and access and participation plan, the 2026/27 standard full-time maximum is £9,790. From 1 August 2027, the 2027/28 maximum is £10,050. For qualifying part-time courses at that provider category, the corresponding caps are £7,335 and £7,530. Other providers can have lower limits. These are fee caps, not promised loan awards. The separate government tuition-fee schedule explains which rates apply. A course beginning in January 2027 can therefore fall under LLE while still being within the 2026/27 fee year.
How does the £39,160 LLE entitlement work?
For a new eligible learner in England, the published initial standard LLE tuition entitlement is £39,160, based on 2026/27 rates. Think of it as a funding allowance that can be used for qualifying study, rather than £39,160 paid into your bank account. It broadly represents four full-time years at the 2026/27 maximum standard fee. The amount can change when fee limits change, and previous government-funded study can reduce it. Published LLE figures also use a £9,790 maximum per 120 credits at the relevant 2026/27 rate, so do not assume the later 2027/28 fee cap has already been applied to every LLE calculation.
Suppose an eligible learner uses £7,000 for a qualifying 120-credit course. In that straightforward illustration, £32,160 remains for future eligible study. The actual amount available to a returning student is determined by the official assessment, not a simple estimate of how much they personally paid years ago.
Maintenance Loans for Mature Students
Maintenance loans for mature students help with living costs rather than tuition. Mature students often have rent, childcare expenses and bills that cannot be reduced simply because a course has started. Yet the maximum published loan is not necessarily the amount awarded to any particular applicant.
For eligible 2026/27 full-time students in England who do not qualify for the higher benefits-related rates, the published maximums are:
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Living arrangement
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Maximum Maintenance Loan, 2026/27
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Living with parents
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£9,118
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Living away from parents, outside London
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£10,830
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Living away from parents, in London
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£14,135
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These figures come from Student Finance England's current undergraduate rates. Household income can reduce the actual payment; qualifying students eligible for benefits can have different maximums.
For LLE courses beginning from January 2027, living-cost funding also considers credits, course weeks and attendance. Published LLE Maintenance Loan rules indicate that some eligible students may receive up to £15,415 for a course year of up to 30 weeks, depending on their circumstances. This is not a flat award for every mature student, nor should it be presented as a universal 2027/28 rate.
Under LLE, a student normally needs to attend in person and have at least £1,587.50 of tuition-loan entitlement remaining to qualify for a Maintenance Loan, subject to exceptions. Distance learners normally cannot receive one unless a qualifying disability or long-term illness prevents in-person attendance. If the difference is still unclear, how tuition costs and living costs are funded separately explains the two loan types in more detail.
Open University Funding for Mature Students
Open University funding for mature students attracts particular interest because distance learning allows many adults to remain in work or manage caring responsibilities. It also presents a common misunderstanding: being eligible for a Tuition Fee Loan does not automatically make an online student eligible for a Maintenance Loan.
As a concrete example, the Open University's published England fees for its BA (Hons) Early Childhood in 2026/27 show £4,088 for a 60-credit year and an indicative £24,528 for a 360-credit honours degree at those rates. The university warns that fees typically rise each year, so the final multi-year cost could be higher. These are course-specific illustrations, not guaranteed fees for every OU degree. Its qualification fee breakdown gives the assumptions behind the totals.
A mature learner studying 60 credits while working may qualify for tuition funding if the course and personal circumstances meet the applicable rules. Maintenance funding is more restricted, especially for distance study. The Open University also publishes separate fee rules for its 2027 LLE cohort, so students beginning modules in January 2027 should check which cohort they enter.
One practical observation: a lower annual module bill does not mean a degree will always cost less in the end. Study duration, fee increases and the credits you actually need all affect the total.
Part-Time Study and LLE Credits
Part-time study can suit career changers, shift workers and parents, but tuition eligibility and living-cost eligibility are separate tests. For eligible England-based LLE study, learners normally need 30 to 180 credits per course year. A conventional full-time year is often 120 credits; 60 credits is a common part-time pattern.
One credit represents roughly ten hours of expected learning, including independent study. That means 60 credits represents around 600 hours of learning across the relevant period, not necessarily 600 classroom hours.
Consider a parent choosing two 30-credit modules while continuing to work. Their modules might meet the normal 30-credit minimum for LLE tuition funding. But they would not ordinarily meet the 120-credit requirement for an LLE Childcare Grant or Parents' Learning Allowance. That distinction can make a genuine difference to the household budget.
Modules must also be approved for funding. LLE does not automatically cover any short course someone finds online. If you are comparing course patterns before making a decision, universities that offer routes suited to adult learners can help you explore study options without confusing admissions with funding eligibility.
Mature Student Grants, Bursaries and Scholarships
Mature student grants can matter as much as loans, particularly for parents or students with a disability. Unlike repayable loans, qualifying grants and bursaries usually do not need to be repaid. Awards are not automatic, however, and different parts of the UK have different funding rules.
For eligible 2026/27 England undergraduate students, the government's published limits include:
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Additional funding
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Published 2026/27 maximum or rate
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Childcare Grant
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Up to 85% of eligible costs, capped at £199.62 per week for one child or £342.24 for two or more
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Parents' Learning Allowance
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Up to £2,024 per course year
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Adult Dependants' Grant
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Up to £3,545 per course year
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Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA)
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Up to £27,783, subject to the relevant costs and conditions
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These are 2026/27 reference figures, not guaranteed 2027/28 awards. The government's published support rates provide the basis, and a student's actual entitlement may be much lower.
Under the LLE rules for additional help, eligible learners generally need at least 120 credits in a course year to receive a Childcare Grant, Parents' Learning Allowance, Adult Dependants' Grant or travel grant. DSA has a 30-credit minimum and is not normally means-tested. Certain healthcare, social work or teacher-training courses may have separate funding routes, which need checking against the appropriate scheme.
University funding for mature students may include institution-specific bursaries, access awards and hardship funds. Some depend on income, course subject, region or documented circumstances; some are open only to students already enrolled. Award values and deadlines differ by institution. Do not assume a scholarship advertised for international postgraduate applicants will also fund a UK-home undergraduate student.
If a grant or Maintenance Loan leaves a shortfall, consider whether your university offers its own hardship fund, payment schedule or eligible bursary. Employers sometimes sponsor relevant qualifications too. Confirm the conditions in writing rather than treating an advertised award as money you will definitely receive.
Funding a Second Degree or Returning to University
Previous study is one of the biggest concerns for mature students. Under the older England system, previous higher education study can restrict support, with exceptions for some courses. The 2027 LLE brings a different calculation: earlier government-funded tuition usually reduces the amount of entitlement remaining.
For example, the Department for Education illustrates a learner who has already completed a typical three-year degree valued at £29,370 under its reference rates. Against the £39,160 starting entitlement, that leaves £9,790 before relevant adjustments. This is an illustration, not a promise that every graduate has £9,790 left. Past funding can be revalued, and some eligible priority subjects may receive additional entitlement.
The less obvious point is that a second degree is not always an automatic 'no', but LLE does not provide an untouched four-year allowance to every graduate either. Check your remaining entitlement first.
Course access is a separate question. If your earlier qualifications are no longer relevant, possible university routes without traditional entry qualifications can help you compare academic entry pathways. Admission to a course still does not guarantee loan eligibility.
Student Loan Repayments for Mature Students
Repayments can feel especially uncertain when you are changing careers or approaching retirement. Repayments under the LLE use Plan 5 rules and are linked to income, not simply to the size of the outstanding balance.
Using the 2026/27 Plan 5 repayment threshold, borrowers normally repay 9% of earnings above £25,000 a year once repayments become due after leaving or finishing the course. The threshold can change in later tax years, so this is an illustration rather than a fixed lifetime figure. Someone earning £30,000 would therefore repay approximately £450 a year, or £37.50 a month, assuming the annual threshold and a stable income for this illustrative calculation. Repayments normally stop if earnings fall below the applicable threshold.
Plan 5 loans are normally written off 40 years after the April when repayments first become due, subject to the loan terms. Interest accrues. Consult the official repayment thresholds and examples before relying on a long-term estimate.
Loan repayment is a long-term commitment. Compare your likely course cost, work plans and household budget rather than viewing income-contingent repayments as a reason to borrow automatically.
Do Funding Rules Differ in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?
Yes. LLE is the new system for eligible England-based applicants, not a UK-wide replacement for every student finance scheme. The correct funding authority generally depends on where you are ordinarily resident, as well as the rules applying to your course.
For Scotland, start with the Scottish Government's education funding guidance and the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS). In Wales, Student Finance Wales explains the national undergraduate funding options, including its separate living-cost arrangements. For Northern Ireland, Student Finance NI sets out the applicable student finance routes.
Avoid copying England's LLE age rules, loan figures or application dates into a funding decision for another UK nation. The home funding body is the starting point, even when you plan to study at a university elsewhere in the UK.
Where to Check Eligibility and Apply
For England, first establish whether your course falls under the existing system or LLE. Then verify the course, OfS-registered provider, study credits, age, residency and any previous study. You can use the official student finance calculator for a personalised estimate, although the final assessment comes from the relevant student finance body.
For eligible courses starting January to July 2027, applications are scheduled to open at the end of October 2026. For courses beginning from 1 August 2027, the published opening window is spring 2027. Check the official start-date-specific application timetable. For longer courses, learners generally need to reapply each year. A finance application is made through the official service, not through a university-admissions consultancy.
For course selection and university admissions, BHE UNI can explain academic entry requirements. Student finance applications and eligibility decisions belong to the relevant official authorities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do mature students get student loans in the UK?
Yes. Eligible mature learners can apply for student loans, but their course, ordinary residence, previous study, age and study arrangements determine which loans may be available. From January 2027, most eligible England courses use LLE funding.
Can I get a student loan as a mature student over 25?
Potentially. Being 25 or older generally means your parents' income is excluded from the relevant household-income assessment, but a partner's income may count. It does not remove the other eligibility requirements.
Can I apply for a mature student loan at 50 or over?
A 50-year-old can qualify if all other requirements are met. For eligible LLE courses, you must be under 60 on the first day of the course to apply for a Tuition Fee Loan. Learners aged 60 or over may still qualify for certain living-cost loans under LLE, even though they cannot receive that tuition loan. Under the older undergraduate system, there is no general upper age limit for a Tuition Fee Loan.
Are maintenance loans available for mature students?
Yes, subject to eligibility. The amount depends on factors such as household income, living arrangements and course structure. Under LLE, in-person attendance is normally required, with limited exceptions for certain distance learners.
Can Open University students get funding?
Many qualifying students can receive tuition funding for eligible Open University modules and degrees. Maintenance Loans are more restricted because most OU study is distance learning. Funding also depends on the cohort and where the learner normally lives.
Can mature students get grants for childcare?
Some can. Under LLE, Childcare Grant and Parents' Learning Allowance generally require at least 120 credits in a course year, alongside the other conditions. A 30- or 60-credit course alone does not usually meet that grant threshold.
Can I get funding for a second degree in 2027?
Possibly. Earlier government-funded tuition usually reduces the LLE tuition entitlement available, and certain priority courses may qualify for extra entitlement. An existing degree does not automatically establish either approval or rejection.
Choosing Your Next Step as a Mature Student
Student loans for mature students in the UK can help make returning to university possible, but the course start date, your funding history and how you study matter more than the label “mature student”. From January 2027, England’s LLE changes tuition entitlement and allows more flexible eligible study. It also introduces an under-60 rule for Tuition Fee Loans, while separate arrangements continue elsewhere in the UK.
Start with a course that fits your goals, then check the correct funding route. Compare the actual university fee with the relevant loan limits, allow for living costs, and verify whether childcare, part-time or previous-degree rules affect you. Someone studying online for 60 credits will face different questions from a parent attending a full-time campus course. Neither should assume that admission guarantees funding.
For any loan or funding decision, use the relevant student finance authority. If you are ready to explore courses, entry requirements or a suitable university pathway, speak to the BHE UNI admissions team about your study options. Choose the course on its merits, with funding assumptions checked independently.
Information notice: This article is general educational information, not personalised financial, legal or immigration advice. BHE UNI provides university admissions guidance; it does not prepare student finance applications, determine loan eligibility or guarantee funding. Official bodies make all funding decisions. Figures and conditions may change.