Further Education Loans

This note discusses the government’s proposals to introduce loans for further education courses from September 2013. These loans will be called 24+ Advanced Learning Loans and they will apply to all courses at level 3/4 for learners aged 24 and over. Loans will cover the learner fee contribution only and will not be available for maintenance. Fee remission will be removed for all learners starting new courses at level 3 and above from 2013/14. These loans will be repaid on an income-contingent basis in a similar fashion to higher education loans.

This note outlines the background to these changes, gives details of the scheme and contains comment on the proposals.