Level 3 or Higher Level Courses (Advanced Learner Loan)
Aged 19+ and applying for a Level 3 or higher level course?
Please note this information is for courses starting before 31 July 2023. The criteria may change for courses starting after this date.
If you’re aged 19 or over and are thinking about studying a Level 3 or Level 4 course, you may not have to pay any tuition fees but if you do, the 19+ Advanced Learner Loan might be for you. The loan is there to help you with the cost of your course fees.
See the table below to see how you could fund your Level 3 or above course.
| Provision | 19 – 23 year olds | 24+ |
|---|---|---|
| Provision: Level 3 qualification if it is your first and full Level 3 qualification and if your chosen course qualifies for funding. | 19 – 23 year olds: Fully funded | 24+: Loan funded |
| Provision: Level 3 qualification that is listed as part of the National Skills Fund if you are earning under the National Living Wage annually or unemployed. | 19 – 23 year olds: Any adult in England earning under the National Living Wage annually (£18,525) will also be able to access these qualifications for free, regardless of their prior qualification level. | 24+: Any adult in England earning under the National Living Wage annually (£18,525) will also be able to access these qualifications for free, regardless of their prior qualification level. |
| Provision: Level 3 qualification if you have already achieved Level 3 or above and your chosen course isn’t part of the National Skills Fund. | 19 – 23 year olds: Loan funded | 24+: Loan funded |
| Provision: Level 4, 5 and 6 qualification | 19 – 23 year olds: Loan funded | 24+: Loan funded |
It’s easy to apply – your household income isn’t taken into account and there’s no credit check.
Repayments
Repayments are based on your income, not on what you borrow or the number of student loans you have. This is known as an ‘income contingent’ repayment.
Example of repayment amounts
You’ll repay 9% of your income over £27,295 a year. Even if your income doesn’t exceed £27,295 a year but is over £524 a week or £2,274 a month at any point in the year (e.g. if you work overtime) then a loan deduction will be made.
For example, if you’re paid monthly and earn £2,500 before tax you’d repay 9% of the difference between what you earn and what the threshold is:
£2,500 — £2,274 = £226
9% of £226 = £20.34
So your student loan repayment would be £20 in that month.
If your income changes, either rising or falling, your repayment amounts will automatically change to reflect this. A different threshold may apply if you move to live in a country outside the UK.
| Annual Income before tax | Monthly Income before tax | Monthly repayment |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Income before tax: Up to £27,295 | Monthly Income before tax: £2,274 | Monthly repayment: £0 |
| Annual Income before tax: £28,000 | Monthly Income before tax: £2,333 | Monthly repayment: £5 |
| Annual Income before tax: £30,000 | Monthly Income before tax: £2,500 | Monthly repayment: £20 |
| Annual Income before tax: £32,000 | Monthly Income before tax: £2,666 | Monthly repayment: £35 |
| Annual Income before tax: £34,000 | Monthly Income before tax: £2,833 | Monthly repayment: £50 |
| Annual Income before tax: £36,000 | Monthly Income before tax: £3,000 | Monthly repayment: £65 |
Interest on your repayments
You’ll be charged interest at the Retail Price Index (RPI) + 3% while you complete your course and until the following April after leaving your course.
After that interest is linked to your earnings.
If you do need any help with your application, just contact our friendly enrolment team.
You can call them on 0115 9 100 100 or email enrolmentteam@nottinghamcollege.ac.uk.