Citation, commencement and extent

1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Education (Student Loans) (Repayment) (Amendments for Lifelong Learning) Regulations 2026 and come into force on 1st September 2026.

(2) Subject to paragraph (3), these Regulations extend to England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

(3) An amendment made by these Regulations has the same extent as the provision amended.

Amendment of the Education (Student Loans) (Repayment) Regulations 2009

2. The Education (Student Loans) (Repayment) Regulations 2009(3) are amended in accordance with regulations 3 to 10.

Amendment of regulation 3 (interpretation)

3.—(1) Regulation 3(1)(4) is amended as follows.

(2) After the definition of “the 2011 Support Regulations” insert—

““the 2026 Support Regulations” means the Lifelong Learning (Student Support) (Amendment of Fees and Awards etc.) Regulations 2026(5);”.

(3) After the definition of “country-specific multiplier” insert—

““course”, where the course is a course for which a borrower(6) has taken out a plan 5 LLE loan, includes a module;”.

(4) After the definition of “loan purchaser” insert—

““module” has the meaning given in regulation 4(3) of the 2026 Support Regulations;”.

(5) After the definition of “plan 5 loan” insert—

““plan 5 LLE loan” (short for “plan 5 Lifelong Learning Entitlement loan”) has the meaning given in regulation 3E(3);

“plan 5 non-LLE loan” (short for “plan 5 non-Lifelong Learning Entitlement loan”) has the meaning given in regulation 3E(1);”.

Amendment of regulation 3E (meaning of “plan 5 loan”)

4.—(1) Regulation 3E(7) is amended as follows.

(2) Before paragraph (1) insert—

“(A1) A “plan 5 loan” is a loan which is—

(a)a plan 5 LLE loan, or

(b)a plan 5 non-LLE loan.”.

(3) In paragraph (1), in the opening words, for “plan 5 loan” substitute “plan 5 non-LLE loan”.

(4) After paragraph (2) insert—

“(3) A “plan 5 LLE loan” is a loan paid under the 2026 Support Regulations.”.

Amendment of regulation 7 (application to transferred loans in England and Wales)

5. In regulation 7(2), after “regulations 15” insert “, 16”.

Amendment of regulation 9 (interpretation of Part 2)

6. In regulation 9(1), in the definition of “direct payment”(8), in paragraph (a), after “regulation 15(1)” insert “or 15A(1)”.

Amendment of regulation 15 (timing and notification of repayments)

7.—(1) Regulation 15(9) is amended as follows.

(2) In the heading—

(a)after “Timing” insert “of repayments(10) for specified student loans”;

(b)after “notification of repayments” insert “for all student loans”.

(3) In paragraph (A1)(a), for “plan 1, 2, 3 or 5 loan” substitute “plan 1 loan, plan 2 loan, plan 3 loan(11) or plan 5 non-LLE loan”.

(4) In paragraph (1), for “plan 1, 2, 3 or 5 loan” substitute “plan 1 loan, plan 2 loan, plan 3 loan or plan 5 non-LLE loan”.

(5) In paragraph (2), for “plan 1, 2 or 5 loan” substitute “plan 1 loan, plan 2 loan or plan 5 non-LLE loan”.

(6) In paragraph (2A), for “plan 2 or 5 loan” substitute “plan 2 loan or plan 5 non-LLE loan”.

(7) In paragraph (2B), for “plan 2 or 5 loan” substitute “plan 2 loan or plan 5 non-LLE loan”.

Insertion of regulation 15A (timing of repayments for plan 5 LLE loans)

8. After regulation 15 insert—

Timing of repayments for plan 5 LLE loans

15A.—(1) A borrower may repay all or any part of a plan 5 LLE loan to the Authority(12) at any time, by making direct payments to the Authority.

(2) The borrower is not required to repay any part of a plan 5 LLE loan taken out in connection with a course before the earlier of—

(a)the start of the following tax year commencing on 6th April after the borrower has completed the course, or

(b)the start of the following tax year commencing on 6th April after the borrower’s status as an eligible student in connection with the course terminates in accordance with regulation 13(4) to (6) of the 2026 Support Regulations.

(3) Where a borrower transfers from one course (“course A”) to another course (“course B”) in accordance with regulation 15 of the 2026 Support Regulations, the references to “the course” in paragraphs (2)(a) and (b) are references to course B.

(4) In this regulation, “eligible student” has the meaning given in regulation 7(2) of the 2026 Support Regulations.”.

Amendment of regulation 18 (direct debit repayment)

9. In regulation 18, in paragraph (8), after “regulation 15(1)” insert “or 15A(1)”.

Amendment of regulation 19 (cancellation)

10.—(1) Regulation 19(13) is amended as follows.

(2) In paragraph (3)(f)—

(a)in the opening words, for “plan 2 or 5 loan” substitute “plan 2 loan or plan 5 non-LLE loan”;

(b)for paragraph (ii) substitute—

“(ii)as an eligible student completes—

(aa)a course designated by or under regulation 5 or 139 of the 2011 Support Regulations, or

(bb)a designated course, within the meaning of regulation 10 of the 2026 Support Regulations, which is a full course within the meaning of those Regulations, but is not an ALL-transfer course or a gateway course;”.

(3) In paragraph (7)—

(a)after the definition of “Access to HE Diploma” insert—

““ALL-transfer course” has the meaning given in paragraph 1 of Schedule 1 to the 2026 Support Regulations;”;

(b)omit the definition of “designated course”;

(c)for the definition of “eligible student” substitute—

““eligible student” means a student who falls within the meaning of that term in—

(d)after the definition of “eligible student” insert—

““gateway course” has the meaning given in paragraph 1 of Schedule 1 to the 2026 Support Regulations.”.