Ten Alliance universities have been approved by the Department for Education to deliver modular courses under the government’s new Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE), marking a major step forward for flexible higher education and skills provision.
The DfE has confirmed the first wave of approved providers, which will enable institutions to offer loan‑funded short courses from January 2027 onwards.
The ten approved Alliance universities are:
- Birmingham City University
- Kingston University
- Middlesex University
- Teesside University
- The University of Greenwich
- University of Brighton
- University of Derby
- University of Hertfordshire
- University of the West of England, Bristol
- University of Westminster
These modules will allow learners to study individual units rather than full degrees, supporting more flexible ways to upskill and retrain throughout their careers.
The LLE represents a significant reform of post‑18 education funding, giving learners access to a loan entitlement equivalent to four years of study that can be used across modules or full qualifications.
The first approvals cover priority skills areas for Alliance universities, such as engineering, computing and healthcare.
Vanessa Wilson, Chief Executive of University Alliance, said:
“Today marks an important milestone in lifelong learning. The fact that ten University Alliance members have been approved to deliver modular provision is testament to their strong track record in high-quality, flexible and vocational provision designed in partnership with employers.
“The Lifelong Learning Entitlement has the potential to be transformative for learners it easier to upskill, retrain and access education throughout their lives in a way that works for them.”
