Government announces Birkbeck as a provider of short courses that qualify for the lifelong learning entitlement
Students will be able to apply for loans to cover mathematics short courses at Birkbeck.
Birkbeck has been named as one of fewer than 60 English universities that will be able to offer short courses in priority areas that qualify for student fee loans, when the new lifelong learning entitlement (LLE) is introduced later this year.
Under the LLE, which is being introduced in September 2026, and which will replace the current undergraduate student loans system for students beginning courses after 1 January 2027, learners will be able to apply for four years of undergraduate-level loan funding up to the age of 60.
The funding, which is currently worth up to £39,160, can be used to pay for traditional three-year degrees, as well as a selection of short 30-credit modules in subjects that have been identified by the Government as priority areas.
Unlike under the current student loan terms, students will be able to spend the loan on courses at the same level as, or lower level than, qualifications they have previously obtained.
Birkbeck, which is highly experienced at delivering lifelong learning and which has a long history of offering a broad range of short courses alongside its undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes, has been approved to offer short maths courses, which will qualify for LLE funding.
Professor Sally Wheeler, Vice-Chancellor said, "We’re really pleased to have been approved by the Department for Education to offer short maths courses that are eligible for funding under the new lifelong learning entitlement being introduced later this year.
"Birkbeck was established over 200 years ago to provide education to working people, so we have a wealth of experience in supporting learners to reskill and upskill and improve their employment prospects.
"The UK economy needs mathematicians to thrive: maths builds the foundation for logic and critical thinking, helps us understand the universe, and opens doors to a wide range of career opportunities but many universities have stopped offering maths degrees. Birkbeck is delighted to step into this void and offer short maths courses that are eligible for LLE funding to help boost learners’ careers.”