Cambridge Regional College to Deliver New Lifelong Learning Entitlement Funded Courses from January 2027

Cambridge Regional College (CRC) is pleased to announce that it is one of a select group of providers to have been chosen to deliver eligible Higher Education courses and modular courses funded through the Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE).

The LLE introduces a single, unified funding system designed to offer greater flexibility for learners to upskill, retrain, and study at their own pace throughout their working lives. It will create opportunities for both young people and adults to develop the skills needed in priority sectors, such as engineering and construction, that will contribute to the UK’s economic growth. The initiative aligns with CRC’s commitment to provide greater and more flexible access to education for learners across the region.

CRC will offer two higher education courses:

• Level 4 Higher National Certificate in Mechanical Engineering for England
• HTQ BTEC Higher National Certificate in Construction Management for England (Construction Site Supervisor)

From January 2027, students will have the option to study standalone, approved course modules (minimum of 30 credits), rather than enrol in a full multi-year qualification. This will allow them to build their skills incrementally and fit their studies more flexibly into their lives.

Tuition fee loans under the LLE are available for eligible learners up to the age of 60 at the start of their course. Returning students who have previously accessed student finance will be allocated a residual entitlement based on their past funding history. 

Applications for the LLE will open in October 2026 for eligible courses and modules starting on or after 1 January 2027.

CRC Principal Mark Robertson says: “We are delighted that Cambridge Regional College have been chosen as one of a few colleges approved to run Lifelong Learning Programmes. These flexible new programmes will open up learning and career development opportunities to a wider range of people in Construction Management and Engineering – to develop skills that are very much in demand to meet the Eastern Region’s skills needs and career opportunities.”

CRC Assistant Principal Matt Charlton says: “At Cambridge Regional College, we are committed to creating flexible pathways that enable people to access higher-level skills throughout their lives. Through our Lifelong Learning Entitlement offer, learners can now study modules from our Level 4 Higher National Certificate in Mechanical Engineering and HTQ BTEC Higher National Certificate in Construction Management, allowing them to build knowledge and skills at a pace that fits around work, family, and other commitments. This innovative approach removes barriers to higher education, giving learners greater choice and flexibility while ensuring they develop the technical expertise that employers need. By enabling individuals to study and achieve in smaller, manageable stages, we are opening up new opportunities for career progression, upskilling, and retraining in sectors that are critical to the region’s economic growth. We are proud to be supporting learners and employers through a model that reflects the future of education, where learning is more accessible, responsive, and closely aligned to workforce needs.”

For further enquiries about accessing our HE courses through the LLE, please contact Helen West at .

For more information about the LLE and modular learning, please see LLE resources.