WTC is now a Student Loans Company provider
Statement from Ben Blackwell, Principal of WTC:
As a theological college, we know that one of the primary barriers to study is finance. We have heard many stories of God’s miraculous provision over the years, and we don’t take them lightly, but nor do we want to be dismissive of a very real pressure, particularly in a cost-of-living crisis. When we surveyed our students and alumni in 2024, we found that a majority were relying on donations and outside funding to pay for their studies.
As we prayed over that, we found God leading us to explore what it would take to make student finance available to our students. That led to a long application process with the Office for Students, and we are delighted to say we have now been accepted onto the Register.
Our OfS registration opens a number of doors for WTC. The most significant is this: our programmes are now designated for student finance, which means eligible students can apply to the Student Loans Company to fund their studies with us. This includes current students and new students.
For courses occurring in 2026-27
Importantly, the possibility of taking a loan depends on which course you would study on and where you live. If you live in England, Wales or Northern Ireland and haven’t previously studied at the same level, you can now apply for:
- Undergraduate tuition fee loans for our Certificate in Higher Education, BA (Hons) and Graduate Diploma, if you do not already hold a degree or an equivalent qualification.
- Postgraduate loans for our MA on the two years plus dissertation route (students in Northern Ireland may also use the three years plus dissertation route)
You have up to nine months from the start of your course to apply. WTC has no involvement in the Student Finance application process itself. It is handled entirely by the Student Loans Company.
If you live in Scotland, funding is administered separately by SAAS, and we are unfortunately not yet able to offer student finance for Scottish-domiciled students due to their regulations. Nevertheless, please do get in touch. We would love to talk with you about alternative opportunities.
Looking ahead: Lifelong Learning Entitlement
For students in England, the way undergraduate study is funded will change from the 2027-28 academic year. The Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE) replaces the current system with a single entitlement, the equivalent of four years’ tuition. You can draw on the LLE across your working life up to the age of 60, rather than in one continuous block of study. Anyone starting with us in September 2026 remains on the current rules for the duration of their course. The change will only affect students joining us in September 2027 onwards. The LLE covers study at Levels 4 to 6, so postgraduate loans for our MA are not affected. You can read more about the LLE HERE.
We are hopeful that this opens the door for many who have long wanted to study, but for whom the cost has been the limiting factor. If that is you, please do get in touch.
You can read more about applying for Student loans and start the process HERE.
If you are interested in studying, apply today by clicking HERE.
In Christ,
Ben Blackwell
Principal