Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
Tuition finance for UK education providers
StepEx converts payment-constrained demand across the enrolment funnel — enabling qualified learners to progress from prospect to applicant to enrolment, without providers discounting courses, running credit operations, or becoming a lender.
Finance is provided by StepEx Lender Ltd and is subject to eligibility and affordability checks.
Choose your path
I'm an education provider
Finance may not be suitable for everyone. StepEx will assess affordability before approving any agreement.
Where StepEx creates value for providers
Unlock enrolments blocked by upfront payment timing
Convert payment-constrained demand across the enrolment funnel
Engage qualified learners earlier and enable progression through application, acceptance and enrolment.
Expand the addressable market
Reach qualified prospects who would not otherwise apply due to upfront payment barriers.
Protect or optimise pricing
Avoid using discounts to solve a payment-timing problem.
Monetise spare capacity
Fill seats that would otherwise go empty, without lowering academic or admissions standards.
Payment constraints suppress demand before application as well as at payment, influencing whether qualified learners progress through the enrolment funnel.
Clear separation of responsibilities
Providers focus on education
- Admissions decisions
- Course delivery
- Commercial availability (which courses and cohorts are eligible for finance)
StepEx handles regulated finance
- Credit and affordability assessments
- Regulated finance agreements
- Servicing, collections and credit reporting
- Approval of financial promotions (where applicable)
Most providers can signpost students to StepEx without holding FCA credit-broking permission.
Some providers choose to act as an Introducer Appointed Representative in order to use StepEx-approved financial promotion materials, subject to FCA requirements.
Launch without heavy implementation
Most providers go live in days, typically 2–3 working days, with no core systems integration required.
Launch timing depends on:
- Confirming eligible courses and cohorts
- Branding the student journey
- Final compliance checks
Finance is provided by StepEx Lender Ltd and is subject to eligibility and affordability checks.