Maintenance Loans Explained: A Complete Guide for 2026/27
- Revision Notes
- Jul 31
- 18 min read
Updated: Aug 14
A Maintenance Loan helps students pay for everyday living costs while they are at university.
Unlike a Tuition Fee Loan, which is paid directly to your university, a Maintenance Loan is paid into your bank account. You decide how to use it for expenses such as rent, food, transport and course materials.
The amount you receive depends on several factors, including:
Where you normally live before university
Where you study
Whether you live with your parents
Your household income
Whether you study full-time or part-time
Your personal circumstances
The length and stage of your course
This guide explains how Maintenance Loans work, how much you could receive in 2026/27 and what to do if the loan does not cover all your university costs.
Important: Student finance differs across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The detailed household-income examples in this guide relate mainly to Student Finance England, followed by an explanation of the other UK systems.
Students beginning an eligible higher education course in England on or after 1 January 2027 will move into the new Lifelong Learning Entitlement system, so different funding rules may apply.
What Is a Maintenance Loan?
A Maintenance Loan is government-backed borrowing intended to help with your living costs while you study.
You can normally use it for expenses such as:
University accommodation or private rent
Food and household shopping
Electricity, gas and water
Transport
Books and equipment
Mobile phone and internet bills
Laundry and toiletries
Course-related travel
Social activities
Other day-to-day costs
The money is paid directly into your bank account, usually in three instalments across the academic year. You must repay it under the rules of your student loan repayment plan.
For a broader explanation of university funding, read Student Finance Explained.
Is a Maintenance Loan Different from a Tuition Fee Loan?
Yes. The two loans have different purposes and are paid differently.
Tuition Fee Loan | Maintenance Loan |
Helps pay your course fees | Helps pay your living costs |
Paid directly to your university | Paid into your bank account |
Normally based on the university’s fee | Usually affected by household income |
Not available for you to spend | Managed and budgeted by you |
Repaid through the student loan system | Repaid through the student loan system |
Although they are paid separately, Tuition Fee and Maintenance Loans are normally combined within your overall undergraduate student loan balance.
Read How Student Loans Work for more information about interest, repayments and loan write-off periods.
How Much Maintenance Loan Can You Get in England?
For full-time students funded through Student Finance England in the 2026/27 academic year, the maximum Maintenance Loan depends on where you live during term time.
Living arrangements | Maximum Maintenance Loan |
Living with your parents | £9,118 |
Living away from your parents, outside London | £10,830 |
Living away from your parents, in London | £14,135 |
Spending a year of a UK course studying abroad | £12,403 |
Aged 60 or over at the start of the course | £4,582 |
The London rate is higher because students studying in London are expected to face greater living costs. Students on courses lasting more than 30 weeks and 3 days may also qualify for an additional Long Course Loan.
These figures are maximum amounts. Most students will only receive the maximum if their assessed household income is £25,000 or less, or if special rules apply to their circumstances.
What Is the Minimum Maintenance Loan in England?
Eligible students can usually receive a basic amount of Maintenance Loan without providing household income details.
For 2026/27, the standard non-income-assessed minimum amounts are:
Living arrangements | Minimum Maintenance Loan |
Living with your parents | £4,013 |
Living away from your parents, outside London | £5,048 |
Living away from your parents, in London | £7,039 |
Most students can receive more than these minimum amounts if they provide the household income information required by Student Finance England.
Choosing not to provide income information could therefore reduce the amount you receive by several thousand pounds.
How Does Household Income Affect Your Maintenance Loan?
In England, part of the Maintenance Loan is means-tested.
This means Student Finance England uses household income to decide how much additional support you can receive above the basic minimum.
The general pattern is:
Students from lower-income households receive more.
Students from higher-income households receive less.
All eligible students can normally access a basic minimum amount.
The amount also depends on where the student lives and studies.
Students with an assessed household income of up to £25,000 usually receive the maximum standard Maintenance Loan. Above this level, entitlement gradually reduces until only the basic amount remains.
Example Maintenance Loan amounts for 2026/27
The following figures apply to full-time Student Finance England students who are not receiving the higher rates associated with certain benefits.
Household income | Living with parents | Away from home, outside London | Away from home, in London |
£25,000 | £9,118 | £10,830 | £14,135 |
£30,000 | £8,354 | £10,058 | £13,349 |
£35,000 | £7,589 | £9,285 | £12,563 |
£40,000 | £6,825 | £8,512 | £11,777 |
£45,000 | £6,060 | £7,739 | £10,991 |
Students reach the standard minimum rate at different household-income levels:
Around £58,347 for students living with parents
Around £62,410 for students living away outside London
Around £70,131 for students living away in London
The official assessment uses residual household income rather than simply copying the gross salary shown on a payslip, so these figures should be treated as illustrations rather than guaranteed awards.
What Is Residual Household Income?
Residual household income is the income used by Student Finance England after certain allowable deductions have been made.
The calculation normally begins with gross taxable income before Income Tax and National Insurance.
Student Finance England may then deduct amounts such as:
Certain private pension contributions
Additional voluntary pension contributions
Some employment-related expenses
An allowance for other financially dependent children
An allowance if a parent is also a student
The remaining figure is used to calculate the income-assessed part of the Maintenance Loan.
This means a household’s assessed income may not be identical to the combined salaries of the adults involved.
Whose Income Is Included?
The answer depends on the student’s circumstances.
Dependent students
Most students under 25 are treated as dependent students.
The household income assessment may include:
Both parents’ income if the parents live together
The income of the parent the student normally depends on
The income of that parent’s partner, if they live together
The assessment is based on the household where the student is considered financially dependent, not necessarily the household they spend the most nights in.
A parent’s partner may be included even if they are not the student’s biological parent and have not formally agreed to contribute towards university costs.
Independent students
A student may be assessed independently if they meet specific conditions.
These can include being:
Aged 25 or over at the start of the academic year
Married or in a civil partnership
Responsible for a child
Without living parents
Financially self-supporting for at least three years
Permanently estranged from their parents
Previously looked after by a local authority in qualifying circumstances
An independent student’s parents’ income is not normally included. However, a spouse, civil partner or partner’s income may be assessed in some circumstances.
Simply moving out of the family home, supporting yourself for a few months or having parents who refuse to provide their income details does not automatically make you an independent student.
Which Tax Year Is Used?
For a Student Finance England application for the 2026/27 academic year, household income is normally taken from the 2024/25 tax year.
This is because HM Revenue and Customs has complete, verified information for that period when applications are being assessed.
This can cause problems when a household’s current income is much lower than it was two years earlier.
For example, a parent may have:
Been made redundant
Retired
Reduced their working hours
Become unable to work
Closed a business
Experienced a major fall in self-employed earnings
In these circumstances, the household may be able to request a current-year income assessment.
What If Your Household Income Has Fallen?
For 2026/27 Student Finance England applications, a household may qualify for a current-year income assessment if its expected income for the 2026/27 tax year is at least 15% lower than the income previously supplied.
The student’s sponsor must still provide the requested 2024/25 income information before submitting the current-year assessment request. Actual income will normally need to be confirmed later.
Do not assume the initial Maintenance Loan calculation cannot be changed. A significant fall in household income could increase the student’s entitlement.
Are Parents Required to Pay the Difference?
Student Finance England does not send parents a bill for the difference between the maximum Maintenance Loan and the amount awarded.
However, the system reduces Maintenance Loan entitlement as household income rises. In practice, this creates an assumed gap that the student must cover from other sources.
These sources might include:
Support from parents or a partner
Savings
Part-time work
Scholarships or bursaries
University hardship funding
Local authority support
Official guidance acknowledges that even the maximum loan may not cover every student’s costs and states that students may need to make up the difference using other sources.
Families should discuss this before the student chooses accommodation or commits to a university.
Useful questions include:
How much Maintenance Loan is likely to be awarded?
How much is the student’s accommodation?
Are bills included in the rent?
Will the family contribute regularly or only in emergencies?
How much could the student realistically earn from part-time work?
What bursaries are offered by the university?
What If Your Parents Refuse to Provide Their Income?
Student Finance England cannot normally award the full income-assessed Maintenance Loan without the necessary household information.
If parents refuse to supply their income details, the student may receive only the basic non-income-assessed amount.
Parental refusal does not automatically make the student independent. Student Finance England specifically states that a student cannot claim independent status simply because their parents refuse to provide financial details or financial support.
Students in this situation should speak to:
Student Finance England
Their school or college adviser
The university’s student money team
An independent student finance adviser
The university may also have bursaries or hardship support available.
Maintenance Loans for Estranged Students
A student may be able to apply as independent if they are permanently estranged from their parents.
Student Finance England will normally expect evidence from an independent professional who knows about the student’s circumstances. This could include a:
Teacher or personal tutor
Social worker
Doctor
Support worker
Student services adviser
Housing or charity professional
The usual expectation is that there has been no contact for at least 12 months and that the breakdown is unlikely to change, although exceptional circumstances can be considered individually.
Students generally need to confirm their estrangement again when they reapply for student finance each year.
Maintenance Loans for Care Leavers
From the 2026/27 academic year, Student Finance England does not use household income to calculate a care leaver’s Maintenance Loan.
Eligible care leavers can choose to borrow the maximum amount for their living arrangements. Household information may still be requested to assess eligibility for other support or bursaries.
Care-experienced students should also check for:
University care-leaver bursaries
Local authority support
Accommodation guarantees
Summer accommodation
Graduation grants
Named student support contacts
These schemes are separate from the Maintenance Loan and can vary between universities and local authorities.
Do You Have to Take the Full Maintenance Loan?
No. You can normally choose how much of the available Maintenance Loan you want to borrow.
You may decide to:
Take the full amount
Borrow only part of the amount
Apply without requesting a Maintenance Loan
Increase the amount later, subject to the application deadline and your entitlement
Before borrowing less, check your full expected budget.
Government-backed student finance usually has more flexible repayment conditions than commercial overdrafts, personal loans or credit cards. Reducing your Maintenance Loan and later relying on expensive borrowing may not leave you better off.
Read Budgeting for Students before deciding how much to request.
When Is the Maintenance Loan Paid?
Full-time students funded through Student Finance England are usually paid in three instalments, normally near the start of each university term.
Your Student Finance Notification of Entitlement will show:
The total amount awarded
The amount of each instalment
Your expected payment dates
Any grants or additional support included
Your first payment cannot normally be released until you have registered at your university and the university has confirmed your attendance. Once registration is confirmed, it can take up to five working days for the payment to reach your bank account.
Why might your payment be delayed?
Common reasons include:
Your application has not been fully assessed.
Evidence is missing.
Your bank details are incorrect.
Your National Insurance number has not been verified.
You have not completed university registration.
Your university has not confirmed attendance.
Your name differs across your UCAS, banking and student finance records.
You changed course or university without updating the application.
Check your online account before contacting the funding provider. It may show an outstanding action or evidence request.
Are the Three Instalments Equal?
Not always.
Your entitlement notification will show the exact instalment amounts. Payment schedules can differ according to the university’s term dates, course structure and funding system.
Do not assume that each payment will be exactly one-third of the annual total.
You should also check whether your accommodation provider expects:
Monthly rent
Termly rent
A large first payment
A deposit before the Maintenance Loan arrives
This is especially important for students whose first rent instalment is due before university registration.
How Should You Budget a Maintenance Loan?
A Maintenance Loan can look like a large amount when it arrives as one termly payment. The danger is spending too much during the first few weeks.
The safest approach is to divide each instalment by the number of weeks it must cover.
Example Maintenance Loan budget
Suppose a student receives £3,300 for a 13-week term.
Their weekly amount is:
£3,300 ÷ 13 = approximately £254 per week
If accommodation costs £180 per week, the student has approximately £74 per week left for:
Food
Transport
Course materials
Toiletries
Laundry
Phone bills
Social activities
Emergencies
That calculation should be completed before signing an accommodation contract.
A simple termly budget might look like this:
Expense | Termly amount |
Rent | £2,340 |
Food | £520 |
Transport | £130 |
Phone | £78 |
Laundry and toiletries | £100 |
Course costs | £80 |
Social spending | £150 |
Emergency allowance | £100 |
Total | £3,498 |
In this example, the student would face a £198 shortfall and would need to reduce spending or find additional income.
Read Cost of Living at University and Hidden Costs of University for a fuller list of expenses.
Will the Maintenance Loan Cover Your Rent?
It depends on your award and accommodation cost.
Some students find that their Maintenance Loan covers their rent with money left over. Others find that the loan does not cover the full accommodation charge.
For example:
Annual Maintenance Loan: £7,739
Annual accommodation cost: £8,500
Shortfall before food or travel: £761
The student would then need additional money for all other living costs.
This is why comparing universities only by course quality or league-table position can be risky. Accommodation and local living costs can have a major effect on affordability.
Before choosing accommodation:
Find your estimated Maintenance Loan.
Check the full contract cost, not just the weekly rent.
Confirm the number of weeks covered.
Check whether bills are included.
Add food, travel and course costs.
Calculate the remaining weekly amount.
What Other Support Can You Receive?
A Maintenance Loan is only one possible source of living-cost support.
Depending on your circumstances, you may also qualify for:
University bursaries
Scholarships
Disabled Students’ Allowance
Childcare Grant
Parents’ Learning Allowance
Adult Dependants’ Grant
Travel grants
NHS or healthcare bursaries
Local authority support
University hardship funds
Some support is based on household income, while other funding depends on disability, caring responsibilities, subject choice or personal circumstances.
Read Scholarships vs Bursaries to understand which awards usually need to be repaid.
What Is a Long Course Loan?
Students on full-time courses lasting more than 30 weeks and 3 days in an academic year may qualify for additional Maintenance Loan support.
For Student Finance England in 2026/27, the maximum additional amount for each qualifying extra week is:
Living arrangements | Maximum additional amount per week |
Living with parents | £77 |
Living away outside London | £116 |
Living away in London | £149 |
Living and studying abroad | £161 |
The amount awarded depends on household income and the number of additional weeks on the course.
Long Course Loans may be particularly relevant to students studying subjects with extended academic years, placements or clinical training.
Can Part-Time Students Get a Maintenance Loan?
Some part-time students funded through Student Finance England can receive a Maintenance Loan.
The student must generally study at an intensity of at least 25% of the equivalent full-time course.
The maximum entitlement is adjusted according to course intensity:
Course intensity | Maximum proportion of full-time Maintenance Loan |
25% to less than 33.3% | 25% |
33.3% to less than 50% | 33.3% |
50% to less than 66.6% | 50% |
66.6% to less than 75% | 66.6% |
75% to less than 100% | 75% |
100% | 100% |
Household income is also considered. Part-time distance-learning students can normally receive a Maintenance Loan only when a disability prevents them from attending the course in person.
Do Distance-Learning Students Get a Maintenance Loan?
Most full-time distance-learning students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan but not a Maintenance Loan.
An exception may apply if the student cannot attend the course in person because of a disability.
This means students considering an online degree should not assume that the standard living-cost package will be available.
Why Is the Final-Year Maintenance Loan Lower?
Final-year students normally receive less Maintenance Loan than students in earlier years.
This is because student finance is generally intended to cover living costs during the course. In the final year, funding does not usually include the summer period after the course has ended.
The reduction can come as an unpleasant surprise, particularly for students who still have:
Rent to pay after graduation
A long accommodation contract
Moving costs
Travel costs
A delay before starting work
Graduation expenses
Students should include this lower final-year payment in their financial planning.
Student Finance Wales also confirms that final-year students receive a lower rate because their final term is shorter.
What Happens If Your Living Arrangements Change?
Your Maintenance Loan is calculated partly according to where you live during term time.
You must update your student finance account if you change from:
Living with parents to living away
Living away to living with parents
Studying outside London to studying in London
Studying in London to studying elsewhere
Studying in the UK to studying abroad
Student Finance England may ask for evidence of the change.
Failing to update your details could result in:
Receiving too little
Receiving too much
Delayed future payments
An overpayment that must be returned
Official guidance requires students to report changes to their living arrangements so that the correct funding can be paid.
What Happens If You Leave or Suspend Your Course?
If you leave or suspend your course, your Maintenance Loan will be reassessed according to the period you actually attended.
Money paid for a period after your withdrawal date may become an overpayment.
An overpayment is different from the normal student loan balance. You may be asked to repay it immediately, without waiting until your income exceeds the usual student loan repayment threshold.
Contact both your university and student finance provider immediately if you:
Withdraw
Suspend your studies
Transfer course
Change university
Repeat a year
Return after an interruption
Do not simply stop attending. The date officially recorded by the university can affect your entitlement and any overpayment.
Do You Repay a Maintenance Loan?
Yes. A Maintenance Loan is added to your student loan balance and repaid under your repayment plan.
For most students from England beginning an undergraduate course on or after 1 August 2023, this is Plan 5.
Under Plan 5 in the 2026/27 tax year:
The repayment threshold is £25,000.
You repay 9% of income above the threshold.
You pay nothing while your income is below the threshold.
Repayments normally begin from the April after leaving the course.
Remaining eligible debt is normally written off 40 years after you first become due to repay.
Your Tuition Fee and Maintenance Loans are not normally repaid through separate payroll deductions. They form part of the same undergraduate loan balance.
Read Student Loan Repayments Explained for worked salary examples.
Maintenance Support in Wales
Students who normally live in Wales apply through Student Finance Wales.
Eligible full-time students can receive a combination of:
A Maintenance Loan, which must be repaid
A Welsh Government Learning Grant, which does not normally need to be repaid
For 2026/27, the total standard living-cost support is:
Living arrangements | Total support |
Living with parents | £10,685 |
Living away outside London | £12,590 |
Living away in London | £15,720 |
The total support remains the same across the household-income examples published by Student Finance Wales, but the balance between loan and grant changes.
Students from lower-income households receive more as a grant and less as a loan. Students from higher-income households receive more as a loan and a smaller grant.
For example, a student living away outside London receives:
Household income | Loan | Grant | Total |
£18,370 or less | £4,330 | £8,260 | £12,590 |
£25,000 | £5,505 | £7,085 | £12,590 |
£35,000 | £7,279 | £5,311 | £12,590 |
£45,000 | £9,052 | £3,538 | £12,590 |
£59,200 or more | £11,570 | £1,020 | £12,590 |
Payments are normally made into the student’s bank account in three instalments at the start of each term.
Living-Cost Support in Scotland
Students who normally live in Scotland apply through the Student Awards Agency Scotland, known as SAAS.
Support may consist of a student loan and a bursary. The balance depends on household income and whether the applicant is classed as a young or independent student.
For the current published funding package, young students can receive:
Household income | Bursary | Loan | Total |
£0 to £20,999 | £2,000 | £9,400 | £11,400 |
£21,000 to £23,999 | £1,125 | £9,400 | £10,525 |
£24,000 to £33,999 | £500 | £9,400 | £9,900 |
£34,000 or more | £0 | £8,400 | £8,400 |
Independent students can receive:
Household income | Bursary | Loan | Total |
£0 to £20,999 | £1,000 | £10,400 | £11,400 |
£21,000 to £23,999 | £0 | £10,400 | £10,400 |
£24,000 to £33,999 | £0 | £9,900 | £9,900 |
£34,000 or more | £0 | £8,400 | £8,400 |
The loan must be repaid, while the bursary does not normally need to be repaid. Students must apply to SAAS each academic year, even when their tuition fees are also being funded.
Maintenance Loans in Northern Ireland
Students who normally live in Northern Ireland apply through Student Finance Northern Ireland.
The maximum full-year Maintenance Loan amounts for 2026/27 are:
Living arrangements | Maximum Maintenance Loan |
Living with parents | £6,471 |
Living away outside London | £8,352 |
Living away in London | £11,699 |
Living abroad for at least one term | £9,956 |
The amount depends on household income and where the student lives during term time. Students may also qualify for a Maintenance Grant or Special Support Grant.
Student Finance Northern Ireland states that the living-cost support provided is unlikely to cover every expense, so students should prepare a careful budget. Payments are normally made in three instalments, one near the start of each term.
Common Maintenance Loan Mistakes
Assuming you will receive the maximum
The headline figure is not a guaranteed award. Check the household-income rules and use the official finance calculator.
Not providing household income information
This may leave you with only the basic minimum amount.
Choosing accommodation before checking your entitlement
An expensive halls contract can use the entire Maintenance Loan before food, travel or course costs are considered.
Treating the first payment as spending money
The instalment may need to last several months.
Forgetting that final-year funding is lower
Plan for the period between finishing university and receiving your first salary.
Ignoring an evidence request
Your application may remain unapproved until the missing information is supplied.
Failing to update a change of address or university
This could lead to delayed payments or an overpayment.
Relying entirely on part-time work
University timetables, placements, exams and assignment deadlines can limit how many hours you can work.
Assuming a parent’s refusal creates independent status
Independent status is based on formal eligibility rules and evidence, not simply whether parents are willing to contribute.
Maintenance Loan Application Checklist
Before applying:
Identify the correct student finance organisation.
Check that your course is eligible.
Estimate your Maintenance Loan.
Discuss household income evidence with your parents or partner.
Research university bursaries.
Compare funding with accommodation costs.
Create a realistic annual budget.
During the application:
Enter your course and university details.
Request the maximum or chosen loan amount.
Provide household income information.
Upload all requested evidence.
Add a UK bank account in your name.
Check your online account regularly.
Read your entitlement notification carefully.
Before university begins:
Confirm your payment dates.
Check your first rent deadline.
Save enough to cover any gap before the first payment.
Complete university registration promptly.
Divide each instalment into a weekly budget.
Keep a small emergency fund where possible.
During university:
Update changes to your address or course.
Reapply for student finance each year.
Apply for hardship support before a crisis becomes unmanageable.
Review your budget after every payment.
Contact student finance immediately if you suspend or leave.
Frequently Asked Questions About Maintenance Loans
Does everyone get a Maintenance Loan?
Most eligible full-time undergraduate students can apply, but eligibility depends on residency, course, previous study and personal circumstances.
Do I need to pay a Maintenance Loan back?
Yes. It is repayable through the student loan system once your income exceeds the threshold for your repayment plan.
Is the Maintenance Loan paid to the university?
No. It is normally paid into your personal bank account.
Is the Maintenance Loan paid monthly?
It is usually paid in three instalments, normally near the start of each term.
Can I use a Maintenance Loan to pay rent?
Yes. Accommodation is one of the main living costs the loan is intended to help cover.
Does my part-time job reduce my Maintenance Loan?
Ordinary earnings from part-time work during the academic year are not generally assessed in the same way as parental household income. Certain forms of the student’s own taxable unearned income may be included in the assessment.
Can I receive the maximum if my parents will not support me?
The assessment is based on household income rather than the amount parents actually agree to pay. A refusal to contribute does not normally increase the loan or automatically create independent status.
What happens if my parents’ income falls?
They may be able to request a current-year income assessment if the expected fall meets the required conditions.
Can I change the amount I borrow?
You can normally request a lower amount or apply to increase it later, provided you remain within your entitlement and the relevant application deadline.
Can I receive a Maintenance Loan while living at home?
Yes. The maximum is lower than for students living away because expected living costs are different.
Why do London students get more?
The London rate is higher to reflect the greater living costs students may face while studying and living in London.
Do I get more if my course is longer?
You may qualify for a Long Course Loan if your academic year lasts more than 30 weeks and 3 days.
What happens if I spend the loan too quickly?
Student finance will not normally provide another instalment simply because the previous one has been spent. Contact your university’s money advice or hardship team immediately.
Final Thoughts on Maintenance Loans
A Maintenance Loan can make university possible, but it should not be treated as a guarantee that every living cost will be covered.
The amount you receive depends on:
Your home nation
Household income
Where you live
Where you study
Your course length
Your personal circumstances
The most important step is to compare your expected Maintenance Loan with the real cost of accommodation and everyday life before committing to a university.
Apply early, provide all the requested income evidence and create a weekly budget before your first payment arrives. If there is a funding gap, investigate bursaries, part-time work, savings and university support before relying on commercial debt.
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