Maintenance Loan 2025 Explained: How Much Can You Get?

TL;DR

Maintenance loans in 2026/27 provide £9,118–£14,135 per year in living cost support, depending on where you live and study.

• London students: up to £14,135
• Away from home (outside London): up to £10,830
• Living with parents: up to £9,118

Payments arrive in three instalments, directly into your bank account. Amounts depend on household income, with full support for incomes up to £25,000.

Disclaimer: Amounts shown are the maximums published by the UK government for the 2026/27 academic year. Rates are reviewed annually, and the rules change again for courses starting on or after 1 January 2027. Confirm your own figures with Student Finance England.

What Is a Maintenance Loan?

A maintenance loan is government living-cost support paid directly to you to cover:

• accommodation
• food
• travel
• study materials
• everyday essentials

This is separate from the Tuition Fee Loan, which goes straight to the university.

Two Parts of Student Finance

1. Tuition Fee Loan

• Covers your course fees (up to £9,790/year in 2026/27)
• Paid directly to your university
• Not affected by household income

2. Maintenance Loan

• Paid to you in three instalments
• Affected by living situation + household income
• Ranges between £9,118–£14,135 at the maximum

Repayment Rules (Plan 5)

You repay only if earning £25,000+ per year.

• Repay 9% of what you earn above £25,000
• Example: salary £30,000 → £37.50/month repayment
• Loan is written off after 40 years
• Doesn’t appear on your credit report
• Doesn’t affect your mortgage eligibility

Learn more about how Student Finance works in the UK or visit our funding hub for comprehensive resources.

Maintenance Loan Amounts 2026/27

Source: GOV.UK, new full-time students

What qualifies as “Living in London”?

You must:

• Study at a London university, AND
• Live in London during term time

You can’t claim London rate if:

• You commute from outside London
• Your university is outside London

What counts as “Living Away From Home”?

You qualify if you:

• Rent privately
• Live in halls
• Maintain independent accommodation during term

Household Income Impact

• Up to £25,000 → full maintenance loan
• Above £25,000 → the loan drops by £1 for every complete £6.54 of income living with parents, £6.47 away from home outside London, or £6.36 in London
• Above the income where the taper stops → you get the minimum everyone gets: £4,013 from £58,387 (with parents), £5,048 from £62,410 (outside London), £7,039 from £70,131 (in London)

2026/27 has one taper. 2025/26 reduced the loan twice, from £25,000 and again from £42,875, so if you are comparing with an older guide the shape has changed.

Important: You never drop to zero - even high-income households receive the minimum.

Maintenance Loan Examples

London student, household income £20,000
→ the full £14,135/year (about £1,178/month)

Away from home outside London, household income £45,000
→ £20,000 of income above the £25,000 line, cut by £1 per complete £6.47, so about £7,739/year (about £645/month)

Living at home, household income £75,000
→ past the point where the taper stops, so the £4,013 minimum (about £334/month)

Want exact numbers? Try the calculator in the UniStart app:
Download UniStart

How to Apply

Step 1 - Create Your Student Finance Account

(Feb–May for September starters)

Register at gov.uk/student-finance.

You’ll need:

• NI number or passport
• Bank account
• Course details
• Parent/partner contact (if income-assessed)

Step 2 - Income-Assessed vs. Non-Income-Assessed

Income-assessed (recommended)

• Higher loan
• Requires household income evidence
• Processing 6–8 weeks

Non-income-assessed

• The non-income-assessed minimum for where you live
• Faster
• Lower support

Step 3 - Provide Evidence

Depending on your sponsor:

• P60, payslips
• SA302 + HMRC overview
• UC statements or benefits evidence
• Divorce/separation evidence (if applicable)

Correction added:
If household income fell significantly, you can request Current Year Income assessment.
This increases future instalments - not past ones.

Step 4 - Submit Application

Deadlines:

You can apply up to 9 months after course start, but payments may be delayed.

Step 5 - Receive Entitlement Letter

You’ll receive:

• Tuition loan confirmation
• Maintenance loan amount (per term)
• Payment dates

Correction added:
If living situation is wrong, update it - otherwise your loan amount will be incorrect.

Step 6 - University Confirms Attendance

Your first instalment is released within 3 days after enrolment confirmation.

Payment Schedule 2026/27

Installments are not equal:

• 25%
• 25%
• 50% (summer is longest term)

Problems with Maintenance Loans - and Solutions

1. “Loan isn’t enough to live on”

True - especially in London.

Solutions:

• Part-time work (10–15h/week)
• University bursaries (£500–£2,000/year typical)
• Budgeting and shared accommodation
• Extra grants: Parents’ Learning Allowance, Childcare Grant, Adult Dependant Grant

2. “Parents earn too much”

Even incomes well over £100k still receive the non-income-assessed minimum - £4,013 to £7,039 in 2026/27, depending on living situation - plus the full Tuition Fee Loan.

3. “I don’t want to involve parents”

You can be considered independent if:

• Over 25
• Married
• Have children
• Self-supporting 3+ years
• Estranged from parents
• Care leaver

4. “Income changed this year”

Apply for Current Year Income assessment if income fell by 15%+.

Correction added:
Revised amounts apply only to future instalments.

5. “My situation changes during the year”

Update Student Finance if you:

• Move out
• Move back home
• Switch to London
• Change university
• Change course

Incorrect info = incorrect payments.

Maximising Your Maintenance Loan

1. Apply early
2. Ensure living situation is correct
3. Claim independent status if eligible
4. Reassess household income if it drops
5. Apply for bursaries + hardship funds

Explore: UniStart funding hub | Who is eligible for student loans | Student Finance England 2025 guide

FAQ

When do repayments start?

April after leaving the course, only if earning £25,000+.

Can I work while studying?

Yes - part-time work doesn’t reduce maintenance loan.

What if I drop out?

You keep the instalments already paid for that term.

Correction added:
In rare cases, if SFE paid you too much due to incorrect info, they may recover the overpayment.

Does maintenance loan affect benefits or tax?

No - it is not taxable income.

Can I change my loan mid-year?

Yes, through:

• Current Year Income assessment
• Updating living situation

Ready to Claim Your Full Support?

An incomplete or late application can delay your funding, or leave you assessed on the wrong income.

Take control now.

Download UniStart
Get personalised guidance and deadline reminders
Secure the full maintenance loan you’re entitled to

Written by Radu Danila, UniStart Founder.

A note on funding: Student Finance in the UK is a government loan, not a grant or free money. You repay it gradually only after you finish your course and earn above the repayment threshold, and any outstanding balance is written off after the set period. Tuition Fee Loans, Maintenance Loans, amounts, and eligibility are set by Student Finance England and can change. Non-repayable grants (for example Childcare Grant, Adult Dependants’ Grant) are separate and have their own rules.