What is a maintenance loan?

Tuition fee loans pay the university directly; maintenance loans go to your bank account for day-to-day living costs. For 2026/27 entry, maximum maintenance loans for English students living away from home outside London are £10,830 a year, with up to £14,135 in London and £9,118 if living at home. Welsh, Scottish and Northern Irish systems differ but follow the same broad principle of income-assessed support.

Household income — usually parents' or partners' income — determines how much of the maximum you receive. Students from lower-income households get the full loan; higher incomes mean a smaller loan and an expected parental contribution toward living costs, though parents are not legally required to pay it.

Maintenance loans accrue interest under your student loan plan and are repaid only when income exceeds the plan threshold — for Plan 5 starters (2023 onwards in England) the 2026/27 threshold is £25,000; for Plan 2 it is £29,385. Maintenance and tuition loans combine into one balance on your student loan account.

Apply through the relevant student finance body when you apply for university — deadlines are typically spring before the autumn start. You can apply for a lower amount if you do not need the full loan. Maintenance grants for living costs were replaced by loans in England, but Wales still offers a partial grant alongside loan.