Maintenance loans explained: living costs at university
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Quick answer: A maintenance loan from Student Finance pays your living costs at university. The amount depends on your household income, where you study, and where you live. It is repaid alongside your tuition fee loan after you earn above the repayment threshold.
Tuition fee loans cover course costs, but maintenance loans pay for rent, food, and everything else. The amount you receive depends on your family's income — higher household income means a smaller loan. Unlike grants, maintenance loans must be repaid, but only when you earn above the threshold.
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Read the full students & young adults guide →Primary source: www.gov.uk/student-finance
How much you can get
Maximum maintenance loans for 2026/27 are approximately £13,700 if you live away from home in London, and £10,500 if you live away outside London. Living at home attracts a lower maximum.
Household income determines your entitlement. Students from lower-income families receive the full amount; those from higher-income families receive a partial loan.
How maintenance loans are paid
Maintenance loans are paid in three equal instalments at the start of each term — not monthly. Budget carefully to make each payment last the full term.
Apply through Student Finance England (or SFW, SAAS, or Student Finance NI depending on where you live). Applications open in spring for autumn entry.
Repayment
Maintenance loans are repaid together with tuition fee loans through the same 9% above-threshold system. They do not appear on your credit file and do not affect mortgage applications like commercial debt.
If you do not earn above the repayment threshold, you pay nothing. Any remaining balance is written off after 30 years (Plan 2) or 40 years (Plan 5).
Common questions
Is a maintenance loan the same as a grant?
No. Maintenance loans must be repaid. Grants (now largely replaced by higher loans) did not require repayment. Some students may still receive bursaries from their university.
Does household income include both parents?
Yes, unless you are estranged from your parents or they are deceased. The assessment uses the combined income of the parent you live with and their partner.
Can I get a maintenance loan if I live at home?
Yes, but the maximum is lower — around £8,400 for 2026/27. The household income assessment still applies.