For the 2026/27 academic year, eligible undergraduates who normally live in England can apply to Student Finance England (SFE) for a Maintenance Loan towards living costs. The amount depends on where you live while studying, household income and your circumstances. Household income does not determine Tuition Fee Loan or Disabled Students’ Allowance entitlement in the same way.
This guide is for students who normally live in England, including those studying elsewhere in the UK. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland run different student-support systems. A course beginning on or after 1 January 2027 may also fall under newly published funding rules; check the official page for that start-date cohort before using the 2026/27 figures below.
2026/27 full-time undergraduate loan ranges
The following published figures apply to full-time undergraduates who are not eligible for benefits. The minimum is the basic amount; the maximum is available only where the student meets the relevant conditions, including the income assessment where required.
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| Living arrangement | Minimum loan | Maximum loan |
|---|---|---|
| Living with parents | £4,013 | £9,118 |
| Living away from home, outside London | £5,048 | £10,830 |
| Living away from home, studying in London | £7,039 | £14,135 |
| Studying overseas as part of a UK course | £5,996 | £12,403 |
Students eligible for benefits, including some lone parents and disabled students, may qualify for higher rates. For 2026/27, the published maximums are £10,757 living with parents, £12,345 living away outside London, £15,415 living away in London and £13,806 while studying overseas as part of a UK course. The minimum figures remain £4,013, £5,048, £7,039 and £5,996 respectively. Eligibility for a higher rate depends on the specific rules and evidence, not simply on receiving any benefit.
Other support can include targeted grants for students with children or adult dependants, childcare support and Disabled Students’ Allowance. These are separate assessments. Part-time study, long courses, postgraduate courses and students aged 60 or over also have distinct rates or conditions; use the matching official table rather than this standard full-time range.
How household income is used
For a 2026/27 application, GOV.UK says household-income information generally relates to the 2024/25 tax year. SFE may request confirmation and supporting evidence from the people included in the assessment.
The household-income rules depend on your circumstances:
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| Circumstance | Income that may be included |
|---|---|
| Under 25 and financially dependent on a parent | Parent income, including the income of a parent’s partner where the rules apply |
| Under 25 but potentially independent | Parent income may be excluded if a qualifying independence route applies, such as three years of self-support, marriage/civil partnership, qualifying care history or estrangement |
| Aged 25 or over | Parent income is not included on the basis of dependency; partner income may be included if you live together |
| Care leaver | Household income is not used to calculate the Maintenance Loan, though it may still be relevant to other funding checks |
SFE decides whether you are dependent or independent and which adults’ income to assess. For a dependent student, it generally assesses the parent they depend on, including that parent’s partner where the rules apply. It does not automatically combine both separated parents’ incomes. Check the application account for the information and evidence requested.
If household income has fallen by 15% or more, parents may ask SFE to assess likely current-year income instead. Use the official reassessment process and provide the evidence it requests; a payslip alone does not change the award.
SFE may also ask about your expected taxable unearned income during the academic year, such as interest, rent or dividends. Ordinary earnings from evening, weekend and holiday work generally do not need to be declared, unless your employer releases you from work to attend the course. The application instructions and your official assessment determine what applies to you. An assessed household contribution is not an invoice requiring a parent to pay a particular amount.
Why the amount changes with income
The amount shown in an award is not necessarily the maximum for your living arrangement. GOV.UK gives the following examples for a full-time student not entitled to benefits:
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| Household income example | Living with parents | Away, outside London | Away, London |
|---|---|---|---|
| £25,000 or less | £9,118 | £10,830 | £14,135 |
| £45,000 | £6,060 | £7,739 | £10,991 |
| These are official illustrations, not a calculator or a personal award estimate. The assessment can also include eligible unearned income, and separate rules apply to benefit-eligible students, final years and other categories. Check your SFE assessment for your own award. |
If a parent or partner does not provide income details requested by SFE, you may receive only the basic amount that does not depend on household income. Check your application status and ask the relevant household member to complete the requested steps.
Loans, grants and tuition fees are different
The Maintenance Loan helps with living costs and must be repaid under the relevant student-loan terms. The Tuition Fee Loan is paid to the university or college for eligible course fees; household income does not determine it in the same way.
Some additional support is grant-based, including eligible childcare or dependant support. Disabled Students’ Allowance has its own conditions. Check your award notice to distinguish grants from loans; do not treat every headline amount as spendable cash.
For how deductions work after you start earning, see our UK student loan repayment guide and student loan plan guide. Those pages explain repayment after study, not entitlement to student finance while studying.
Apply and check the assessment
Apply through the official GOV.UK student finance service. The GOV.UK student finance calculator gives an estimate; your SFE assessment notice confirms the award. If it is lower than expected, check the living arrangement, course intensity, household-income information and any dependant or benefit category in your application.
Check your 2026/27 Maintenance Loan
- 1Confirm that Student Finance England is the correct student-finance body for your normal residence and course start date.
- 2Select the living arrangement and study location that match the academic year, including whether you will live with parents, elsewhere or in London.
- 3Provide household-income details when SFE requests them and check whether a parent, partner or another person must confirm information.
- 4Review the assessment notice for the loan amount, any additional support and the evidence or reassessment steps still outstanding.
- 5Build a term-time budget using confirmed payments and your actual costs; plan separately for any amount the loan does not cover.
If household income has materially fallen, check whether the 15% current-year-income route applies. If your course starts on or after 1 January 2027, use the new student-loan guidance; Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland also have separate student-finance systems.
Budgeting for the remaining living costs
The loan may not cover rent, travel, food and course costs in full. Once your award is confirmed, compare payment dates with term dates, subtract fixed costs first, and plan for any remaining shortfall. Check university bursaries, scholarships and eligible targeted support before considering borrowing. A budget can help plan cash flow but cannot change your SFE entitlement.
Use the UK monthly budget guide to organise regular and annual costs.
Frequently asked questions
Is this Maintenance Loan guide for the whole UK?
What is the maximum England Maintenance Loan for 2026/27?
Which tax year’s income does SFE use for 2026/27?
Does a parent have to contribute the amount removed from a loan?
Does a Maintenance Loan cover all living costs?
Do January 2027 course starters use these figures?
Official sources
- GOV.UK — Support with living and other costs, 2026 to 2027
- GOV.UK — Student finance: how you are assessed and paid, 2026 to 2027
- GOV.UK — Household income for student finance
- GOV.UK — Student finance overview and application routes
- GOV.UK — Student finance calculator
- GOV.UK — Understanding student living costs
- GOV.UK — Student finance for courses starting on or after 1 January 2027