GeraLearn / UK Student Finance / Maintenance loan
Maintenance loan in England (2026/27)
Funding for living costs of up to £14,135 a year, means-tested on household income. Real GOV.UK data (OGL v3.0).
How much maintenance loan can a student get in England for 2026/27?
For 2026/27, the maximum maintenance loan for a full-time undergraduate in England is £9,118 living at home, £10,830 living away from home and studying outside London, and £14,135 living away and studying in London. The actual amount is means-tested on household income. Source: GOV.UK (OGL v3.0).
A maintenance loan is government funding for your living costs while you study — rent, food, travel and bills. It is paid directly to you in three instalments across the year, and is repaid alongside your tuition fee loan once you leave your course and your income passes the repayment threshold. How much you can borrow depends on where you live while studying and on your household income.
Maximum maintenance loan (2026/27)
| Living situation | Maximum loan / year |
|---|---|
| Living at home with parents | £9,118 |
| Living away from home, outside London | £10,830 |
| Living away from home, in London | £14,135 |
These are the maximum amounts for full-time undergraduates not eligible for benefits. The actual loan is means-tested on household income — the full amount goes to lower-income households and reduces as income rises.
Maintenance loan — FAQ
- What is a maintenance loan?
- A maintenance loan is government funding for your living costs while studying — rent, food, travel and bills. It is paid directly to you in three instalments a year, and is repaid together with your tuition fee loan after you leave your course. Source: GOV.UK, OGL v3.0.
- What is the maximum maintenance loan for 2026/27?
- The maximum is £9,118 living at home, £10,830 living away from home outside London, and £14,135 living away from home in London. These apply to full-time undergraduates not eligible for benefits. Source: GOV.UK, OGL v3.0.
- Why is my maintenance loan lower than the maximum?
- The maintenance loan is means-tested: the full amount goes to students from lower-income households, and it reduces as household income rises. The figures here are the maximum amounts available. Source: GOV.UK, OGL v3.0.
Keep exploring
- Tuition fees — the 2026/27 fee cap
- Repayment plans — how you repay both loans
- UK student finance hub — repayment estimator + full overview
Source: GOV.UK / Student Loans Company. Figures for 2026/27 academic year (repayment thresholds from April 2026). Licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. England, full-time undergraduate. Maximum amounts; actual loan is means-tested. Last refreshed 2026-06-25. No figure is modelled or interpolated.