UK Maintenance Loan Calculator
Work out your Student Finance England Maintenance Loan for 2026/27 — the means-tested living-costs loan, based on your household income and whether you'll live at home, away from home, or away in London. England only — see below for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Annual Maintenance Loan
£9,28586% of the maximum
Per Term (3 instalments)
£3,095usually paid at the start of each term
Per Month
£774annual loan ÷ 12, for budgeting
Maximum for This Situation
£10,830at household income up to £25,000
| Household income entered | £35,000 |
| Maximum loan (income up to £25,000) | £10,830 |
| Reduced by the income taper | -£1,545 |
| Guaranteed minimum loan (regardless of income) | £5,048 |
| Your annual Maintenance Loan | £9,285 |
This is the full-year rate for a Student Finance England Maintenance Loan (England-domiciled students, standard household-income assessment). Figures are an estimate — your official Notification of Entitlement from Student Finance England is the final word.
Maintenance Loan vs Tuition Fee Loan — not the same thing
Full-time undergraduates in England can get two separate loans. The Tuition Fee Loan covers your course fees and is paid straight to your university or college — it doesn't depend on household income, only on your course's fees. The Maintenance Loan — what this calculator covers — is paid to you, to cover living costs like rent, food and bills, and how much you get is means-tested against household income and where you'll live.
Both loans are added to the same overall student loan balance and repaid together after you leave your course and start earning above the repayment threshold — there's no separate repayment schedule for each.
How the Maintenance Loan is repaid
Most current full-time undergraduates are on Plan 5, which applies to students who started their course from the 2023/24 academic year onward. Repayments are 9% of your income above the Plan 5 threshold — £25,000 a year in 2026-27 — taken automatically through PAYE or Self Assessment once you're earning above it, regardless of whether you've finished your course. For a full breakdown of what you'd actually repay at a given salary, use the Student Loan Calculator.
Maintenance Loan by household income (2026/27)
Full-year rate, Student Finance England, standard household-income assessment (not the separate rate for students entitled to certain benefits).
| Household income | At home | Away (outside London) | Away (London) |
|---|---|---|---|
| £25,000 | £9,118 | £10,830 | £14,135 |
| £30,000 | £8,354 | £10,058 | £13,349 |
| £35,000 | £7,589 | £9,285 | £12,563 |
| £40,000 | £6,825 | £8,512 | £11,777 |
| £45,000 | £6,060 | £7,739 | £10,991 |
| £60,000 | £4,013 | £5,421 | £8,632 |
Figures are engine-computed for 2026/27 from the official Student Finance England taper rule and cross-checked against the published household-income table. Living situations: Living at home with parents, Living away from home, outside London, Living away from home, in London.
Studying in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland?
This calculator covers Student Finance England only. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland each run their own student finance systems with different maximum loans, income thresholds and taper rules — Student Finance Wales, the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS), and Student Finance NI respectively. Check the relevant national body directly for your rates.
Frequently asked questions
How much Maintenance Loan will I get?
It depends on your household income and where you'll live while studying. At a household income of £25,000 or below you get the maximum — £9,118 living at home, £10,830 living away outside London, or £14,135 living away in London (2026/27). Above that, the loan tapers down as household income rises.
Is the Maintenance Loan means-tested on my income or my parents' income?
For most full-time undergraduates (dependent students, generally under 25 and not married, in a civil partnership, or otherwise independent), it's assessed on household income — your parents' income, or your partner's if you're independent and living with them. Only a portion of the loan is guaranteed regardless of income; the rest depends on the means test.
Is there a minimum Maintenance Loan no matter how high my household income is?
Yes. Even at the highest household incomes, you still get a guaranteed minimum: £4,013 living at home, £5,048 living away outside London, or £7,039 living away in London (2026/27). The loan never drops to zero — only certain grants historically did.
What's the difference between the Maintenance Loan and the Tuition Fee Loan?
They're separate loans covering different things. The Tuition Fee Loan is paid directly to your university or college and covers course fees — it doesn't depend on household income. The Maintenance Loan is paid to you, to cover living costs (rent, food, bills), and is the means-tested one this calculator covers. Both are added to the same student loan balance and repaid together after graduation.
How is the Maintenance Loan repaid?
Most current full-time undergraduates are on Plan 5, introduced for new students from the 2023/24 academic year. You repay 9% of income above the Plan 5 threshold (£25,000 a year, 2026-27), taken automatically through the tax system once you're earning above it — whether or not you've finished your course. Use our Student Loan Calculator to work out your actual repayments.
Does this apply if I study in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland?
No — this calculator covers Student Finance England only. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland run their own student finance systems (Student Finance Wales, the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS), and Student Finance NI) with different loan amounts, thresholds and rules. Check the relevant national body for your rates.
When and how often is the Maintenance Loan paid?
It's normally paid in 3 instalments a year, at the start of each term, directly into your bank account — but only once you've registered with your university or college. It can take a few working days to reach your account after registration.