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Key fact
The maintenance loan is income-assessed. This means the amount you receive depends on your household income — not just your own. Lower household income = higher maintenance support.
Loans, grants, eligibility and calculators.
Up to £9,790 a year paid directly to your university. You never handle the money — no upfront cost.
The tuition fee loan ensures your course fees are paid upfront so you don't face upfront costs.
SFE first checks who you are: your residency, nationality and whether you've studied before. This decides what you can get.
This is an indicative result. Final entitlement depends on SFE assessment, course intensity, household income and study location.
Up to £14,135 a year paid directly into your bank account. Here's exactly how much you could get, how it's calculated, and when it arrives.
Unlike the tuition fee loan — which goes straight to your university — the maintenance loan is paid into your bank account to help you cover living costs while studying. You can spend it on whatever you need: rent, bills, food, travel, childcare, or course materials.
The maintenance loan is income-assessed. This means the amount you receive depends on your household income — not just your own. Lower household income = higher maintenance support.
The maximums below apply to full-time students. Part-time students receive reduced amounts. These are the highest possible figures — most students receive less based on their household income.
2026/27 SFE published maximums. Actual entitlement varies by household income. Verify at gov.uk/student-finance.
The maintenance loan covers full-time undergraduate study at designated UK providers. Coverage depends on qualification level and study intensity — not subject.
Full-time Bachelor's degrees (BA, BSc, BEng) at designated UK providers
Distance-learning / fully-online undergraduate courses, except DSA cases
SFE uses a sliding scale. Here's how household income affects the outside-London away-from-home rate.
Estimates only. Actual figures depend on SFE's current assessment.
Use for course comparison, funding routes and university choices.
| Option | Best for | Funding | Flexible study | Salary potential | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business Management | Career changers | ✓ | ✓ | Medium–High | Best overall |
| Cybersecurity | Digital careers | ✓ | ✓ | High | Highest salary |
| Psychology | People-focused careers | ✓ | × | Medium | Popular route |
| Online MSc | Working adults | ✓ | ✓ | Medium–High | Most flexible |
Use on Funding Hub, Maintenance Loan, grants, student finance guides and calculator results.
Explains student finance as a process instead of a wall of text.
Confirm residency and previous study.
Check course designation and attendance.
Prepare payment details.
Submit Student Finance application.
Upload documents if requested.
This is an indicative result. Final entitlement depends on SFE assessment, course intensity, household income, location and study mode.
Core funding routes explained visually: living costs, tuition, grants and extra support.
Clear decision signals for course comparison, university comparison and funding guide pages.
| Route | Funding type | Maintenance Loan | Best for | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Campus / blended undergraduate | Tuition + maintenance | Usually stronger | Students needing living-cost support | Best overall route |
| Weekend-only | Needs careful check | Risk area | Working adults with limited time | Ask adviser first |
| Online / distance learning | Tuition may apply | Usually no maintenance | Remote learners | Good flexibility, less living-cost support |
| Postgraduate Master’s | Postgraduate Loan | Different system | Graduates and career changers | Check loan cap and tuition |
A live checklist of your Student Finance journey. Tap each stage as you complete it — the tracker updates your progress and tells you what to do next.
Tap the first step when you've created your Student Finance account.
A quick student-first view before they start an application.
Typically checked for England residence, course designation and previous study.
Check eligibility →Often eligible for tuition and maintenance support if residence rules are met.
Check status →Can be possible, but residence history and category matter. Do not guess.
Ask adviser →Often eligible for strong support, but documents and dates must be checked.
Start review →Students understand finance faster when the process is shown as a journey, not a wall of rules.
Check nationality, immigration status, ordinary residence, age and previous study.
Submit SFE details, evidence and course information early to avoid delayed payments.
Tuition goes to the provider. Maintenance is paid to the student after enrolment confirmation.
Repay only when earning above the threshold. It is income-based, not a normal bank loan.
These blocks should reduce fear and increase adviser enquiries.
| Myth | Reality | Best next step |
|---|---|---|
| “Student Finance is like a bank loan.” | Repayment is based on income, not a fixed monthly instalment. | Use the repayment calculator. |
| “I must repay while I study.” | No. Repayment starts only after the course and only above the income threshold. | Check Plan 5 estimate. |
| “If I studied before, I cannot get anything.” | Previous study matters, but rules vary by route and qualification. | Book an adviser review. |
| “Online and weekend courses are always the same.” | Mode and attendance can affect maintenance support. | Check before choosing the course. |
YStudy can check your status, previous study and course type before you submit your application.
This section is ready for detailed content in the next content pass.
This section is ready for detailed content in the next content pass.
This section is ready for detailed content in the next content pass.
