Student Maintenance Loan Calculator UK 2025/26 — How Much Will You Receive?
Student maintenance loans help cover living costs — accommodation, food, bills, and transport — while you study. For 2025/26 the maximum loan ranges from £8,877 (living at home) to £13,348 (living away, outside London). The amount you receive depends on your household income, where you live, and your study year. This calculator works out your exact entitlement.
2025/26 maximum loans: £9,735 (at home), £13,348 (away, outside London), £16,294 (away, London). Income-assessed — loan reduces as household income rises above £25,000. You always receive at least 25% of the maximum. Apply via Student Finance England at gov.uk/student-finance. Deadline: apply early — payments are made termly and late applications can delay first payment.
Student Maintenance Loan Rates 2025/26
| Living situation | Maximum loan | Minimum loan |
|---|---|---|
| Living at home with parents | £9,735/year | £2,434/year |
| Living away from home, outside London | £13,348/year | £3,337/year |
| Living away from home, in London | £16,294/year | £4,074/year |
| Year studying abroad (Erasmus+ etc.) | £11,116/year | £2,779/year |
How Income Assessment Works
The maintenance loan is reduced based on household income above a threshold of £25,000. For every £1 of income above £25,000, your loan reduces by approximately 50p (the exact taper varies slightly). The reduction continues until you reach the minimum loan — you always receive at least 25% of the maximum regardless of how high the household income is.
For dependent students (usually under 25, not married or in a civil partnership), "household income" means the combined income of your parents or guardians — even if they are divorced or separated. If your parents are separated, both incomes may be considered.
For independent students (aged 25+, married, in a civil partnership, have supported themselves financially for 3+ years, or are estranged from parents), only your own income and your partner's income is assessed.
Tuition Fee Loan vs Maintenance Loan
These are two separate components of student finance, though they are repaid together as one loan:
| Loan type | Maximum 2025/26 | Income assessed? | Who receives it? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition Fee Loan | £9,535/year | No | Paid directly to your university |
| Maintenance Loan | Up to £16,294/year | Yes | Paid to you in 3 termly instalments |
Extra Student Finance Support
Beyond the standard maintenance loan, additional support is available:
- Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA) — non-repayable grant for students with disabilities, mental health conditions, or specific learning difficulties. Covers specialist equipment, non-medical helpers, and extra travel. Apply separately with supporting evidence from a medical professional.
- Parents' Learning Allowance — up to £1,915/year (non-repayable) for students with dependent children. Income-assessed.
- Childcare Grant — up to 85% of childcare costs (max £188.90/week for 1 child, £323.85/week for 2+) for students with children under 15 in registered childcare.
- Adult Dependants' Grant — up to £3,438/year for students financially supporting an adult dependant (e.g. partner who cannot work).
- Care Leavers / Estranged Students — eligible for the full maximum loan regardless of income, plus bursaries from many universities (typically £1,000–£3,000/year extra).
- University hardship funds — most universities have discretionary funds for students in financial difficulty. Apply through your student support services office.
When Is Maintenance Loan Paid?
The maintenance loan is paid in three instalments, one at the start of each term (typically October, January, and April/May). The exact dates depend on your university and Student Finance England's processing. Apply as early as possible — late applications can delay your first payment, leaving you without funds at the start of term. The deadline to apply and still receive your first payment on time is typically in late May of the year you start, though you can apply up to 9 months after the start of your course.
Managing Your Student Finance
The maintenance loan is designed to cover your living costs for the full term, not just a few weeks. Dividing your termly payment by the number of weeks in term gives your weekly budget — typically around £130–£250 depending on your loan amount and term length. Key tips: set up a separate account for rent and bills to avoid accidentally spending it; check whether your university or local authority offers any additional grants or bursaries; and always budget for the gap between the end of your loan payments and graduation, which can be several months.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you are a dependent student and your parents will not provide their income information for the assessment, you will only receive the minimum maintenance loan (25% of the maximum). This is a significant reduction. Discuss the situation with Student Finance England — in some circumstances you may be assessed as an independent student if you can demonstrate estrangement from your parents.
Student maintenance loans are generally disregarded when calculating entitlement to means-tested benefits while you are a full-time student (with some exceptions). However, student finance rules and benefits interaction are complex. If you are a student parent, carer, or disabled student, take specialist advice from your university's student support service about how your benefits may interact with your student finance.
Students starting undergraduate courses in England from August 2023 onwards are on Plan 5. The repayment threshold is £25,000/year (lower than Plan 2's £27,295), the write-off period is 40 years (vs 30 for Plan 2), and interest is charged at RPI throughout. Plan 5 means most graduates will repay more in total than Plan 2 students, and fewer will have the loan written off before full repayment.