Be University Wise guides › Student finance
Student finance and Maintenance Loans
Students from England can borrow for tuition fees and living costs. The most you can borrow for living costs in 2026 to 2027 is £10,830 away from home outside London, or £14,135 in London; many students get less, depending on household income.
Checked against official sources on 24 September 2026.
Students from England, 2026 to 2027
| Loan | Most you can get |
|---|---|
| Tuition Fee Loan | Up to £9,790 (up to £11,750 for an accelerated degree) |
| Maintenance Loan, living with parents | Up to £9,118 |
| Maintenance Loan, living away from home outside London | Up to £10,830 |
| Maintenance Loan, living away from home in London | Up to £14,135 |
Source: GOV.UK Student finance, 2026 to 2027. Maintenance Loans depend on household income: the figures are the maximum.
Paying it back
Students who started from 1 August 2023 are on Plan 5. Repayments start from the April after you leave your course, and only when your income is over the threshold. You repay 9% of your income above £25,000 a year, so someone earning £30,000 repays 9% of £5,000, which is £450 a year. The threshold may change in future years. Repayments stop if your income falls below the threshold. Interest is added to what you owe. Check the current figures on GOV.UK.
Courses starting on or after 1 January 2027
England is moving to the Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE). You will have a loan allowance of up to £39,160 for tuition, about four years of full-time study, which you can use flexibly across courses and modules. GOV.UK currently shows up to £9,790 in tuition loans for every 120 credits, and says these amounts are based on current rates and may change. Maintenance Loans continue. Most undergraduate courses starting from September 2027 will be funded this way, so check GOV.UK when you apply.
Extra help
You may also get Disabled Students' Allowance, a Childcare Grant, Parents' Learning Allowance, an Adult Dependants' Grant, NHS funding for some health courses, and bursaries or hardship funds from your university.
Students from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
- Scotland: apply to SAAS, which pays eligible students' tuition fees in Scotland and offers bursaries and loans for living costs.
- Wales: apply to Student Finance Wales, which offers a mix of grants and loans for living costs.
- Northern Ireland: apply to Student Finance NI.
Check your budget
The app's budget calculator compares your costs in any university city with the Maintenance Loan.
Open the budget calculatorSources
- GOV.UK: Student finance
- GOV.UK: Student finance if your course starts on or after 1 January 2027
- GOV.UK: Repaying your student loan
- Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS)
- Student Finance Wales
- Student Finance NI
Quick answers
How much Maintenance Loan can I get in 2026/27?
Students from England can get up to £9,118 living with parents, £10,830 living away from home outside London, or £14,135 in London. The amount depends on household income.
When do I start repaying a Plan 5 student loan?
When your income is over £25,000 a year. You repay 9% of what you earn above that.
What is the Lifelong Learning Entitlement?
The new student finance system in England for courses starting on or after 1 January 2027: a tuition loan allowance of up to £39,160 that you can use across courses and modules.