If you are planning a funded degree or foundation year in England, one of the first questions is usually how much maintenance loan will Student Finance England (SFE) pay toward living costs. Online calculators disagree, household-income rules feel opaque, and mature students often wonder whether age, benefits or living with family changes the figure.
This plain-English guide explains what a Maintenance Loan is, which factors SFE uses, and the official maximum rates on GOV.UK for the 2025 to 2026 and 2026 to 2027 academic years. It is for UK home students — especially mature learners and foundation-year applicants — not international students.
Start with a free 2-minute check: check if you qualify for Student Finance England.
This article is general information for UK students exploring Student Finance England. It is not advice from Student Finance England or the Student Loans Company. Maintenance Loan amounts depend on your eligibility, household income, living arrangements, course and start date — always check GOV.UK and your Notification of Entitlement before making decisions. Figures below are from current GOV.UK publications and may change; use official pages and the student finance calculator for your estimate.
Important: AF Education helps with the SFE and funded-degree application path for UK home students. We cannot guarantee a Maintenance Loan amount, override an SFE decision, or replace GOV.UK guidance. Only Student Finance England decides your entitlement.
What is a Maintenance Loan?
For most eligible full-time undergraduates in England, SFE support has two main parts:
- Tuition Fee Loan — paid to your university or college for tuition fees.
- Maintenance Loan — paid to you (usually in three termly instalments) to help with living costs such as rent, food, travel and course materials.
A Maintenance Loan is borrowed support, not a grant — see repaying your student loan. You may not get the maximum. Official overview: student finance for new full-time students.
How much maintenance loan can you get? (official maxima)
The maximum depends mainly on where you live while studying and your household income. Lower income usually means a higher loan (up to the published maximum); benefits-eligible students can get higher maxima. Prefer the official student finance calculator for a personal estimate.
Maximum Maintenance Loan — 2025 to 2026 academic year
From GOV.UK for full-time students not eligible for benefits:
- Living with parents — up to £8,877
- Living away from parents, outside London — up to £10,544
- Living away from parents, in London — up to £13,762
- Year abroad as part of a UK course — up to £12,076
- Aged 60 or over on the first day of the first academic year — up to £4,461 (fully means-tested)
Matching minima are also published (e.g. £3,907 at home; £4,915 away outside London): support with living costs: 2025 to 2026.
Maximum Maintenance Loan — 2026 to 2027 academic year
From GOV.UK for full-time students not eligible for benefits:
- Living with parents — up to £9,118
- Living away from parents, outside London — up to £10,830
- Living away from parents, in London — up to £14,135
- Year abroad as part of a UK course — up to £12,403
- Aged 60 or over on the first day of the first academic year — up to £4,582 (fully means-tested)
Minima include £4,013 at home and £5,048 away outside London: support with living and other costs: 2026 to 2027.
Tip: Label every quote by academic year. A friend quoting “London max £13,762” is talking about 2025 to 2026 — the 2026 to 2027 London maximum on GOV.UK is higher. Your Notification of Entitlement is what counts for payment.
Household income — why amounts differ
Part of the Maintenance Loan is means-tested. From courses starting on or after 1 August 2016, household income around £25,000 or less typically unlocks the highest rate; as residual income rises, the loan usually tapers toward a basic minimum. See how you’re assessed and paid 2026 to 2027 and understanding student living costs.
Who counts in “household income” depends on whether you are a dependent or independent student:
- Dependent — usually parents’ (and a parent’s partner’s) residual income plus your relevant unearned income.
- Independent — for example you are 25 or over on the first day of the academic year, have care of a child, are married/civil-partnered, are estranged, meet care-leaver rules, or have supported yourself for three years with evidence. Partner income can then be assessed instead of parents’.
For 2026 to 2027, SFE usually assesses sponsors on financial year 2024 to 2025, with a current-year route if income has fallen by 15% or more (confirm on GOV.UK). Without income details you usually get only the basic rate.
Mature students — age, independence and the 60+ rate
There is no upper age limit for undergraduate Tuition Fee Loans in England. Many returners at 30, 40 or 50 are independent students (parental income not used; partner income often is). See going to university at 30, 40 or 50 and funded degrees for mature students.
If you are 60 or over on the first day of the first academic year, GOV.UK sets a single, fully means-tested living-costs loan (maxima £4,461 for 2025 to 2026; £4,582 for 2026 to 2027). From 2026 to 2027, care leavers meeting the statutory definition can get the maximum without means-testing (confirm on GOV.UK).
Foundation years and Maintenance Loans
An integrated foundation year on a designated undergraduate course can normally attract undergraduate SFE — including a Maintenance Loan where eligible — if you enrol for the full extended course. Standalone access courses generally do not. See how foundation years work in the UK. If you already hold a degree, read second-degree and previous-study rules — ELQ can still restrict Maintenance Loans unless an exception applies.
If you get benefits — higher rates and Universal Credit
Full-time students eligible for certain benefits (GOV.UK examples include lone parents and some disabled students) can qualify for higher maximum living-cost loans — for 2026 to 2027 GOV.UK lists maxima such as £10,757 at home, £12,345 away outside London and £15,415 in London (re-check live tables). Keeping Universal Credit while studying is a separate DWP question; Maintenance Loan income can affect UC if you remain entitled. See student finance on Universal Credit and benefits and Universal Credit and students.
Caution: Do not DIY an exact Maintenance Loan or UC figure from a blog worksheet. Use the GOV.UK calculator, your SFE account, and (for benefits) your UC journal or an independent welfare-rights adviser.
Extra help and how to apply
You may also explore Long Course Loans, DSA, dependants’ grants and university bursaries — confirm on GOV.UK. When ready to apply: step-by-step Student Finance application guide and how and when to apply.
What AF Education helps with (for free)
AF Education (47 Cavell Street, London E1 2BP · 020 7377 8844 · info@afeducation.co.uk) offers free help for UK home students with SFE and funded undergraduate / foundation-year applications — including a free eligibility check. We help compare courses and complete applications. We do not invent SFE rules, guarantee a Maintenance Loan amount, or replace GOV.UK / SFE decisions. Also useful: benefits of a funded university degree.
Reassurance: Many mature and foundation-year students successfully secure living-cost support when they meet SFE rules. Treat published maxima as ceilings, not promises — then confirm with the official calculator and your entitlement letter.
Common myths about how much maintenance loan you get
- “Everyone gets the London maximum.” False — living arrangements and income decide the figure.
- “Mature students cannot get a Maintenance Loan.” False — age alone does not block undergraduate living-cost support; the 60+ rate is different and fully means-tested.
- “If my parents earn anything I get nothing.” False — most eligible students still get at least a basic rate.
- “A foundation year never includes living-cost funding.” Integrated foundation years on designated courses can often include a Maintenance Loan if you qualify.
- “Anyone can guarantee my amount.” Nobody can — only SFE decides entitlement.
Frequently asked questions
How much maintenance loan will I get from Student Finance England?
It depends on eligibility, household income, whether you live at home or away (and in London or outside), benefits status, age and course year. Use the official GOV.UK student finance calculator and confirm against your Notification of Entitlement — do not treat blog maxima as a personal award.
What is the maximum Maintenance Loan for 2025 to 2026 and 2026 to 2027?
For full-time students not on the benefits-rate package, GOV.UK lists maxima of £8,877 / £10,544 / £13,762 (home / away outside London / away in London) for 2025 to 2026, and £9,118 / £10,830 / £14,135 for 2026 to 2027. Always re-check the live GOV.UK tables.
Does household income always reduce my Maintenance Loan?
Usually yes above the lowest income band — residual household income tapers the means-tested part toward a basic minimum. Care leavers meeting the published definition for 2026 to 2027 can get the maximum without means-testing. Confirm in the assessed-and-paid guide.
I’m a mature student living independently — whose income is assessed?
If you meet independent-student criteria (for example age 25+, care of a child, or other published routes), parents’ income is not normally used; a spouse, civil partner or (if you are 25+) partner’s income may be. Evidence rules apply — see GOV.UK assessed-and-paid guidance.
Can I get a Maintenance Loan on a foundation year?
Often yes if the foundation year is an integral part of a designated undergraduate course and you enrol for the full extended programme and meet SFE eligibility. Standalone access courses generally do not attract undergraduate Maintenance Loans.
I’m on Universal Credit — will a Maintenance Loan affect my benefits?
If you remain entitled to UC while studying, living-cost student income is generally taken into account and can reduce UC; tuition fee loans are generally excluded. Full-time study usually stops UC unless a published exception applies. See our Universal Credit guide and GOV.UK — AF Education does not decide DWP awards.
When is the Maintenance Loan paid?
Usually in three instalments at the start of each term, after you register with your university or college. Payments go to your UK bank account. Keep living arrangements and bank details up to date in your SFE account.
What’s the first step if I want funded living-cost support?
Check SFE fit with the free eligibility checker, estimate living-cost support on the GOV.UK calculator, then get free AF Education help with course choice and the application. Only SFE can confirm your amount.
Next steps
Asking how much maintenance loan you will get is the right question — but the answer is personal. Living arrangements, household income, benefits status, age and start date all matter; published maxima are ceilings, not promises. Use the GOV.UK sources above, the official calculator, and your Notification of Entitlement.
For free, no-obligation help with the Student Finance England and application side:
Prefer to talk? Request a callback from AF Education — we help with funded course options and SFE applications while you confirm living-cost amounts with SFE and GOV.UK.
