Student Finance England (SFE) provides eligible home students with two loans: a tuition fee loan (paid directly to the university) and a maintenance loan (paid to you in three instalments to cover living costs). This guide covers the maintenance loan only — its 2026/27 figures, who qualifies, and how to apply.
Headline figures for 2026/27
Maximum maintenance loan for the 2026/27 academic year, full-time undergraduate students with household income below the lowest threshold:
- Living away from home, in London: £15,285 per year - Living away from home, outside London: £10,544 per year - Living at home (with parents): £8,877 per year - Studying abroad as part of UK course: £12,074 per year
These figures are confirmed for 2026/27. Source: Student Finance England updated guidance published April 2026.
How household income affects your loan
The amounts above are the maximum awards. The actual loan you receive depends on your household income. SFE uses your parents' (or partner's, if you are over 25) gross income from the previous tax year to calculate the income-assessed portion of your loan.
For the 2026/27 academic year:
- Household income at or below £25,000: you receive the maximum maintenance loan listed above. - Household income between £25,000 and £62,343: your loan tapers down. Roughly, for every £1,000 of household income above £25,000, your loan reduces by around £210. - Household income above £62,343: you receive the minimum loan (around £4,909 for students outside London, £6,853 in London, £3,872 living at home).
The minimum loan
Even if your household income is very high, you are entitled to a minimum non-means-tested loan if you are eligible for student finance at all. This means most home students get some maintenance support — the question is how much.
Tuition fee loan
The tuition fee loan is separate and covers the full course fee (up to £9,535 for 2026/27). It is not means-tested — every eligible home student can borrow the full amount. The fee loan is paid directly to your university; you never see the cash.
Who is eligible
To qualify for full Student Finance England support you must usually:
1. Be a UK national, Irish national, or have Settled / Pre-Settled Status (or other qualifying immigration status), AND 2. Have been ordinarily resident in the UK for three years before the course starts, AND 3. Be ordinarily resident in England at the time of application.
Welsh, Scottish and Northern Irish students apply to their respective national bodies (Student Finance Wales, SAAS, Student Finance NI) under separate rules and figures.
EU and EEA students with Pre-Settled or Settled Status generally qualify on the same terms as UK nationals, provided they meet the three-year residency requirement. Always check your status — eligibility for EU students changed significantly post-Brexit.
How to apply
1. Open SFE online portal at gov.uk/student-finance from late February for September entry. 2. Submit your application with proof of identity, course and university details, and your household income evidence. 3. Receive your confirmation within 6-8 weeks. 4. First payment lands in your bank account within 3-5 working days of your university confirming your enrolment.
Apply by 15 May 2026 for September 2026 entry to ensure your loan is in place for your first instalment. Late applications are accepted but processing time extends to 8-12 weeks.
Repayment in plain English
Maintenance and tuition loans are combined into one balance. You repay 9 percent of any income above £25,000 per year — that means:
- Earning £25,000/yr: £0 repayment per month. - Earning £30,000/yr: £37 repayment per month (£450/yr). - Earning £40,000/yr: £112 repayment per month (£1,350/yr).
Repayments stop automatically if your income drops below the threshold. The outstanding balance is written off 40 years after you start repaying (for Plan 5 borrowers — students starting in 2023 onwards).
What changes for 2027/28
The government has indicated that maintenance loan amounts will rise broadly in line with inflation for 2027/28. Tuition fees are also expected to rise from £9,535 to £9,790 for 2027/28. Official figures are typically confirmed in October/November of the preceding year.
International students
International students (including most EU students without Pre-Settled or Settled Status) are not eligible for SFE loans. Funding for international study typically comes from family savings, scholarships, sponsorships, or international student loans from your home country's banks. AEN can help match you with scholarship and bursary opportunities — see our Services page for what is included in our free support.
How AEN helps
We handle your SFE application alongside your course application at no cost to you. Most students find the SFE portal straightforward, but having a second pair of eyes on the household income paperwork can prevent a delayed first payment. See our full funding guide for the practical detail.
