# UK Maintenance Loan Estimator

> Free UK maintenance loan estimator: enter your household income and living situation to estimate your 2026/27 maintenance loan for England.

Your maintenance loan depends on household income and where you live while studying. Enter both to estimate your 2026/27 loan from Student Finance England.

*Interactive tool: enter your values at https://toollantern.win/uk-maintenance-loan-estimator/ and results update instantly in your browser.*

## How the maintenance loan works

The maintenance loan helps with living costs (rent, food, bills) and is paid into your bank account. In England for 2026/27, the maximum is **£14,135** a year living away from home in London, **£10,830** away from home outside London, and **£9,118** living with parents. You get the maximum if your household income is £25,000 or less; above that, the loan tapers down to a minimum (£7,039 in London, £5,048 away, £4,013 at home).

## The taper, explained

The loan falls gradually as household income rises. For example, living away outside London: £25,000 income gets £10,830; £35,000 gets about £9,285; £45,000 gets about £7,739; £55,000 gets about £6,194; and £62,410+ gets the £5,048 minimum. Every eligible full-time undergraduate gets at least the minimum, no matter how high the household income goes.

## What counts as household income

Usually your parents' income (or your partner's if you are financially independent). The assessment for 2026/27 uses 2024/25 tax-year figures. If your household income has dropped significantly since then, you can apply for a reassessment based on the current year.

## Repayment

The maintenance loan is added to your total student debt and repaid together with your tuition fee loan: 9% of earnings above the Plan 5 threshold of £25,000, written off after 40 years. [Simulate your Plan 5 repayments](/uk-plan-5-repayment-simulator/).

## Worked example

A student with household income of **£40,000** studying away from home in Manchester gets an estimated **£8,512** a year. The same student in London would get about **£11,777**; living at home, about **£6,825**.

## Limitations

Estimates based on the published 2026/27 band tables with interpolation between £2,500 income steps; actual SFE awards may differ slightly due to rounding and individual circumstances (benefits, dependants, study abroad). Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland run separate systems. Always confirm with the official calculator at gov.uk/studentfinancecalculator.

## Frequently asked questions
### How much maintenance loan will I get?

It depends on household income and where you live. In England for 2026/27 the maximum is £14,135 (London), £10,830 (away outside London) or £9,118 (at home) for household incomes of £25,000 or less, tapering to a minimum as income rises.

### What is the minimum maintenance loan?

Every eligible full-time undergraduate gets at least £7,039 in London, £5,048 away outside London, or £4,013 at home in 2026/27, regardless of household income.

### What counts as household income for student finance?

Usually your parents' income, or your partner's if you are classed as independent. The 2026/27 assessment uses 2024/25 tax-year figures, but you can request a reassessment if income has dropped significantly.

### Do I have to pay back the maintenance loan?

Yes, it is added to your total student loan debt and repaid at 9% of earnings above £25,000 (Plan 5), alongside your tuition fee loan. Any balance is written off after 40 years.

### When do I apply for student finance?

Applications for courses starting in September typically open early in the year; for 2026 entry students were urged to apply by 15 May. Apply as early as you can and you can update details later.

### Is the maintenance loan different in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?

Yes. Each nation runs its own system with different rates: Wales and Northern Ireland can include a grant element, and Scotland offers bursaries for lower-income households. This estimator covers England (Student Finance England) only.

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Interactive version: https://toollantern.win/uk-maintenance-loan-estimator/