Figures this calculator uses
- Living with parents
- £4,013 to £9,118
- Away from home, outside London
- £5,048 to £10,830
- Away from home, London
- £7,039 to £14,135
- Full loan up to
- £25,000 household income
How the loan is worked out
Student Finance England sets a maximum loan for each living arrangement. You get the full amount if household income is £25,000 or less. Above that the loan goes down steadily as income rises, until it reaches the minimum.
| Living | Maximum | Minimum | Minimum from |
|---|---|---|---|
| With parents | £9,118 | £4,013 | £58,387 |
| Away, outside London | £10,830 | £5,048 | £62,410 |
| Away, London | £14,135 | £7,039 | £70,131 |
The calculator draws a straight line between the maximum and minimum, which matches the published SFE income tables to within a pound or two.
Worked example
Ellie’s parents earned £40,000 between them in 2024/25. She is going to university in Manchester and will live in halls.
- She is £15,000 over the £25,000 threshold.
- Her loan falls from £10,830 to about £8,512 for the year.
- That’s about £2,837 at the start of each term.
If her parents each pay into a workplace pension, those contributions are taken off their income first, so she may get more.
What this calculator doesn’t cover
Students who get certain benefits can get a higher loan. There are also extra amounts for long courses, final-year rates (which are lower), courses abroad, and grants for students with children or adult dependants. Use the GOV.UK student finance calculator for those.
Questions people ask
How much maintenance loan will I get in 2026/27?
Students from England starting in 2026/27 can get up to £9,118 living with parents, £10,830 living away from home outside London, or £14,135 in London, if household income is £25,000 or less. The loan falls as income rises, to a minimum of £4,013, £5,048 or £7,039.
What counts as household income?
Usually your parents’ combined taxable income for the 2024/25 tax year, minus some allowances such as pension contributions and £1,130 for each other child they support. If you live with one parent and their partner, the partner’s income counts too. If you’re 25 or over, married or have supported yourself for 3 years, you may be assessed as independent.
At what household income do you get the minimum maintenance loan?
In 2026/27 the minimum is reached at £58,387 for students living at home, £62,410 for students living away outside London and £70,131 for students in London.
When is the maintenance loan paid?
In three instalments, usually at the start of each term. The first payment arrives once your university confirms you’ve registered.
Do I have to pay back the maintenance loan?
Yes. It’s added to your student loan balance and repaid through payroll once you earn over the threshold for your plan. Students from England starting since August 2023 are on Plan 5, which has a £25,000 threshold.
What if I live in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland?
Each nation has its own student finance body: SAAS in Scotland, Student Finance Wales and Student Finance NI. Wales and Northern Ireland mix grants and loans, and Scotland pays bursaries alongside loans. This calculator only covers Student Finance England.