How much student finance can I get?

For students from England starting full-time university.

Applies to: England Last checked against official sources: 30 September 2026

For students from England starting full-time in 2026 to 2027:

Tuition Fee Loan: up to £9,790 (paid to your university).
Maintenance Loan: up to £9,118 living with parents, £10,830 away from home outside London, or £14,135 in London.

How much Maintenance Loan you get depends on household income. Processing takes 4 weeks, and you reapply each year. Students from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland apply through their own agencies.

Different in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland

Rules may be different in:

Scotland: Check mygov.scot for Scotland
Wales: Check gov.wales for Wales
Northern Ireland: Check nidirect for Northern Ireland

Key facts

Tuition up to £9,790
Maintenance up to £14,135 in London
Reapply every year

Who applies where

This guide is for students from England, who apply to Student Finance England. If you live in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, you apply to your own agency instead: SAAS (Scotland), Student Finance Wales or Student Finance NI.

What you need before you start

Your valid passport details. Do not post your passport. If you are a UK national without a valid UK passport, you can upload or post a copy of your birth or adoption certificate instead.
Household income details. For 2026 to 2027, Student Finance England looks at income from the 2024 to 2025 tax year.

Whose income counts

Your own unearned income, such as savings interest, dividends or rent.
Your parents' income, if you are under 25 and live with them or depend on them financially.
Your partner's income, if you are 25 or over and live with them.

You may count as independent, so your parents' income is not used, if, for example, you have supported yourself financially for at least 3 years.

How to apply online

Set up a student finance account on GOV.UK.
Sign in and fill in the application.
Give household income details. Your parents or partner will be asked to confirm their income, and may need to send evidence.
Send proof of identity if you are asked for it.

If you are only eligible for a Tuition Fee Loan (no Maintenance Loan), you apply by post instead. Send forms to Student Finance England, PO Box 210, Darlington, DL1 9HJ, with your 11 digit customer reference number.

How much you could get (2026 to 2027)

Support	Maximum for new full-time students
Tuition Fee Loan	£9,790
Maintenance Loan, living with parents	£9,118
Maintenance Loan, away from home outside London	£10,830
Maintenance Loan, away from home in London	£14,135
Maintenance Loan, year studying abroad	£12,403

Time and deadlines

It takes 4 weeks to process your application. Apply early so your money is ready when your course starts.
You can still apply up to 9 months after the first day of your academic year, but you might get less than you expected if you apply late.

Course starts between	Latest you can apply
1 August and 31 December	31 May after it starts
1 January and 31 March	30 September after it starts
1 April and 30 June	31 December after it starts
1 July and 31 July	31 March after it starts

After you apply

Your student finance account is updated to show how much you will get. You need to reapply every year of your course. Continuing students sign in to their account and apply online.

Related guides

Where this comes from

Get it done

This takes you to the official service, which is free to use.

Apply for student finance

Common questions

Is student finance changing?

Yes. If your course starts on or after 1 January 2027, different rules apply.

When is the Maintenance Loan paid?

Into your bank account at the start of each term.

Source: Student finance for new full-time students

Checked against GOV.UK on 30 September 2026

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