Money advice for students

Started your course in 2011 or before

Full-time undergraduate student from the UK

Student loan for maintenance

All full-time undergraduate students who are ordinarily resident in the UK who do not already have a degree or other higher education qualification and who started their course in September 2006 or later can apply for a student loan for living costs. The amount you are eligible for depends upon whether or not you are living at your parents' home, your household income and the size of Maintenance Grant you are eligible for.

Student Loan for maintenance 2009–2011 entry

Your situation Maximum loan available a year
Living away from parents' home £4,950
Living at your parents' home £3,838

Student Loan for maintenance 2006–2008 entry

Your situation Maximum loan available a year
Living away from parents' home £4,745
Living at your parents' home £3,673

Your student loan for living costs will be paid into your bank account three times a year at the beginning of each term.

  • 72% of the loan (2009–2011 entry) is non means-tested and is available to all eligible students.
  • 75% of the loan (2006–2008 entry) is non means-tested and is available to all eligible students.
  • You do not have to apply for the maximum student loan. You may choose to take out less than your full entitlement and apply to the Student Loan Company later in the year for the remainder.
  • Students who are on full-year paid placements will be eligible for a reduced rate loan.
  • Final year students are eligible for a smaller student loan.
  • Loans are repaid from the April after you graduate or leave your course and once you are earning over £15,000 pa (current figures). Interest rates are linked to inflation so that you repay to the actual value of what was borrowed.
Applying for funding

You can apply for student loans for tuition fees and for living costs, grants and other forms of government help from around March each year. Additional financial support is available to students with disabilities and students with children and other dependants.

You should apply for student finance once you have applied for a place at university or college, don't wait until you are offered a place on a course. No fee loans will be granted/confirmed without a National Insurance number, so you will need to provide this when you complete your application for student finance. Your student finance application should be made online via one of the links below depending on where you live: