Choose the right rules
This version covers standard full-year undergraduate loans for 2026/27, for courses started from August 2016 to December 2026. Special cases get a separate next step.
England · 2026/27 · Free planning tool
What could your
Maintenance Loan
look like?
Make a clearer plan for university. Get a living-cost loan estimate, understand whose income counts and explore your next step.
No sign-up to see your resultBased on official SFE guidance
Estimate my loan This is an estimate of a repayable loan. Student Finance England decides your eligibility and final award. Tuition Fee Loans and additional grants are separate.
Your next step · Free RSG guidance
Explore your course options.
Leave your details and we can discuss your next step. This is an initial enquiry, not a funding or admission decision.
Transparent by design
How we estimate your loan.
Apply the income assessment
At assessed household income up to £25,000, the standard maximum applies. Above this, the published income reduction applies, down to the standard basic rate.
Make the assumptions visible
We show your living arrangement, funding assumptions and an annual estimate. The monthly equivalent helps with budgeting; it is not your payment schedule.
See the standard 2026/27 calculation rates
| Living arrangement | Maximum | Basic rate | Income above £25,000 per £1 reduction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Living with parents | £9,118 | £4,013 | £6.54 |
| Living away from parents, outside London | £10,830 | £5,048 | £6.47 |
| Living away from parents, studying in London | £14,135 | £7,039 | £6.36 |
Whole-pound reductions reproduce the published SFE examples. Minor differences can arise in the final SFE assessment. The basic rates use the published maximum less the published full-year income assessment; rounded percentages alone are not used to derive the floors.
Useful answers
Before you plan your next step.
Can I use this while working?
Yes, for a course and funding situation covered by this tool. Ordinary student earnings from work during the academic year are not included in the SFE income assessment described in the official guide. Relevant parental or partner income, and your own taxable unearned income, can still count.
Whose income should I enter?
Dependent students generally use the relevant parent household’s assessed income plus their own relevant unearned income. Independent students exclude parental income; a spouse, civil partner or qualifying cohabiting partner’s income may count. Use the explanations in the income step and check SFE guidance if you are unsure.
Will I receive this amount every month?
No. The monthly figure is the annual estimate divided by 12 for budgeting. SFE normally pays your Maintenance Loan directly to a UK bank or building society account in your own name in three instalments, around the start of each term. Your university or college must confirm your registration before the first payment. Check your SFE online account for the actual amounts, dates and payment status.
Does the result confirm I am eligible?
No. Residency, immigration status, course eligibility and previous study need their own assessment. This estimator cannot establish eligibility for living-cost funding. Student Finance England makes the final decision.
What if my course starts in January 2027?
Courses starting on or after 1 January 2027 need checking against the new funding system. This tool routes those cases to separate guidance instead of applying the standard older-system formula.
What if I do not know my household income?
Choose “I do not know yet” to see the standard minimum-to-maximum range for your living arrangement, conditional on eligibility and the assumptions listed. It is not a personalised award estimate.
Official sources and related guidance
Rates and methodology checked on . RSG is an independent education consultancy.