Maintenance Loans

Unlike the Tuition Fee Loan, the Maintenance Loan is part means-tested. The specific factors taken into consideration include your family income, whether or not you plan to live at home and also where you intend to study. For example, it is lowest if you live outside London and decide to stay at home and highest if you go to a university in London and have to find your own accommodation. Take a look at our table Financial support & family income for a summary of the position.

The figures in the table Maintenance loans are based on a course lasting for 30 weeks:

Maintenance loans (maximum) available to new students in 2011

(by country of domicile)

England N Ireland Wales Scotland Living in London away from parents' home £6,928 £6,780 £6,648 £6,152  Living outside London away from parents' home £4,950 £4,840 £4,745 £5,067 Living at parents' home (London or elsewhere) £3,838 £3,750 £3,673 £4,107

 

This is the maximum amount you could expect to receive as a Maintenance Loan. But you might well be asking what determines what you, yourself, might get. The good news is that roughly 72% of the loan comes to you regardless of your family circumstances. The remaining 28% or so depends on the family income, both from you and your parents. If your parents are separated, divorced or widowed then only the income of the parent with whom you normally live will be assessed. However, if that parent has remarried, has a partner of the opposite sex or has entered into a civil partnership, both their incomes will be taken into consideration. Certain allowances are deducted for other dependent siblings, personal pension payments, etc, to arrive at the family residual income. If this is less than £60,000 then the family would not be expected to make any contribution. Depending on where you are planning to live/study, you will receive one of the three maximum Maintenance Loan rates shown. Where the residual income is higher than £60,000 the family will be expected to contribute something towards your living costs up to the maximum given in the table. The higher the residual income the greater the contribution expected.

The rules and regulations are different for Scottish students. For example, their Maintenance Loan rates are somewhat lower, especially for students going to London, and the proportion assessed on the basis of family income is considerably higher. Full details are available on the SAAS website.

If you are considered to be an independent student (e.g. over 25, or married, or in a civil partnership, or have supported yourself for at least three years prior to becoming a student, or care for a child), you will be assessed for the Maintenance Loan and any other applicable grants on your own income plus that of your spouse or partner where appropriate. Your parents will not be expected to contribute to your living costs. In addition, specific grants are available for students with children or an adult dependent, and for students with a disability. Child Tax Credit may also be available to provide further support for students with a family.

Read our country by country summary of the possible financial support available.