Question 1

How much maintenance loan will I get in 2026/27?

Accepted Answer

It depends on where you live during term time and your household income. Living away from home outside London: £5,048–£10,830. Away in London: £7,039–£14,135. Living with parents: £4,013–£9,118. You get the maximum if household income is £25,000 or below, reducing gradually to the minimum at higher incomes. The calculator shows the exact figure for your situation.

Question 2

What counts as household income for student finance?

Accepted Answer

If you are under 25 and financially dependent, Student Finance England uses your parents' combined gross income from the 2024/25 tax year (for 2026/27 applications). If your parents' income has dropped by 15% or more since then, you can apply for a current year assessment. If you are 25 or over, married, or have been financially independent for 3+ years, your own income (and your partner's if applicable) is used instead.

Question 3

What is the tuition fee loan for 2026/27?

Accepted Answer

Most full-time undergraduates at TEF-accredited English universities can borrow up to £9,790 to cover tuition fees in 2026/27 — a 2.71% increase from £9,535 in 2025/26. The loan is paid directly to your university, so you never see it as cash. It is not means-tested, so every eligible student can borrow the full fee amount regardless of household income.

Question 4

How much student debt will I graduate with?

Accepted Answer

On a 3-year course at a full-fee university, living away from home outside London on £45,000 household income: around £30,000–£36,000 in maintenance loans plus £29,370 in tuition fee loans, giving roughly £59,000–£65,000 total. This sounds large but Plan 5 repayments are income-contingent — you repay 9% of income above £25,000, and anything left after 40 years is written off. Most graduates on typical salaries will not repay the full amount.

Question 5

When should I apply for student finance?

Accepted Answer

Apply as early as possible — ideally by the May deadline before your September start. Late applications are processed, but delays can mean your first maintenance payment arrives late, leaving you short of cash at the start of term. You can apply before you have confirmed your university place, and you can update your details later. Applications open in January or February each year at studentfinance.gov.uk.

Question 6

Does a student loan affect my credit score?

Accepted Answer

No. Student loans in England are not standard commercial debt and are not listed on your credit file with the major credit reference agencies (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion). Lenders will not see your student loan balance when assessing a mortgage or other credit application. However, your student loan repayments reduce your monthly disposable income, which lenders will see in your payslips and bank statements and factor into affordability calculations.

Question 7

Should I use savings to pay tuition fees instead of borrowing?

Accepted Answer

For most Plan 5 students starting from 2023 onwards, borrowing the full amount is almost always the better choice. Plan 5 loans are repaid over 40 years and anything remaining is written off. Only higher earners who stay above the £25,000 threshold for 40 years will repay the full balance. Paying tuition fees upfront with savings depletes capital that could be invested or used as a house deposit, whereas borrowing costs you nothing if your income never consistently exceeds the repayment threshold. The exception: if you expect to be a consistently very high earner, paying some fees upfront might save money overall.

Student Finance Calculator UK 2026/27