If you're applying through SFE, your Maintenance Loan is partly based on household income. In practice, that usually means your parents' income if you're under 25 and still classed as financially dependent on them.
For the 2026/27 academic year, students with a household income of £25,000 or less can receive the maximum Maintenance Loan. Above that point, the amount gradually falls as household income rises.
For a typical full-time student who is not entitled to additional benefits, the figures look roughly like this:
| Household income | Living away outside London | Living away in London | Living with parents |
|---|---|---|---|
| £25,000 | £10,830 | £14,135 | £9,118 |
| £30,000 | £10,058 | £13,349 | £8,354 |
| £35,000 | £9,285 | £12,563 | £7,589 |
| £40,000 | £8,512 | £11,777 | £6,825 |
| £45,000 | £7,739 | £10,991 | £6,060 |
Once household income reaches roughly £58,000–£70,000, depending on where you live while studying, the loan reaches its minimum level and does not keep falling.
That minimum is currently:
- £5,048 if you live away from home outside London
- £7,039 if you live away from home in London
- £4,013 if you live with your parents
Household income
It is not simply your parents' take-home pay.
Student Finance normally looks at their gross taxable income, then makes certain deductions, including some pension contributions and allowances for other financially dependent children.
If your parents are separated, Student Finance normally assesses the income of the parent you depend on financially, plus the income of that parent's partner if they have one.
For 2026/27 applications, Student Finance England normally uses household income from the 2024/25 tax year.
What if your parents' income has fallen?
This is worth knowing because the income Student Finance uses can be nearly two years old.
If your household income has since fallen by at least 15%, for example because a parent has lost their job or reduced their hours, your household may be able to request a current-year income assessment instead.
That could increase the Maintenance Loan you receive.
Are your parents required to pay the difference?
T system effectively assumes that higher-income households can contribute more towards a student's living costs. As household income rises, Student Finance reduces the amount it lends you.
That can create a funding gap if your parents cannot or do not contribute, so it is important to know your expected Maintenance Loan before agreeing to accommodation or planning your annual budget.
If you're applying for university, use the Student Finance calculator with your household income rather than assuming you'll receive the headline maximum loan.
