Bursary & Scholarship Impact Calculator

Your total student finance package combines several elements: the tuition fee loan (up to £9,535 for 2026/27, paid directly to the university), the maintenance loan (means-tested, paid to you) and any grants or bursaries. Some students also qualify for Disabled Students' Allowances or Childcare Grants.

This calculator estimates your total package by combining tuition and maintenance loans with any additional grants. Tuition fee loans are not means-tested and cover up to the full fee. Maintenance loans are means-tested on household income. Additional grants (such as the Parents' Learning Allowance or Adult Dependants' Grant) have separate eligibility criteria.

Enter your household income, dependants status and study details. The calculator shows each component and the total finance available, as well as what arrives as a loan (to be repaid) versus a grant (non-repayable). Remember that tuition fee loans go directly to your university, not into your bank account.

UK student maintenance allowances 2025/26. England Plan 5: £13,762 (London); £10,544 (outside London); £8,877 (living at home). Means-tested by parental income — full to £25,000; reduces to ~£6,000 min at £58,222+. Northern Ireland: £9,492. Scotland (SAAS): Young Students' Bursary up to £8,100 (means-tested) + Student Loan up to £6,000. Wales: up to £15,610 combined. Loans paid termly into student bank account.

What maintenance loan covers. Rent (largest cost): £4,500-£10,500/year halls; £4,000-£9,000/year private rent. Food: £180-£250/month. Bills: £80-£150/month. Transport: £40-£100/month. Books/equipment: £200-£400/year. Social: £100-£200/month. Total UK student living cost: £8,000-£12,000/year outside London; £10,000-£14,000/year London. Maintenance loan typically covers 60-90% of total.

Additional grants and bursaries. NHS Bursary (medical, dental, nursing students): up to £4,000/year. Disability Allowance: up to £25,000/year for equipment/support. Care leavers: separate package up to £14,000. University hardship funds: discretionary £500-£5,000. Scholarships (merit-based): £500-£3,000/year typical. NHS conversion courses: full bursary for nursing/midwifery first-year (£5,000+ each).

Earning while studying. Term-time work: max 20 hours/week recommended (international students restricted to 20h). Best paid: tutoring (£25-£60/hour); bar work (£10-£15/hour); retail Christmas (£11-£14/hour). University jobs: student ambassador, library. Summer (May-September): full-time work £4,000-£8,000. Internships (finance/tech): £18-£35k pro-rata. Personal Allowance £12,570 — most students pay no income tax on earnings.

Budget management for UK students. Open student bank account: HSBC, Santander, Halifax, NatWest offer interest-free overdraft £1,000-£3,000. Track spending with Monzo/Starling. Cook in batches and self-cater (saves £500-£1,500/year vs eating out). Use student discount apps (UNiDAYS, Student Beans): 10-15% off Amazon, ASOS, Boohoo, Apple. National Express, GWR, TfL: 1/3 off with 16-25 Railcard (£30/year). 16-25 ID card £15/year — multiple uses.