Student Maintenance Loan Calculator

The maintenance loan helps cover living costs while studying. For 2026/27, the maximum loan depends on where you live and study: up to £13,022 if living away from home in London, £9,978 if living away outside London and £8,400 if living with parents. Final-year students receive slightly less.

The loan is means-tested on household income. Students from households earning £25,000 or below receive the full amount. Above this, the loan is reduced gradually — the taper rate is roughly £1 less for every £5.84 of household income above £25,000. The minimum loan (for the highest earners) is £4,767 regardless of income.

Enter your household income, where you plan to live and your year of study. The calculator applies the correct taper rate and shows your estimated annual and termly loan amount. Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish students have separate systems and should use the appropriate devolved calculator.

UK Maintenance Loan amounts 2025/26. England, Plan 5 (post-September 2023 starters). Living away from home, OUTSIDE London: up to £10,544/year. Living away from home, IN London: up to £13,762/year. Living with parents: up to £8,877/year. Means-tested by parental household income — full loan to £25,000; reduces to ~£6,000 minimum at £58,222+ income. Scottish students (Scotland): up to £10,400 SAAS bursary + loan combined. Welsh students: up to £15,610 combined. Northern Irish students: up to £9,492.

Plan 5 repayment terms (post-Sept 2023 starters). Repayment threshold: £25,000/year salary. Repayment rate: 9% of income above threshold. Sample £35k salary: 9% × (£35k − £25k) = £900/year (£75/month). Sample £45k: £1,800/year (£150/month). Repayment period: 40 years (was 30 years under Plan 2). Interest rate: RPI only (no plus). Loans written off after 40 years if not repaid in full. Most graduates will repay in full under Plan 5 — significant change from Plan 2 where many never repaid.

Plan 2 (2012-2022 starters) repayment terms. Repayment threshold: £27,295/year (rising with inflation). Rate: 9%. Period: 30 years from April after graduation. Interest: RPI + up to 3% based on income (RPI for low earners, RPI + 3% for high earners). 50%+ of Plan 2 graduates expected to NOT repay in full — written off at 30 years. Plan 2 cohort: 2012-2022 graduates collectively owe £200+ billion to government (largest UK government 'asset' but with significant write-off risk).

Should I repay early? Almost never. Counter-intuitive but true for most: don't make voluntary repayments on Plan 2 or Plan 5. Reason: if you'll never repay in full anyway (loan written off after 30/40 years), early repayments just gift money to government. Exception: high earners £75k+ Plan 5, very high earners £80k+ Plan 2 likely to repay in full — early repayment slightly accelerates clearing. Use voluntary repayments instead for: pension contributions (tax relief), ISA savings, mortgage deposit.

Maintenance Loan plus tuition fee loan — total student debt. Tuition £9,535/year × 3 years = £28,605. Maintenance £10,544/year × 3 years = £31,632. Total typical English student: £60,237 at start of work. Plus interest accrued (~£3-6k by graduation = £65k+ starting balance). Average graduate repayment over working life (Plan 5): £35,000-£50,000 total. Higher earners: repay in full + significant interest (£80k+ for £100k earners). Lower earners (under £30k career average): repay £8,000-£15,000 total, rest written off.