Maintenance Loan

This loan is intended to help cover basic living and study costs such as rent, food, travel and books. A large portion of the loan is not means tested, so is available to all eligible students regardless of household income. It is paid in three instalments, one at the beginning of each term, into your bank account.

To be eligible for the Maintenance Loan, you must qualify as a UK student for student support purposes. Check the UKCISA website for detailed information on how this is assessed. You must also be studying on a full-time, undergraduate programme.

Please check below to see loan rates for 2012/13. Information on repaying the loan is available in our Repaying Student Loans page.

Maximum Loan Rates for 2012/13 and 2013/14 (for new system* students)

Where you live and studyMaximum Loan 
 You live at home  £4375
 You live away from home and study outside London  £5500
 You spend a year of a UK course studying overseas  £6535

65% of the loan is not means tested.  If you receive a maintenance grant, your maximum loan entitlement will be reduced.

* you are a new system student if you started your course in September 2012, or will start in September 2013, and pay tuition fees of £9,000.

Maximum Loan Rates for 2012/13 and 2013/14 (for 'old system'* students)

Where you live and studyMaximum Loan 
 You live at home  £3838
 You live away from home and study outside London  £4950
 You spend a year of a UK course studying overseas  £5895

72% of this loan is non means tested. If you receive a maintenance grant your maximum loan entitlement will be reduced.

*you are an old system student if you started your studies before September 2012

Maximum Loan if you are starting your final year in 2012/13;

Where you live and studyMaximum Loan 
 You live at home £3483
 You live away from home and study outside London  £4583
 You spend a year of a UK course studying overseas  £5145

72% of this loan is non means tested. If you receive a maintenance grant your maximum loan entitlement will be reduced.

Payment of your Loan

The first instalment cannot be paid until you have completed registration with the University in late September/October. This is because the University is required to notify the SLC that you are in attendance in order for the first payment of your loan to be made.