Planning for university is not just about choosing a course. You also need to know how you will pay for tuition and everyday living costs. A student finance calculator can help you estimate the support you could receive before applying for student finance. For eligible students in England, this can include a Tuition Fee Loan, Maintenance Loan and certain additional funding depending on your circumstances. The amount you could receive may depend on household income, where you live while studying, your course and other personal circumstances. For 2026/27, the maximum standard Maintenance Loan ranges from £9,118 for students living with their parents to £14,135 for students living away from home in London.
What is a student finance calculator?
A student finance calculator estimates how much financial support you could potentially receive for higher education. The official GOV.UK calculator is intended for students living in England who are starting eligible undergraduate courses in 2025/26 or 2026/27, as well as certain courses and modules starting from 1 January 2027.
The calculation can cover Tuition Fee Loans to help pay course fees, Maintenance Loans to help with living costs and some additional funding. You may need details such as household income, your course start date and where you expect to live.
The result is an estimate, not a guaranteed award. Your final student finance entitlement is determined when your application and circumstances are assessed.
How much student finance could you get in 2026/27?
The amount available varies according to your circumstances. For full-time undergraduate students who are not eligible for benefits, the 2026/27 maximum Maintenance Loan is £9,118 when living at home, £10,830 when living away from home outside London and £14,135 when living away from home in London.
These are maximum figures rather than automatic payments. Your household income can reduce the amount you receive, so two students on the same course can have different Maintenance Loan entitlements.
There are also different rates for some students who qualify for benefits or other additional support. This is why using your own circumstances in the calculation is more useful than relying on the maximum headline figure.
2026/27 Maintenance Loan rates explained
Your living arrangement is one of the most important factors when looking at the 2026/27 Maintenance Loan. The published maximum and minimum rates for eligible full-time undergraduate students who are not entitled to benefits are:
- Living with parents: up to £9,118
- Living away from home outside London: up to £10,830
- Living away from home in London: up to £14,135
- Studying overseas as part of a UK course: up to £12,403
- Aged 60 or over: up to £4,582, subject to the relevant income assessment
Students eligible for certain benefits can qualify for higher maximum rates. For example, the maximum for a student living away from home outside London can reach £12,345, while the London maximum can reach £15,415.
How household income affects your calculation
Household income can significantly affect the Maintenance Loan available to many students. For 2026/27, the income assessment starts with no household contribution where the relevant income is £25,000 or less. Above that level, the Maintenance Loan is gradually reduced according to the applicable calculation.
For example, GOV.UK shows that a student living away from home outside London with household income of £30,000 could receive up to £10,058. At £40,000, the figure falls to £8,512. A student living in London at those same income levels has different entitlements because the maximum London rate is higher.
This is an important reason not to assume that a particular household income automatically produces one fixed loan amount.
Does living in London increase student finance?
Living in London can increase the maximum Maintenance Loan because the student finance system recognises a different maximum rate for eligible students living away from home and studying in London.
For 2026/27, the maximum standard Maintenance Loan is £14,135 for an eligible student living away from home in London, compared with £10,830 for a student living away from home outside London.
However, receiving a larger loan does not necessarily mean you will have more money left over. Accommodation, travel, food and other everyday costs can also be higher.
If you are comparing universities, calculate your likely living costs as well as your potential funding. A larger Maintenance Loan may simply reflect the higher costs associated with your living arrangement.
What is the difference between a Tuition Fee Loan and Maintenance Loan?
A Tuition Fee Loan and a Maintenance Loan have different purposes. The Tuition Fee Loan helps pay eligible university or college tuition fees and is paid directly to the institution. For 2026/27, a new full-time undergraduate student can generally receive up to £9,790 for tuition fees, although different limits can apply to accelerated degrees and certain courses.
A Maintenance Loan is paid to the student and is intended to help with living costs. It can contribute towards accommodation, food, travel and other everyday expenses.
Keeping the two loans separate makes budgeting much easier. Your Tuition Fee Loan should not be treated as spending money because it is intended for course fees.
What information do you need to use the calculator?
Before calculating your potential funding, it helps to have the information that the assessment is likely to require. The more accurate your details are, the more useful the estimate will be.
You may need:
- Your course start date
- Your university or college
- Your course type and study arrangements
- Your expected living arrangement
- Whether you will live with your parents
- Whether you will study in London
- Your annual household income
- Information about previous study
- Details of children or other relevant dependants
- Information about disability or other circumstances where applicable
The official calculator may also tell you whether you could qualify for certain extra funding. GOV.UK specifically advises that you may need to know your annual household income before starting the calculation.
Can student finance cover your living costs?
A Maintenance Loan is intended to help with living costs, but it may not cover everything you spend during university. Your actual position will depend on rent, food, travel, bills and personal expenses.
This is particularly important for students living away from home. Before university starts, calculate your essential costs for a typical month and compare them with the amount you expect to receive.
If there is a shortfall, you may need to consider other sources of funding. GOV.UK identifies possibilities including part-time work, local authority assistance, bursaries, scholarships and family contributions.
The best approach is therefore to treat your estimated Maintenance Loan as one part of your overall student budget rather than assuming it will cover every expense.
What extra student finance could you receive?
Some students can receive additional support depending on their circumstances. The standard Maintenance Loan is not the only form of help available through student finance.
Extra funding may be relevant if you are on a low income, have a disability, have children or are studying certain courses. The GOV.UK calculator is designed to help identify whether you may be eligible for additional funding alongside the main loan amounts.
Students eligible for certain benefits can also have higher maximum Maintenance Loan rates. For 2026/27, for example, the maximum is £10,757 for eligible students living at home, £12,345 for those living away from home outside London and £15,415 for those living away from home in London.
Your circumstances therefore matter just as much as the standard headline rates.
What changes for courses starting in January 2027?
Student finance is changing for eligible courses starting on or after 1 January 2027. These arrangements form part of the Lifelong Learning Entitlement and can cover eligible higher and further education courses and modules.
Under the new system, Maintenance Loan entitlement can depend on where you live, your household income, the number of credits you study and the number of weeks you study each year. Students studying less than 120 credits in an academic year may receive a proportionate amount.
The new system also has specific conditions for Maintenance Loans. For example, students normally need to attend their course in person and have sufficient Tuition Fee Loan funding remaining, subject to the applicable rules.
If your course starts in January 2027 or later, check the rules for the new system rather than relying on older student finance assumptions.
How should you use your student finance estimate?
The most useful way to use a funding estimate is to turn it into a realistic university budget. Start with essential spending rather than optional purchases.
Calculate your expected:
- Rent and accommodation costs
- Food and groceries
- Travel
- Household bills
- Course materials
- Mobile phone costs
- Personal expenses
- Emergency spending
Then compare the total with your estimated Maintenance Loan. If the figures do not balance, you have identified the problem before starting university.
You can also compare different accommodation choices. Living with parents may reduce your accommodation costs, while living in London may result in both a higher maximum loan and higher everyday expenses.
This makes the calculator more useful as a planning tool than simply looking at the maximum amount available.
Is it worth using a student finance calculator?
Yes. Using a calculator before applying can give you a much clearer idea of what your university finances might look like. It can help you understand the difference between tuition funding and living-cost support and show how household income and accommodation choices can affect your potential Maintenance Loan.
It is particularly useful when comparing universities. A course in London, for example, may come with a higher maximum Maintenance Loan but also significantly different living costs.
The key is to treat the result as an estimate. It should not replace your formal student finance application or your own household budget.
For prospective students, the main benefit is preparation. Knowing your likely funding before university begins gives you more time to identify a possible shortfall and investigate bursaries, scholarships or other support.
ASLO READ:2
Shefali Oza Health and Illness Claims Explained
FAQs
How much Maintenance Loan can I get in 2026/27?
For eligible full-time undergraduate students not receiving certain benefits, the maximum is £9,118 when living with parents, £10,830 when living away from home outside London and £14,135 when living away from home in London. Your actual amount can be lower depending on household income and circumstances.
What household income gives the maximum Maintenance Loan?
For 2026/27, the standard income assessment has no household contribution up to £25,000. Above that level, the Maintenance Loan is reduced according to the applicable income assessment rules.
How much is the Tuition Fee Loan in 2026/27?
For a new full-time undergraduate student, the standard maximum Tuition Fee Loan is £9,790 for 2026/27. Accelerated degree courses can have a higher maximum.
Can I get more student finance if I live in London?
The maximum Maintenance Loan is higher for eligible students living away from home and studying in London. For 2026/27, the standard maximum is £14,135.
Does the calculator give my final student finance amount?
No. It provides an estimate. Your final entitlement is determined through the formal student finance assessment using the information in your application.
Conclusion
A student finance calculator is one of the most useful starting points for understanding the cost of going to university in England. It can estimate potential Tuition Fee Loan and Maintenance Loan support while showing how important factors such as household income, living arrangements and location can be.
For 2026/27, the maximum standard Maintenance Loan ranges from £9,118 for students living with their parents to £14,135 for eligible students living away from home in London. But these figures should not be viewed in isolation. Your actual entitlement may be lower, while your living costs could be considerably higher.
The smartest approach is to use the estimate alongside a realistic budget. Work out your accommodation, food, travel and essential expenses before deciding whether your expected funding is enough. If your course starts from January 2027, check the new funding arrangements carefully because the student finance system is changing. Overall, calculating your potential support early can help you avoid unpleasant financial surprises when university begins.
