Undergraduate student finance for full-time students – September 2026

Who this information applies to

This guidance is for students who live in England and are starting their course in September 2026.

Student finance arrangements are different if you live in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland or are starting your course in September 2027.

If you live in another part of the UK, please refer to the Student Awards Agency for Scotland, Student Finance Wales or Student Finance Northern Ireland.

If you live outside the UK, you can use the Government’s student finance checker to find out more about the type of help you can get.

If you are starting your studies on or after 1 January 2027, please see our guidance on undergraduate student finance for 2027.

Eligibility for student finance

You may be able to apply for student loans to help pay for your tuition fees and living costs if you are studying an eligible full-time course and you meet the Government’s age and residency requirements.

Student loans are different from commercial loans. Repayments are based on your income, and you only repay when your earnings are above the repayment threshold.

You do not need to wait until you receive an offer before applying for student finance.

For more information, see the Government’s eligibility criteria for courses starting in September 2026.

How to apply for student finance

You will need to apply online via Student Finance England. If your course starts between August 2026 and December 2026, you can apply for full-time undergraduate student finance from Monday 23 March 2026. 

Tuition Fee Loans

If you are eligible for a Tuition Fee Loan, you will not need to pay your tuition fees upfront. The loan is paid directly to the University.

In most cases, you can access student finance if you are studying your first higher education qualification or topping up a lower-level higher education qualification.

Student finance is usually available for the length of your course, plus one additional year if needed (for example if you change course or repeat a year).
For the 2026/27 academic year, the maximum tuition fee loan available is £9,790.

The amount you receive depends on the tuition fee charged by your university. For example, if your course fee is £9,790, the maximum tuition fee loan available to you will also be £9,790.

Tuition Fee Loans are not means-tested, so eligible students can apply for the full amount regardless of household income.

Maintenance Loans – for living costs

In addition to the Tuition Fee Loan, you may be able to apply for a Maintenance Loan to help with living costs.

Maintenance Loans are paid directly into your bank account, usually in instalments at the start of each term. The loan can be used for any living costs. Most commonly students spend their Maintenance Loan on rent, travel costs, food, social life, course materials and any other day-to-day living expenses.

Additional grants

Some students can get additional grants to support with the cost of living.

• If you have an adult who is financially dependent on you, you may be eligible for an Adult Dependant's Grantof up to £3,545 for the 2026/27 academic year. The grant is means-tested on household income.
• If you need child care during your studies, you may be eligible for a Child Care Grant. The grant is means-tested and could provide up to 85 per cent of your childcare costs. The maximum grant available is £199.62 per week for one child or £342.24 per week for two or more children.
• You may also be eligible to receive a Parents' Learning Allowance to help with additional costs you may incur during your study because you have children. This may be up to £2,024 per year, but the actual amount will depend on household income.

Any support from the above sources is not repayable.

Disabled Students' Allowance

(DSA) can help to pay for extra costs you may have to pay while studying as a direct result of a disability or specific learning difficulty. This can include:

• items of specialist equipment,
• a non-medical helper and
• other disability-related expenditure.

Get more information about Disabled Students' Allowance

NHS and Ministry of Defence funded courses

Students on Nursing, midwifery and most allied health profession courses can access student loans, and there is an additional government grant for some healthcare students. Find out more.

The Ministry of Defence ELC scheme entitles service personnel and service leavers to receive financial help with the cost of their learning. Find out more information about the scheme.