Studying Abroad Next Year – SFE Maintenance Loan Confusion?

Hi everyone,

I’m just wondering if anyone can help me understand what’s going on with my Student Finance for my year abroad.

I’m currently a student at the University of York (studying outside of London), and I’ll be going on a study abroad year to Hong Kong next academic year. However, I’ve just received my Student Finance entitlement for 2025/26 and it says I’m only getting £3,194 in maintenance loan.

This seems way too low – in my second year (this year), I received £6,500, and I know the minimum maintenance loan is usually around £4,800, so this amount is even below the minimum.

I called SFE and they told me that £3,194 is correct, but I don’t understand how that can be right when I’m going abroad as part of my degree. From what I understand, if you’re doing a study abroad year, you’re still meant to get the standard loan you’d normally get, not the reduced amount that you’d get for a placement or year in industry. However I was originally meant to go on a placement but I was unlucky in securing a place so I decided to go on a study abroad instead.

So I’m wondering if that’s the reason SFE has calculated my loan as if I’m doing a placement instead of going abroad?

Would really appreciate any advice if anyone else has been through something similar. Thanks in advance!

Reply 1

SFE Jason

Official Rep

Original post

by oliwia_b

Hi everyone,
I’m just wondering if anyone can help me understand what’s going on with my Student Finance for my year abroad.
I’m currently a student at the University of York (studying outside of London), and I’ll be going on a study abroad year to Hong Kong next academic year. However, I’ve just received my Student Finance entitlement for 2025/26 and it says I’m only getting £3,194 in maintenance loan.
This seems way too low – in my second year (this year), I received £6,500, and I know the minimum maintenance loan is usually around £4,800, so this amount is even below the minimum.
I called SFE and they told me that £3,194 is correct, but I don’t understand how that can be right when I’m going abroad as part of my degree. From what I understand, if you’re doing a study abroad year, you’re still meant to get the standard loan you’d normally get, not the reduced amount that you’d get for a placement or year in industry. However I was originally meant to go on a placement but I was unlucky in securing a place so I decided to go on a study abroad instead.
So I’m wondering if that’s the reason SFE has calculated my loan as if I’m doing a placement instead of going abroad?
Would really appreciate any advice if anyone else has been through something similar. Thanks in advance!

Hi there,

I have responded to your message on Twitter. If you want to follow the steps advised on there for us to check this as we can't access accounts on these platforms :smile:

Thanks, Jason

Reply 2

EmpPalps16

I am also in this position, have you had any luck finding out what’s going on?

Reply 3

SFE Clare

Official Rep

Hi EmpPalps16,

That sounds like the placement/sandwich year entitlement. Can you confirm if you will be studying abroad for the full academic year or if you will be in the UK for any time throughout the course year?

Thanks, Clare