student finance/loans

Hi,
I am a year 13 A-Level student planning to start University in September 2026, I have already sent my UCAS application.
I was just wondering how the student loan system works as I have know nothing about it or how it works. I obviously want some type of loan to help support my studies once I start uni, so when should I start applying for this and how and can anyone give me any extra information on this.
Thank you.

Hi,
I am a year 13 A-Level student planning to start University in September 2026, I have already sent my UCAS application.
I was just wondering how the student loan system works as I have know nothing about it or how it works. I obviously want some type of loan to help support my studies once I start uni, so when should I start applying for this and how and can anyone give me any extra information on this.
Thank you.

Heyy, so im not sure when student finance opens but I am assuming around March time. You essentially will fill out the application and provide details. So Student Finance is applying for a loan to help pay the tuition fees of the university which is around 9k. This will be sent over directly to the university, so essentially after you apply fro student finance and have been accepted, you do nothing more, Student Finance will sort out sending the money to the university. You also have the opportunity to apply for maintenance loans. This is to help cover living costs such as rent, food, and travel while studying. It is paid directly to you and also has to be repaid with interest after the course ends. The amount of maintenance loan you are provided with depends on different factors such as household income, where you live, and personal circumstances. So essentially there is student finance to pay uni fees and this is given straight to the uni. You also have the option to apply for maintenance loan in this process, and this money will come to you. Both of these you have to pay pack and will be charged interest. There is also something called bursaries, which your university can provide you, and this differs from uni to uni but I would definitely look into that later on or after you have accepted a university. You do not need to pay bursary back.

It's a very easy process and is means tested so what you get is dependent on your household income, cut off to apply is sometime in mid May, there are 2 loans, the tuition loan for £9535.00 which is paid directly to the university and the maintenance loan then in 3 equal payments. What you get depends on where you study and if you live with parents, with the highest loan for students not living with parents and at a London uni. I qualified for £4915/year living away from home and studying outside of London but the maximum you can get depending on your parents income is up to about £10'500 ish outside of London (£13700 if at a London uni) less if you're living at home. It really is an easy process and no need to do it for a few months yet, if I remember rightly I don't think you can apply until around March 2026 for Sept 2026 entry? If you're not sure which uni you will firm/insure just put your best guess as it can all be amended if you change your mind or don't get the required grades. There is an online calculator you can use to see how much you can get. https://www.gov.uk/student-finance-calculator

Thank you! This was really helpful. I tried out the calculator it said I can qualify for around £8800 for maintenance loans but this is based off 2025/2026 year. Will this loan be the exact same amount across all unis? Do loans come from government and bursaries from uni?

Thank you! This was really helpful. I tried out the calculator it said I can qualify for around £8800 for maintenance loans but this is based off 2025/2026 year. Will this loan be the exact same amount across all unis? Do loans come from government and bursaries from uni?

Do loans come from government and bursaries from uni? Yes but bursaries and scholarships don't need to be paid back whereas the loans do. You start paying loans back when you earn over a certain amount of money, it used to be 9% when you earned over £25k/year but I think this may have changed recently? All this is explained as you fill in the student loan application

And if the loan isn't repaid after 40 years it is written off, it was 30 years (As in my sisters case) but it changed I think about a year ago. So if you never earn over the threshold which used to be £25k you won't ever pay anything back. Although this is highly unlikely and I hope you end up with a career paying far more than £25/year!