Student Finance 2027: Loans, Grants and the New LLE

Quick answer: UK student finance is mainly two loans: a Tuition Fee Loan (up to £9,790 for a full-time course in the 2026 to 2027 academic year in England, paid straight to your university) and a Maintenance Loan for living costs. Some students also get grants and bursaries on top. Starting university in September 2027 or later? Most undergraduate courses then move to the new Lifelong Learning Entitlement, explained below. This guide from the UCAS Points Calculator team covers what you can get, who's eligible, how to apply, and how repayment works.

Getting your place sorted is the big one — but the money is what makes actually starting university feel realistic. The good news: it's more straightforward than it looks, and every figure below comes from gov.uk. Let's walk through it step by step.

What is student finance and how does it work?

Student finance is government-backed funding for students. If your home is in England you apply to Student Finance England, and there's a different process if you're from Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland. It splits into two parts: a Tuition Fee Loan that pays your course fees directly to the university, and a Maintenance Loan paid into your bank account at the start of each term for things like rent, food, books and travel. Yes, it's a loan rather than free money — but you only repay once you've left your course and earn over a set amount, and your monthly repayments depend on what you earn, not what you owe. You can read more about how the UCAS application works alongside it.

The Tuition Fee Loan

The Tuition Fee Loan covers your course fees, up to £9,790 for a full-time course in the 2026 to 2027 academic year in England. Your university sets the fee and the loan is paid straight to them, so there's no big bill to find yourself. The best part: household income doesn't come into it, so your family's earnings don't change what you can borrow for fees. Accelerated degrees can get up to £11,750 for 2026 to 2027, and the amount you're charged may vary depending on where in the UK you study.

Starting in September 2027 or later? For courses starting on or after 1 January 2027, you'll apply through a new system called the Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE), which replaces the current student finance for most undergraduate courses. Under the LLE, gov.uk currently gives up to £9,790 for every 120 credits you study (a usual full-time year), from a total Tuition Fee Loan amount of £39,160 that's based on current rates and may change.

The Maintenance Loan for living costs

The Maintenance Loan helps with rent, food, travel and bills. How much you get depends on your household income and where you live while you study, and it's paid into your bank account at the start of each term. These are the maximum amounts for the 2026 to 2027 academic year in England:

• Living with your parents — up to £9,118
• Living away from your parents, outside London — up to £10,830
• Living away from your parents, in London — up to £14,135

You may not get the full amount, so you might need part-time work, a bursary or family help to cover the rest. If you're weighing up where to live, our student accommodation guide can help you picture the real costs.

Grants and bursaries you don't repay

On top of your loans, some students get extra help they don't usually have to repay. Full-time students with children or an adult who depends on them can apply for the Childcare Grant, Parents' Learning Allowance or Adult Dependants' Grant. There's a Disabled Students' Allowance if you have a disability, long-term health condition, mental health condition or specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia. You may also get money from your university, such as a bursary, scholarship or hardship fund. The rules vary a lot between universities, so check your own university's bursary page directly. Some are linked to access schemes, much like the contextual offers universities use to widen who can apply.

Who is eligible for student finance?

If you're a school-leaver from England heading to your first degree, the rules are on your side. For a Tuition Fee Loan and Maintenance Loan from Student Finance England, gov.uk looks at:

• Your nationality and residency — for example, you're a UK national, an Irish citizen or have settled status, your home is in England, and you've lived in the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man for the 3 years before your course starts
• Your course — for example a first degree, a foundation degree, an HNC or HND
• Your university or college — it must offer a qualifying course
• Previous study — you'll usually only get student finance for your first higher education qualification

The Tuition Fee Loan doesn't use household income; the Maintenance Loan amount does. Rules differ for other nationalities and for second degrees, so use the gov.uk eligibility checker if you're unsure. In England, an Access to HE course taken before your degree is funded separately, through Advanced Learner Loans and free Access to HE places.

How to apply for student finance

You apply online through your home nation's service — Student Finance England (SFE), Student Finance Wales (SFW), the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS) or Student Finance NI. Here's the reassuring bit: you don't need a confirmed place to apply. Apply with your best guess of where you're heading and update it later. In England, for courses starting from 1 August 2027, applications open in spring 2027 through the new LLE service. The steps for new students on the current Student Finance England service are:

1. Set up a student finance online account
2. Sign in and complete the application, including your course and university (you can change these if your place changes)
3. Add your household income if needed — your parent or partner will be asked to confirm it
4. Send proof of identity, if you're asked to
5. Check your account — gov.uk says it takes 4 weeks to process your application

Apply early: under the current system, if you apply close to your start date you may get only the minimum amount at first. Line this up with the wider timetable in our UCAS deadlines for 2027 entry guide, and once you've made your firm vs insurance choices you can update your finance application to match.

How and when do you repay student finance?

The earliest you start repaying student finance is the April after you leave your course, and only once your income is over the threshold for your repayment plan. Repayments come out of your salary at the same time as tax and National Insurance, and they're a percentage of the income you earn above the threshold, not a chunk of your whole salary. If you're a new undergraduate from England, you're on Plan 5 (this includes LLE loans), so you repay 9% of your income over £25,000 a year:

• Earn under the threshold? You repay nothing.
• Earn over it? You repay 9% of the amount above it.
• Income drops? Repayments stop automatically — no forms, no chasing.

Interest is charged from your first payment (the Plan 5 rate is currently 4.1%), and thresholds change on 6 April every year. Any Plan 5 balance left is written off 40 years after the April you're first due to repay. Students from Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are on different plans. Student loans don't appear on credit reports or affect your credit score, though lenders may consider them in affordability checks, for example for a mortgage. If you're still mapping out your bigger picture, see what is a good UCAS points score? for where your grades fit.

Sorting your finances before results day

The smart move is simple: apply for student finance early, then keep your grades and points realistic so you know which place you're heading to. Getting the money lined up before the summer means one less thing to scramble over in August. And if your results land differently than expected, you can update your application when you change course or university, including through Clearing, so an early application is rarely wasted. Use the UCAS Points Calculator to keep your numbers in range, and check our A-level results day 2026 guide so the whole picture stays calm and in your control.

— Set up your money for first year —

Still deciding where to study?

Not placed yet? No problem. Use the UCAS Points Calculator to confirm your points, then check how many UCAS points do I need? and explore what can I study with my UCAS points? to see what's realistic — then come back and sort the money once you know your next step.

Calculate your UCAS points

Student finance basics: frequently asked questions

How does student finance work in the UK? UK student finance has two main parts: a Tuition Fee Loan paid straight to your university (up to £9,790 for a full-time course in the 2026 to 2027 academic year in England) and a means-tested Maintenance Loan paid to you for living costs. You only repay once you earn over your plan's threshold.

How much is the Tuition Fee Loan for 2026 to 2027? In England, the Tuition Fee Loan is up to £9,790 for a full-time course in the 2026 to 2027 academic year, or up to £11,750 for an accelerated degree. It's paid straight to your university. For courses starting on or after 1 January 2027, gov.uk currently gives up to £9,790 per 120 credits.

Do you have to pay back student finance? Yes, but only once you earn over the threshold, from the April after you leave your course at the earliest. New undergraduates from England are on Plan 5: you repay 9% of income over £25,000 a year, and any balance left is written off 40 years after the April you're first due to repay.

Is the Maintenance Loan means-tested? Yes. It depends on your household income and where you live while you study. For 2026 to 2027 in England, the maximum is £9,118 living with your parents, £10,830 away from home outside London and £14,135 in London. The Tuition Fee Loan doesn't use household income.

When should I apply for student finance? Apply as early as you can, and you don't need a confirmed place. For courses starting from 1 August 2027, gov.uk says applications open in spring 2027 through the new Lifelong Learning Entitlement service. Under the current system, late applicants may get only the minimum amount at first.

Can I get grants I don't have to repay? Yes. You might get extra help you don't usually repay, such as the Childcare Grant, Parents' Learning Allowance or Adult Dependants' Grant for full-time students, a Disabled Students' Allowance, or a bursary, scholarship or hardship fund from your university. Check your university's own funding pages, as the rules vary.