Student Finance in England: Loans, Repayment and the 2027 Changes

Student finance looks intimidating, but the basics are simple. And if your course starts in 2027, the system you’ll use is new.

For most students from England, university is paid for with two loans from Student Finance England: one for tuition fees and one for living costs. Repayments depend on your future earnings, not on the amount you borrow. The system is changing for courses that start from January 2027, so it’s worth knowing which rules apply to you.

This guide covers students whose home is in England. Students from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland apply to their own funding bodies, with different rules.

The loans for 2026 to 2027

Tuition Fee Loan. This is paid straight to your university or college. For the 2026 to 2027 academic year, GOV.UK lists a maximum of £9,790 for a full-time course.

Maintenance Loan. This is paid to you, to help with rent, food and other living costs. How much you get depends on where you live while studying and your household income. The maximum amounts for 2026 to 2027 are:

These are upper limits. Many students receive less, because the amount falls as household income rises.

Courses starting from January 2027: the Lifelong Learning Entitlement

GOV.UK explains that for courses starting on or after 1 January 2027, student finance comes through the Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE), which replaces the previous system for most undergraduate courses and some others.

• You can borrow Tuition Fee Loans up to a total of £39,160, which GOV.UK describes as around four years of full-time study, or 480 credits.
• A full-time bachelor’s degree year is typically 120 credits.
• Maintenance Loans are also available, and both loans are partly based on how many credits you study.
• Some individual modules, not just full courses, can be funded.
• From October 2026, you can create an LLE student finance account to see an estimate of how much Tuition Fee Loan you could borrow.

When to apply: GOV.UK says you can apply from the end of October 2026 for courses starting in January 2027. For courses starting from 1 August 2027, which includes most autumn 2027 starts, applications open in spring 2027.

How repayment works

You don’t repay anything while you’re studying. According to GOV.UK:

• You start repaying once you’ve left your course and earn over £25,000 a year.
• On Plan 5, the plan for students from England who started courses from August 2023, you repay 9% of your income above £25,000.
• Repayments are usually taken through your employer’s payroll, like tax.
• Any balance is written off 40 years after the April you were first due to repay.
• Interest is charged from when the first payment is made. GOV.UK’s LLE guidance says the rate is currently 4.1%.

Because repayments depend on earnings, someone earning £27,000 repays 9% of £2,000, which is £180 a year or £15 a month, whatever they borrowed.

Extra help

• Bursaries and scholarships from universities don’t usually have to be repaid. Eligibility often depends on household income or achievement.
• Disabled Students’ Allowance helps with extra costs from a disability, long-term health condition or specific learning difficulty.
• NHS funding may be available for some healthcare courses such as nursing.

Practical tips

• Apply by the deadline even if you haven’t firmly decided on a university. You can update your details later.
• Keep your login details and documents, such as passport and income evidence, ready.
• Budget for the gap before your first payment arrives at the start of term.

Still deciding whether university is right for you? Degree apprenticeships let you earn a degree without paying tuition fees, and part-time study with the Open University can fit around work.

Questions students ask

When do I apply for student finance?

For courses starting in January 2027, GOV.UK says you can apply from the end of October 2026. For courses starting from 1 August 2027, applications open in spring 2027. You don’t need a confirmed place to apply.

Do my parents’ earnings matter?

For the Maintenance Loan, usually yes. The amount depends on household income, so you’ll normally need your parents or partner to provide their income details. Tuition Fee Loans aren’t based on household income.

How much will I repay each month?

Repayments depend on what you earn, not on how much you borrowed. On the plan for recent English students, Plan 5, you repay 9% of your income above £25,000 a year.

Is there any non-repayable help?

Yes. Many universities offer bursaries and scholarships, and there are grants and allowances for some students, such as Disabled Students’ Allowance. Check each university’s funding pages.

This guide is general information for students in the UK. Dates, fees and rules change, so always check the latest details with UCAS, GOV.UK, Student Finance England or your university or college before making decisions.