Loan for living costs
Students can apply for a means-tested student loan to help cover their living costs and other expenses.
A quarter of the loan is means tested on your household income.
Maximum amount of loan 2021/221Reg 68 E(SS)(NI) Regs
| Full year | Final year |
London | £6,780 | £6,170 |
Elsewhere | £4,840 | £4,480 |
Parental home | £3,750 | £3,390 |
Overseas rate | £5,770 | £5,015 |
You may be entitled to an additional amount of loan for any extra weeks of attendance over the standard 30 weeks and three days. Your institution can clarify whether your course has additional weeks.
The table below shows the amount paid for each week your course exceeds the standard length. If your course year lasts 45 weeks or more, you are paid for a full 52 weeks of attendance.
Amount of extra weeks allowance 2021/22
| Weekly amount |
London | £108 |
Elsewhere | £84 |
Parental home | £55 |
Overseas rate | £117 |
If you get a maintenance grant, up to £1,887 of the loan may be substituted for the maintenance grant paid. See
here for details. If you receive a special support grant, no part of your loan is substituted.
The loan is repayable at the end of your studies. The amount of money you pay back each month depends on your earnings. Once you earn above £19,895 a year, repayments begin at the rate of 9 per cent of all income above this threshold. For example, if you earn £20,390 a year, you pay back 9 per cent of £1,000 – ie, £90 a year or £7.50 a month.