2013/14 Student Maintenance Loans
Student maintenance loans are available from the government through the Student Loans Company to help eligible UK undergraduate students meet their living costs during their time at University. Different rates of funding and application processes are in place depending on whether a student normally resides in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales.
Students from England
2013/14 Loan amounts
All eligible new students from England commencing their studies in 2013/14 can receive 65% of the maximum loan available regardless of their household income – this is the non-income assessed element of the loan. The remaining 35% of the maximum loan available is the income assessed element of the loan and the amount a student can receive for this element of the loan will depend on the level of their household income. For more detailed information see A Guide to funding for new students (PDF:2.26MB) or a Guide to funding for continuing students (PDF:1.27MB)
2013/14 rates for 2012 cohort students (those who started their course in 2012 and 2013)
| Living at home | Living away from home outside London | |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum Loan | £4,375 |
£5,500 |
| 65% non income assessed element | £2,843 |
£3,575 |
| 35% income assessed element | £1,532 |
£1,925 |
2013/14 rates for students who commenced their course in 2009/10, 2010/11 or 2011/12:
| Living at home | Living away from home outside London | |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum Loan | £3,838 |
£4,950 |
| 72% non income assessed element | £2,763 |
£3,564 |
| 28% income assessed element | £1,075 |
£1,386 |
For more information visit Student Finance England.
Applying for a Maintenance Loan
All new and continuing students from England who wish to apply for a maintenance loan should complete an application online. Applications can be made up to nine months from the first day of the academic year. To contact Student Finance England telephone: 0845 300 5090
Maintenance loan payments
Student Finance England will usually pay the money directly into your bank account in three instalments at the start of each term.
Change of circumstances
If you experience a change in your circumstances or things haven't worked out as expected you will need to think about how this might affect your finances. You should always notify your assessment authority if your circumstances change in any way as this could affect your eligibility to student finance. Take a look at further information how your student finance can be affected.
Repayment
You do not need to start repaying your loan until the April after you leave your course or you graduate - whichever is sooner and only when you are earning enough. Students who started university before September 2012 will need to start repaying their loan once they are earning £16,365 or more. Students who commence their course in September 2012 will begin to repay their loan once they are earning £21,000 or more. You will be required to pay 9% of any income you have above the relevant threshold.
For repayment enquiries call 0845 073 8891 or take a look at a more detailed guide (PDF:361KB)
Interest
You are charged interest on your loan from the moment you receive the first instalment of your loan until you have paid it off in full.
If you started your course before September 2012 interest rates vary because they are linked to the rate of inflation. The current interest rate is 1.5%.
If you started your course after 1st September 2012 interest rates vary and will depend on the rate of inflation and also how much you earn after you graduate.
