Most people are entitled to the tuition fee element, which is equal to the annual cost of your course up to £9,250 per year, external.
The maintenance loan is intended to cover accommodation, food, books and equipment.
Maintenance loans are means-tested, so the amount you get depends on your family’s household income. You might get extra money if you are disabled or have children.
If you are under 25 and have no contact with your parents, you might be able to apply as an “estranged student”, external. This means your parents’ financial situation is not taken into consideration.
Research by the Higher Education Policy Institute, external suggests maintenance loans in England actually cover only about half the cost of living, and less for students in London.
The Student Loans Company says graduates in England leave university with average debts of £44,940.
