October 24, 2026
2026/27 Student Finance: Tuition Fee Loan £9,790, Maintenance Loan up to £14,135 in London
For courses starting in 2026/27, the Tuition Fee Loan for full-time students is £9,790 and is paid directly to the university. The maximum Maintenance Loan for students living away from home in London is £14,135 a year, paid in instalments.
The Maintenance Loan is means-tested against household income, so most people receive less than the maximum. It is a loan, not free money: you only start repaying once you earn above £25,000 a year (Plan 5). Weekend-only courses are usually treated as distance learning, which can mean no Maintenance Loan — check with the university. Figures checked on gov.uk in October 2026.
Source: gov.uk — Student finance
April 6, 2026
Overseas student-loan repayment thresholds updated (2026-27)
From 6 April 2026, new Plan 5 repayment thresholds apply to borrowers living outside the UK. For most lower-income countries the threshold sits well below the UK's £25,000, and repayment is 9% of income above that country's threshold.
If you don't report your income to the Student Loans Company, a fixed monthly repayment is charged regardless of what you actually earn. Thresholds are reviewed every year on 6 April — always check the current figure on gov.uk.
Source: gov.uk — Overseas earnings thresholds for Plan 5
January 15, 2026
LLE from January 2027: funding even if you already hold a degree
From 1 January 2027, the new Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE) removes the ELQ restriction. People who already hold a degree may be able to get a Tuition Fee Loan and, depending on residency category, a Maintenance Loan.
This matters for people who already hold a degree: a previous degree no longer blocks funding automatically, but earlier government-funded tuition is deducted from the lifetime limit of £39,160. You can apply from the end of October 2026 for courses starting from January 2027 (gov.uk).
Source: gov.uk — Lifelong Learning Entitlement
We provide information, not guarantees. Admission decisions are made by universities; funding decisions by Student Finance England. We do not provide immigration advice. Always verify current figures on gov.uk.
