Ultimate Student Money Guide UK 2026

Your maintenance loan is your main source of income at uni. The amount depends on your household income and whether you live at home, away from home, or in London. For 2025/26, the maximum is £13,348 (London) or £10,227 (elsewhere). Remember: you only repay once you earn over the threshold (currently £25,000 for Plan 5 loans), and it's wiped after 40 years. Treat it as a graduate tax, not a mortgage.

Your loan arrives in three installments (September, January, April). The first term's payment often needs to cover accommodation deposits and freshers' spending. Create a simple budget: divide your loan by the number of weeks in the academic year. That's your weekly budget. Separate it into: rent (usually 50-60%), food (15-20%), transport (5-10%), and social/other (15-20%). Use a budgeting app to track spending from day one.

Most students are eligible for more funding than they realise. Check: university hardship funds (every uni has one), subject-specific bursaries and scholarships, Disabled Students' Allowance if applicable, council tax exemption (students are exempt — apply through your council), NHS bursary for healthcare students, and part-time work (most unis recommend max 15 hours/week during term).

Get an NUS/TOTUM card (£14.99/year, saves hundreds). Use student bank account perks (free railcard, 0% overdraft). Cook in batches with housemates to split costs. Use the university library for textbooks instead of buying. Take advantage of student discounts everywhere — Apple, Spotify, Amazon Prime, UNiDAYS, Student Beans. Walk or cycle instead of getting buses. Attend free events and socials organised by your SU.