The Maintenance Loan will probably be your main source of cash while you're at uni.

Are you eligible for a Maintenance Loan?

Whether or not you're eligible for a Maintenance Loan depends on a few factors. We'll run through each of the criteria in a moment, but don't panic. Most undergraduates starting uni are usually eligible to receive funding.

These are the factors that determine if you qualify for a Maintenance Loan:

1. Your university/college and course. Firstly, your university or college (or another type of institution) must be 'recognised' or 'listed'. This is a lot less complicated than it sounds, asit covers most unis and colleges. What's more, the course you're enrolling on must fall under the list of qualifying courses supplied by the government.Again, most undergraduate courses are recognised and eligible for funding. But there are some different criteria if you'll be studying part-time.Students on most courses at most unis will be eligible for a Maintenance Loan. To make sure, head over to the government's website for the full list of criteria.
2. Whether or not you've studied before. In theory, the only way you'll be eligible for a Maintenance Loan is if this is the first higher education course you're enrolling on. But, in reality, it's a little more complicated.If you've previously started a course but had to drop out of uni, you may be eligible to receive funding again. Similarly, if you're resitting a year at the same institution, you may be eligible for a Maintenance Loan. This is because all students are eligible for funding for the number of years of the course they're applying for,plus one extra year. If you've studied before and you're applying for a Maintenance Loan on a separate course, you'll need to subtract the number of years you've previously studied from this figure to find out how long you'll be eligible. For example, on a three-year course, most students are entitled to four years of funding. But what if you've already studied for two years on another course? In this case, you'd subtract two and find you're only eligible for two years of funding. The exception to this rule is if you dropped out for "compelling personal reasons". If so, you could be eligible for funding foryour full course regardless of how long you previously studied. These reasons tend to be things like serious illness, rather than simply not liking the course you were on. And, finally, even if you've already completed a degree, you could still receive funding. This only applies to a few students, like those 'topping up' a qualification to a full Honours degree, or those studying an eligible course. But there's certainly no harm in checking.
3. Your age. This one shouldn't be an issue for most of you.The only age restrictions on Maintenance Loans affect those aged 60 or over. But even then, you may get some funding if you're studying full-time.However, if you're 25 or older, the size of your loan will be calculated slightly differently. See our guide to Student Loans for mature students for more info.
4. Your nationality and residency status. Nationality and residency status is the murkiest of all the eligibility criteria. As such, it's the one that tends to catch students out the most.As a general rule, you're eligible for a Maintenance Loan if you're a UK national (or have 'settled status'), normally live in the UK (or the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man) and have done so for the three years prior to the start of your course. But it's worth noting that all three of those things must apply to youto guarantee your eligibility. For example, if you're a British citizen but moved abroad as a child, you may not be eligible anymore. In some instances, you may be able to appeal and receive a Maintenance Loan anyway. To do this, you'll often need to prove that you've retained economic ties to the UK in your absence (e.g. one parent stayed and paid tax), or that one/both of your parentshadto move abroad for work. There are also special exceptions made for specific groups, including refugees and stateless people. Some UK nationals living in the EU may also be eligible for funding for courses beginning before 1st January 2028. Head to the government's website for more information on UK students living in the EU.

As we said earlier, it's best not to let these criteria confuse you.

We stand by our statement that the majority of students at the majority of universities will be eligible to receive a Maintenance Loan. This is especially true if you've been studying at a school in the UK and will be attending a well-known university.

But, as ever, if you're unsure, it's best to contact your funding body and ask them to clarify things for you.

Sources

Save the Student
Are you eligible for a Maintenance Loan

By Save The Student
Save The Student is the UK's leading student money website, helping you budget your money, make sense of student finance, look for part-time jobs, find extra funding and more. Founded in 2007, the website provides free and impartial guides, tools and verified deals to tackle the real-life money problems students face at university.