Applying for a Maintenance Grant

What is a Maintenance Grant?

A Maintenance Grant is money from the government to help with living costs while you study. Unlike a student loan, you do not have to pay it back. The grant helps students from lower income households cover everyday expenses like rent, food, travel, commuting costs and course materials.

Eligibility depends on household income. If your family earns below a certain threshold, you may qualify for the full grant or a partial amount. Students who are classed as independent, such as those who are married, have children, or receive no financial support from family, will be assessed on their own income instead.

The exact thresholds and payment amounts change from year to year. Check GOV.UK or your student finance body for current figures.

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Who Can Apply?

Maintenance support is typically available to undergraduate students in higher education who meet the residency and income criteria. You will usually need to be a UK resident and studying at an eligible university or college. Since Brexit, EU students starting courses from 2021 onwards are no longer automatically eligible for home fee status or student finance in the same way, so check current rules if this applies to you.

The rules differ depending on where you live. Students in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland each have their own student finance systems with different grant names and eligibility conditions:

• England: Student Finance England
• Wales: Student Finance Wales
• Scotland: Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS)
• Northern Ireland: Student Finance NI

In England, Maintenance Grants were replaced by increased loans for new students from 2016. New students there should look into university bursaries and scholarships instead, which vary by institution. In Wales, the Welsh Government Learning Grant still provides non-repayable maintenance support for eligible students. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own grant schemes, so always check with your regional student finance body to see what is currently available.

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How Much Could You Receive?

The amount you receive depends on your household income. Students from the lowest income households will usually qualify for the maximum grant, while those just below the upper threshold may receive a smaller sum. There is normally a sliding scale between these two points.

Your student finance body will assess your household income using information from HM Revenue and Customs. If your circumstances change during the year, you can ask for a reassessment.

Receiving a Maintenance Grant can reduce the amount of Maintenance Loan you are entitled to. The overall package of support balances grant and loan funding based on need.

How to Apply

You apply for maintenance support through your regional student finance body, usually at the same time as applying for other student funding. Applications typically open in the spring before your course starts, and applying early helps ensure payments arrive on time.

You will need to provide details of your household income. If you are a dependent student, your parents or guardians will need to share their financial information. Independent students will supply their own details.

Once your application is processed, you will receive a letter or online notification explaining what you are entitled to. Payments are usually made in three instalments across the academic year, paid directly into your bank account at the start of each term.

If you need help with the application, your university's student finance or welfare team can offer guidance. For definitive answers about eligibility and entitlements, contact your regional student finance body directly.

The Next Step

Now that you have read through the advice above, you might want to put it into practice. Our Student Funding Eligibility Checker lets you identifies which grants, loans, and support schemes a student or family may qualify for based on their circumstances. Try it now →