Department for Education - Targeted Maintenance Grant

Benefit

You receive up to £1,000 per year (about 1,150 EUR) in your first and second years of study, and up to £750 per year (about 860 EUR) from your third year onwards. You never have to pay the grant back.

It comes on top of your maintenance loan. That is the government loan for living costs that students in England repay later. So the grant gives you extra money without adding to your debt.

The amount depends on your household income. Households earning up to £25,000 a year (about 28,800 EUR) get the full sum. Above that, the grant shrinks as income rises, down to £500 (about 575 EUR) in years one and two and £375 (about 430 EUR) from year three. The cut-off is a household income of £30,000 (about 34,500 EUR).

The Department for Education (DfE) of the UK Government pays the grant. It starts in the 2028/29 academic year. Students already in later years of a course can also get it, so you do not need to delay starting your studies.

Eligibility

• Where you are from: You count as a home student in England. If your home status is in Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland or the Crown Dependencies, your own system applies and you cannot get this grant.
• Where you study: You study at an eligible university or college anywhere in the UK (England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland).
• Level: You take a course at Levels 4 to 6. That covers degrees and technical qualifications below master's level, such as higher national diplomas.
• Field of study: Your course is on the government's list of priority subjects linked to its industrial strategy. The final list has not been published yet.
• Study load: You study full time, or take at least 120 credits per year.
• Household income: Your household's residual income is £30,000 a year (about 34,500 EUR) or less. Residual income is your household income after certain allowances are taken off.
• Loan eligibility: You qualify for an income-based maintenance loan from Student Finance England in every year you get the grant.

If you are looking for further funding alongside the DfE grant, our guide Scholarships in the United Kingdom lists more options for students in the UK.