Student Finance England - living cost loans

Living Cost Loan (Maintenance Loan) at Aston University

You will receive a government loan of up to £10,830 per year (about 12,600 EUR) if you do not live at home whilst studying, or up to £9,118 per year (approximately 10,600 EUR) if you do live at home. The money is intended to cover living costs such as rent, food, travel and study materials. It is paid directly into your bank account once per term throughout the academic year. You can renew it for each year of your studies. The exact amount depends on your household income and where you live whilst studying. The loan is provided by ‘Student Finance England’, the UK government agency that provides financial support to students at higher education institutions.

This is a loan, not a grant: you will have to repay it, but only from April onwards after you have completed your studies, and only once your annual income exceeds £25,000. Interest accrues from the first repayment and is linked to the rate of inflation.

Who can apply

• Enrolment: You are a full-time student at Aston University.
• Field of study: Open to all degree programmes, provided that your degree programme is eligible for student finance.
• Status: You are a ‘domestic’ student, i.e. a British national or someone with full settlement status.
• Residence: You have lived in the UK for at least three years prior to starting your degree programme.
• Household income: Anyone can apply, but the amount of the grant depends on your family’s income.

How to apply

You can apply for funding online via Student Finance England or using a paper form if you have never applied before. To ensure that your funding is available by the start of the academic year in September 2026, you must submit your application by 29 May 2026 if you are a new student, and by 26 June 2026 if you are a returning student.

How realistic are your chances?

This is not a scholarship awarded through a selection process. It is a standard state grant that any eligible full-time student from the United Kingdom can receive. Provided you meet the residence and eligibility criteria and your course meets the requirements, you will receive this grant, the amount of which depends on your household income. The biggest risk is missing the deadline; therefore, please submit your application in good time before the start of the term.