Student Finance England (SFE) has confirmed updated maintenance loan thresholds and tuition fee caps for the 2026/27 academic year. Eligible students — including many with settled and pre-settled immigration status — can apply for support covering tuition fees and living costs.

Key points this year include revised household income bands for maintenance loan assessment, updated eligibility rules for students studying at private providers in partnership with UK universities, and an extended online application window to reduce delays before term starts.

Many prospective students are unaware they may qualify for full or partial funding even if they have permission to stay in the UK through settlement rather than as a ‘home’ student in the traditional sense. Our team reviews each applicant’s immigration and residency status individually, since SFE eligibility rules are notoriously easy to misread.

If you’re unsure whether you qualify, don’t assume the answer is no — book a free consultation and we’ll check your eligibility and handle the application process with you from start to finish.