Living costs
We suggest that students budget £1,100-£1,300 a month to cover living costs, including accommodation. We recommend that students start thinking about budgeting before starting their degree programme. There are lots of online tools and resources available to help students plan a budget and think about managing their money, as well as advice on our individual institution websites. The following may be helpful:
Government support
Home/UK students
The Maintenance Loan is designed to support full-time students living in England with the cost of living. Students can apply for a maintenance loan via the funding authority, Student Finance England.
The maintenance loan amount will vary depending on where the student lives, studies and their household income.
A proportion of the maintenance loan is available to all eligible students, regardless of their financial situation, referred to as a 'guaranteed loan'. The remaining amount is means-tested, determined by household income. The maximum loan amount for students living away from home in London in 2020-21 is £12,010.
Full details of eligibility criteria.
The arrangements are different for students living in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales:
EU and overseas students
Overseas students, i.e. those from outside the UK, are not generally eligible for a maintenance loan.
However, funding may be available for overseas students from external agencies, bodies or their home government. Visit the British Council and UK Council for International Student Affairs websites for more information.
Students who have been granted settled status under the EUSS will generally be eligible for maintenance support if they have been ordinarily resident in the UK and Islands for at least 3 years. The SLC will award tuition fee and maintenance support to EEA and Swiss workers, and their family members, where the student has pre-settled status and 3 years’ residency in the UK, Gibraltar, EEA and Switzerland. They will also ask for financial evidence to confirm applicants are working, have worked or are looking for work, for example, P60 or a letter from an employer. Please see the the Department for Education Policy Document and FAQs. These arrangements have not yet been confirmed. The UK government are expected to publish Regulations in early 2021.
Information for UK nationals living in the EU, EEA or Switzerland.
Institution specific financial support
All five of our institutions offer generous financial support packages, including bursaries and scholarships, to support undergraduate students studying at our universities. Financial support is available to UK and Overseas (including EU/EEA) students.
The eligibility criteria, award value and application processes will vary.
Please visit our individual institution pages for more detailed information: