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Living costs for students

Eligible students can apply for non-repayable grants and repayable loans to help towards their living costs whilst at university/college.

Maintenance Grant

A maximum grant of £3,475 is payable to Northern Ireland students where the household income is less than £19,203. Where the household income exceeds £41,065, students are not entitled to any grant.

Who is entitled to a Maintenance Loan?

A loan for living costs is available to eligible full-time students under the age of 60. The amount you receive depends on where you live during your course of study.

  • Northern Ireland - £3,750
  • elsewhere in the UK - £4,840
  • London - £6,780
  • Republic of Ireland £4,840

No loans will be available for part-time courses.

Regardless of household income, all eligible students will be entitled to 75 per cent of the maximum amount available.

The idea behind this is if the household income is higher, then you or your parents are expected to contribute towards your maintenance costs.

The loan is paid to you in three instalments at the start of each term.

Accommodation and other living costs

There are a number of things to take into account when you’re working out your living costs. Your costs will be higher if you live away from home, and higher still if you live away from home and study in London. Living costs for full-time students include:  

  • accommodation - this is likely to be your single biggest expense if you’re living away from home
  • food
  • household bills - gas, electricity, water rates, phone, TV licence, contents insurance (some of these will be covered by your rent if you live in halls of residence)
  • clothes
  • travel
  • socialising
  • leisure and sport
  • study costs - such as books, materials and field trips for your course
  • Find out how living costs add up on the NUS website

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