Key Summary
FAQs
Do you still get a student loan if you live at home during university?
Yes. You're still eligible for both a tuition fee loan and a maintenance loan even if you stay living with your parents. The tuition fee loan covers your course fees in full regardless of where you live, though your maintenance loan will be lower than if you moved out.
How much tuition fee loan can I get if I live at home?
The same as everyone else, since where you live doesn't affect this loan. For 2026/27, the tuition fee cap is £9,790 a year for most full-time undergraduate courses, and it's paid directly to your university rather than to you.
How much maintenance loan can I get if I live at home?
Up to £9,118 for the 2026/27 academic year, though the exact amount depends on your household income. This is lower than the amounts available to students living away from home, since your living costs are assumed to be lower if you're still at your parents' address.
Does my parents' income still matter if I live at home?
Yes, it makes just as much difference as it would if you moved out. Maintenance loans are means-tested wherever you live, so a lower household income means you're entitled to more, and a higher household income means less, right down to the exact figure based on your parents' earnings.
Can I get extra support if I live at home and have a disability or dependants?
Yes. Living at home doesn't affect your eligibility for extras like the Disabled Students' Allowance, Parents' Learning Allowance or Childcare Grant, all of which sit on top of your normal maintenance loan and don't have to be repaid.
What if I move out partway through the academic year?
Update your living situation through your Student Finance account as soon as it changes. Your maintenance loan will then be recalculated to reflect the higher cost of living away from home, rather than staying at the lower at-home rate for the rest of the year.
Does living at home affect my eligibility for university bursaries?
No, most university bursaries and hardship funds are based on household income rather than where you live during term time. It's still worth checking your specific university's student finance page, since eligibility criteria can vary between institutions.
Will living at home mean I graduate with less student debt?
Generally, yes, since your maintenance loan is lower each year, so your total borrowing tends to be smaller by the time you finish your course compared to a student who lived away from home. Your tuition fee loan stays the same either way, since that's unaffected by where you live.
Yes, you can still get a full student loan even if you decide to live at home during university. You’ll be eligible for both a tuition fee loan and a maintenance loan, although the amount you receive for living costs will be lower than if you lived away from home. Your parents’ household income will still be used to calculate how much support you’re entitled to. If you have dependents, a disability, or receive benefits, you might qualify for extra support. For more on how income affects your entitlement, read our guide on how your parents’ income influences student loans, or use the official calculator to check your estimate.
Finance and budgeting can be one of the most stressful aspects of being a uni student. You’re all excited about starting your degree, meeting new people and having new experiences, then, oh wait, you have to provide for yourself. Living at home means that your parents/guardians are still there to support you, but that may leave you wondering. Do you still get a student loan if you live at home? Well, that’s what I’m here for. This article will tell you if you get a student loan even if you continue to live at home while you’re studying.
Bear in mind that this article will only cover student loans for those studying at home. If you’re moving out for university, you will also be eligible for student loans, but the numbers will be different to what they are here (the same principles apply though). Check out the government website for more details.
The short answer
The short answer is yes, you will receive some kind of student loan even if you continue to live at home while studying. This is because of tuition loans. Every “home” student (someone with a UK/Irish citizenship or someone with a “settled” status who has lived in the UK for at least three years prior to starting studies) is eligible for a tuition loan of up to £9,250. This is paid directly to your university, so there is nothing for you to worry about there.
The long answer
The long answer is yes, but it’s complicated. Even if you’re living at home, there are a number of different factors that determine how much of a maintenance loan you receive from the government. A maintenance loan will help you with some of the costs of day to day life at uni. Like with tuition loans, all home students are eligible for one, though if you’re living at home, you may choose not to. It completely depends on your circumstances.
How much maintenance loan will I get if I live at home?
The most important factor in determining how much you can receive in maintenance loans is your parents’ income. For the 2023-2024 academic year, you’ll be able to get a loan of up to £8,400 if your household income is £25,000 or less. This is the maximum maintenance student loan available. As you can see, it is lowered the higher your total household income is.
The exact figure for you, down to the very last penny, will depend on your parent’s exact income. For instance, if your parents have a combined income of £45,000 a year, then you will receive a maintenance loan of £5,576. So, make sure when you’re doing your application that you ask your parents to help you out. Remember, if you make a mistake on your Student Finance application or your circumstances change, you need to alert Student Finance.
There are other circumstances that may mean that you’re entitled to extra money on top of a maintenance loan. These include: if you have a disability, if you receive benefits or if you have someone depending on you. So, check out the Student Finance Calculator, which will give you an estimate as to how much money you may receive.
So, do you still get a student loan if you live at home? The answer is yes! The amount of money will vary from person to person, depending on your parent’s income and other circumstances. Still, you are eligible to receive a student loan, even if you live at home.