2025/26 Student Finance England Maintenance Loans
£25,000
£30,000
£35,000
£40,000
£45,000
£50,000
£55,000
£60,000
£65,000+
£10,544
£9,791
£9,038
£8,285
£7,532
£6,779
£6,026
£5,273
£4,915
£8,877
£8,132
£7,387
£6,642
£5,897
£5,152
£4,407
£3,907
£3,907
• figures for final year students differ to the values above
• maintenance loans are paid directly to students to help cover living costs such as rent, food and bills.
• tuition fee loans are paid directly to the university and are separate to the figures above.
Repayments
For students starting university in 2025, the current repayment terms are:
○ you’ll only repay when you’ve finished your course and your income is over £25,000 a year (before tax and other deductions)
○ once you reach this threshold, 9% of your salary above that amount will be deducted directly from your salary as a repayment each month.
○ there is no penalty for repaying early.
○ any debt outstanding after 40 years is written off.
○ interest is charged from the day the first loan payment is received.
○ interest rate is reviewed annually (although can be more frequent) and is linked to RPI.
Important things to plan before you come to university
○ Apply early for your student finance – applications open in March/April each year for new students. Any delays in making an application or supplying any supporting information needed could mean a delay in you receiving your first Student Finance payment.
○ Choose a student bank account that’s right for you – banks will offer a number of benefits to students, often including free overdrafts, vouchers and cashback deals. Look around and choose one that will suit your needs. You can compare different offers on comparison sites such as www.savethestudent.org.uk or www.moneysavingexpert.com
○ Plan a budget for your income and outgoings before you arrive – you will receive a Student Finance payment at the start of each term, and that amount will need to last around 3 months, to cover rent, bills, travel, food and going out. If your
budgeted income is less than your budgeted expenditure, you’ll need to plan how to make up the difference. For most students, this will be a combination of income from a part time job, and financial support from parents or a partner.
○ Wherever possible, build up some savings to help support you in your first term – this can help with any unexpected costs, any delays in receiving your Student Finance etc.
○ Choose affordable accommodation, based on the income you’re expecting to receive from Student Finance and other sources. Some student accommodation is more expensive than most students can afford – make sure you don’t get caught out committing to something that is beyond your budget.
Money advice
Cardiff Met has a dedicated money advice team to support students throughout their time at Cardiff Met with budgeting, information about Student Finance, and signposting to specialist agencies. The team run a series of webinars each summer to help students and parents/guardians prepare for funding university life. Email moneyadvice@cardiffmet.ac.uk for more information.
If you have any questions regarding student finance before or during your studies with us, please contact us on moneyadvice@cardiffmet.ac.uk or call us on 029 20 41 6170.
Scholarships and bursaries
Our Admissions team can advise on scholarships and bursaries, and can be contacted on scholarship@cardiffmet.ac.uk
Helpful online resources
The following websites have useful resources and information to help you plan your student finances and budget:
