Plan 5 · 2025/26 · Household income Under £25,000
Maintenance loan for household income Under £25,000
How much your student gets in 2025/26. Location matters: London rate is higher to account for higher costs.
Outside London
£903
per month
London
£1178
per month
Living at home
£740
per month
Annual and 3-year totals
Non-London annual
£10,836
London annual
£14,136
Non-London 3-year total
£32,508
London 3-year total
£42,408
What's left after rent, transport and groceries?
12 student cities ranked by monthly balance using your loan amount of £903/mo (or £1178/mo in London).
City
Rent
Transport
Food
Balance
Liverpool
£650
£55
£195
+£3
Newcastle
£650
£55
£195
+£3
Nottingham
£650
£55
£195
+£3
Cardiff
£700
£55
£195
£-47
GlasgowFree buses
£750
£0
£200
£-47
Leeds
£700
£55
£200
£-52
Sheffield
£700
£55
£200
£-52
Birmingham
£700
£60
£200
£-57
Manchester
£750
£60
£200
£-107
EdinburghFree buses
£900
£0
£210
£-207
Bristol
£850
£65
£210
£-222
London
£1200
£100
£250
£-372
Other income brackets
About repayment (Plan 5): You repay 9% of earnings above £25,000/year after graduating. If you earn £30,000, you repay £450/year (£37.50/month). Debt is written off after 40 years. The maintenance loan is separate from tuition fees — both are repaid through the same Plan 5 system but tracked separately. Use the calculator to see your estimated repayments →
Which city makes your loan go furthest?
See personalised budgets for all 12 student cities and 121 universities.