Living with parents while at uni? You could still receive up to £9,118 in maintenance loan for 2026/27. That figure surprises most people who assume staying home means getting almost nothing.
The maintenance l oan has three bands. Students renting outside London can receive up to £10,830. Students in London up to £14,135. And students living at the parental address up to £9,118. The gap is real, but the lower figure still represents meaningful support.
Here is what most people miss: the band is set by where you sleep during term-time, not by whether you pay rent to your parents. If you are on the sofa in the family home from October to June, you fall into the parental rate regardless of your financial arrangement with them.
The amount also tapers with household income. Once income rises above £25,000, the loan reduces gradually. At the top of the income scale, the non-means-tested floor sits at around £4,013 for this band. So even high-earning households receive something.
For mature students and career changers weighing up whether a degree is affordable while staying at home, these numbers matter. A £9,118 loan does not cover a London rent, but it can cover commuting costs, books, childcare contributions, and living expenses while you retrain.
Full analysis: https://unistart.app/blog/maintenance-loan-living-with-parents-uk-2026-27
Run your own numbers based on your household income and living situation. Check what you could receive at https://unistart.app/funding.