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Guide to Education Funding & Financial Support UK

Student Finance helps eligible higher education students pay for university and related costs.

About this guide

Student Finance helps eligible higher education students pay for university and related costs.

Understanding Education Funding

Start with the learner's stage and home nation. The same family can be dealing with completely different funding systems for school, further education, higher education and apprenticeships. Eligibility often depends on age, residency, household income, disability/SEND, care status and the type of course or provider.

Financial support may be available for:

  • School-aged children
  • College students
  • University students
  • Apprentices
  • Learners with disabilities
  • Learners with SEND
  • Families on low incomes
  • Care-experienced young people
  • Young carers
  • Adult learners

Support can come from:

  • Central government
  • Local authorities
  • Schools
  • Colleges
  • Universities
  • Charities
  • Employers
  • Training providers

Student Finance

England 2026/27: a standard full-time undergraduate Tuition Fee Loan can be up to £9,790. Maximum Maintenance Loans for new full-time students are up to £9,118 living with parents, £10,830 living away outside London and £14,135 living away in London, depending on household income and circumstances.
Courses starting on or after 1 January 2027: many students in England will use the new Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE). Applications open from September 2026 for eligible courses/modules starting from January 2027.

What is Student Finance?

Student Finance helps eligible higher education students pay for university and related costs.

Support may include:

Tuition Fee Loans

Help cover course tuition fees.

Maintenance Loans

Help with living costs.

Grants and Bursaries

Available in certain circumstances.

Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA)

Additional support for eligible disabled students.

Hardship Funds

Emergency or exceptional financial support.

Useful resources:

Free School Meals

England – major change from September 2026: children in households receiving Universal Credit qualify for free school meals regardless of household earnings. Universal infant free school meals also continue for reception, Year 1 and Year 2 in state-funded schools.
HAF is narrower than the new FSM entitlement. From September 2026 the Holiday Activities and Food programme remains targeted mainly at the existing lower-income FSM category rather than automatically extending to every household newly entitled to FSM through Universal Credit.

What Are Free School Meals?

Free School Meals (FSM) help eligible children access nutritious meals during the school day.

Eligibility may depend on:

  • Household income
  • Certain benefits
  • Universal Credit criteria
  • Local authority rules

Benefits may include:

  • Daily school meals
  • Access to additional school support funding
  • Holiday food programmes in some areas

Useful links:

School Transport

England – statutory school travel: an eligible compulsory-school-age child is entitled to free travel where the legal criteria are met. This can include distance, unsafe walking routes, low-income extended rights, or where a child cannot reasonably be expected to walk because of SEND, disability or mobility problems.

School Travel Support

Local authorities may provide travel assistance where eligibility criteria are met.

Support may include:

  • Free transport
  • Travel passes
  • Specialist transport
  • SEND transport arrangements
  • Travel assistance for disabilities

Eligibility may depend on:

  • Distance from school
  • Disability
  • SEND
  • Safety considerations
  • Low-income criteria

Useful links:

Bursaries

Ask for the institution's written bursary policy. Schools, colleges and universities may have different eligibility tests, evidence requirements and award levels. Keep receipts or cost estimates for travel, equipment, clothing, books and other required participation costs.

Educational Bursaries

Bursaries can help learners meet educational costs.

They may help with:

  • Travel
  • Equipment
  • Meals
  • Books
  • Uniform
  • Course-related expenses

Sources may include:

  • Colleges
  • Universities
  • Charitable trusts
  • Professional organisations

Students should ask their institution about available support.

Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA)

England 2026/27: eligible undergraduate and postgraduate students can receive up to £27,783 per year through DSA, based on assessed disability-related study needs rather than household income. DSA does not have to be repaid.

What is DSA?

Disabled Students' Allowance helps eligible higher education students access education.

DSA may fund:

  • Specialist equipment
  • Assistive technology
  • Non-medical helpers
  • Study support
  • Additional travel costs

DSA is usually non-repayable.

Useful links:

Apprenticeship Funding

Apprentices are employees. They receive wages while training. Government apprenticeship funding generally pays approved training/assessment costs under the current funding rules, while employers remain responsible for wages and employment obligations.

Apprenticeship Financial Support

Apprenticeships combine work and learning.

Key points:

  • Apprentices are paid employees
  • Training is usually government-funded
  • Apprentices receive wages
  • Additional support may be available

Useful links:

Childcare Support

Care to Learn – England 2026/27: eligible young parents under 20 can receive up to £180 per child per week outside London or £195 in London towards childcare and associated travel while studying.
Higher-education Childcare Grant – England 2026/27: eligible full-time students can receive up to 85% of childcare costs, capped at £199.62 a week for one child or £342.24 for two or more children.

Support for Childcare Costs

Some families and learners may receive help with childcare costs.

Support may include:

Free Childcare Entitlements

For eligible children.

Tax-Free Childcare

Government childcare support scheme.

Childcare Support for Students

Available through some colleges and universities.

Care to Learn

Support for eligible young parents in education.

Useful links:

Travel Assistance

Post-16 travel is different from compulsory-school-age transport. In England each local authority must publish an annual post-16 transport policy statement explaining the support it considers necessary for sixth-form-age learners and relevant young adults with SEND. Free travel is not automatic in the same way as some compulsory-school-age duties.

Education Travel Costs

Support may be available for:

  • School travel
  • College travel
  • University-related travel
  • SEND-related travel
  • Apprenticeship travel

Students should ask:

  • Local authorities
  • Colleges
  • Universities
  • Student services

Useful links:

16–19 Bursary Fund

England 2026/27: there are two bursary types: support for defined vulnerable groups and discretionary bursaries. Vulnerable-group support can be up to £1,200, but providers must assess actual participation costs and must not automatically award the maximum.

What Is the 16–19 Bursary Fund?

The 16–19 Bursary Fund helps eligible students continue in education.

Support may be available for:

  • Travel costs
  • Equipment
  • Meals
  • Educational materials

Some groups may qualify automatically for higher levels of support.

Useful links:

Financial Support for SEND & Disabled Learners

Funding and legal duties are separate. A lack of a particular grant does not remove duties under SEND or equality law. Transport, reasonable adjustments, EHC-plan provision, DSA and Access to Work each have different eligibility rules and responsible bodies.

Additional support may be available through:

  • EHCP-related funding
  • DSA
  • Transport assistance
  • College support funds
  • Specialist equipment schemes
  • Access to Work (post-education employment support)

Useful links:

Financial Hardship Support

England – local crisis help: local authorities receive funding for targeted support to low-income households through current local welfare/crisis arrangements. The name, eligibility and application process vary by council, so check the local authority website as well as college/university hardship funds.

If a family or student experiences financial hardship, support may be available through:

  • Local welfare assistance
  • School hardship funds
  • College hardship funds
  • University hardship funds
  • Citizens Advice
  • Charitable grants

Useful links:

Legal Rights

Request written reasons for refusals. Funding decisions may be governed by scheme rules, public-law duties, equality law, SEND duties, consumer law or contractual terms depending on the support in question. A refusal should be checked against the actual published criteria rather than assumptions.

Learners and families may have rights relating to:

Education Access

Support should not be unlawfully withheld.

Equality Rights

Protection from discrimination.

Disability Rights

Reasonable adjustments and accessibility support.

SEND Rights

Access to assessments and support processes.

Consumer and Funding Rights

Fair treatment in funding decisions.

Useful links:

Evidence Standards

Keep a complete application file. Save the eligibility page that applied when you applied, your submitted form, evidence, receipts/quotes, decision letter, reasons, review request and any appeal outcome. This is especially useful where criteria change between academic years.

Evidence is often important when applying for financial support.

Useful evidence may include:

  • Benefit awards
  • Income information
  • Educational enrolment documents
  • Attendance records
  • Medical evidence
  • Disability evidence
  • EHCPs
  • Financial hardship evidence
  • Housing information
  • Travel costs evidence

Keep copies of:

  • Application forms
  • Emails
  • Letters
  • Decisions
  • Appeals

Evidence should be:

  • Accurate
  • Current
  • Relevant
  • Organised

Accountability & Appeals

Use the correct review route. Student Finance, school transport, bursaries, free meals, DSA and local hardship schemes each have different challenge procedures. Ask for the written policy, the decision-maker's reasons and the deadline for review or appeal.

If funding is refused or concerns arise:

Step 1

Request written reasons.

Step 2

Review eligibility criteria.

Step 3

Provide additional evidence.

Step 4

Use appeal or review procedures.

Step 5

Seek independent advice.

Useful organisations:

Citizens Advice

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/

Turn2Us

https://www.turn2us.org.uk/

Contact

https://contact.org.uk/

Disability Rights UK

https://www.disabilityrightsuk.org/

Equality Advisory Support Service

https://www.equalityadvisoryservice.com/

Advocacy & Independent Support

Useful support organisations include:

Citizens Advice

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/

Turn2Us

https://www.turn2us.org.uk/

Contact

https://contact.org.uk/

Family Fund

https://www.familyfund.org.uk/

Disability Rights UK

https://www.disabilityrightsuk.org/

Quick Help Directory

Student Finance

https://www.gov.uk/student-finance

Disabled Students' Allowance

https://www.gov.uk/disabled-students-allowance-dsa

Free School Meals

https://www.gov.uk/apply-free-school-meals

School Transport

https://www.gov.uk/help-home-school-transport

16–19 Bursary Fund

https://www.gov.uk/1619-bursary-fund

Apprenticeships

https://www.gov.uk/apprenticeships-guide

Childcare Choices

https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/

Care to Learn

https://www.gov.uk/care-to-learn

Access to Work

https://www.gov.uk/access-to-work

Citizens Advice

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/

Turn2Us

https://www.turn2us.org.uk/

Family Fund

https://www.familyfund.org.uk/

Disability Rights UK

https://www.disabilityrightsuk.org/

Key Message

Financial circumstances should not prevent children, young people or adults from accessing education, training or skills development. A wide range of support exists to help with tuition, transport, meals, childcare, disability-related costs and educational participation. Understanding eligibility, keeping evidence, applying early and knowing how to challenge decisions can help families and learners access the support they need to achieve their educational goals.

Current funding update • 2026/27 • England

Important Changes Families & Learners Should Know

Free School Meals Expanded

From the start of the 2026/27 academic year, children in households receiving Universal Credit qualify for free school meals in England regardless of household earnings.

Check Free School Meals

Student Finance 2026/27

Maximum standard full-time Tuition Fee Loan: £9,790. Maximum standard Maintenance Loan: up to £14,135 for eligible students living away in London.

2026/27 Student Finance

LLE Begins January 2027

Many eligible Level 4–6 and some Level 7 courses/modules starting on or after 1 January 2027 move into England's Lifelong Learning Entitlement funding system.

Lifelong Learning Entitlement

16–19 Bursary 2026/27

Vulnerable-group bursary support can be up to £1,200, but providers must assess the student's actual financial need and participation costs.

16–19 Bursary Fund
Higher education • England 2026/27

Student Finance: Loans & Extra Support

Tuition Fee Loan

For a standard full-time undergraduate course, eligible students can borrow up to £9,790 in 2026/27. The loan is normally paid directly to the university or college.

Living With Parents

Maximum standard Maintenance Loan: up to £9,118, depending on household income and circumstances.

Away From Home – Outside London

Maximum standard Maintenance Loan: up to £10,830.

Away From Home – London

Maximum standard Maintenance Loan: up to £14,135.

Higher rates can apply. Some full-time students eligible for benefits, including certain lone parents and disabled students, can qualify for higher Maintenance Loan maxima. Use the official calculator for an individual estimate.
From January 2027 • England

Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE)

For many eligible courses and modules starting on or after 1 January 2027, the LLE becomes the new student-finance system. It covers most Level 4–6 qualifications and some Level 7 study.

Applications

Applications open from September 2026 for eligible study beginning from January 2027.

Tuition Loans

Eligible learners can access Tuition Fee Loans calculated partly by credits studied. The overall standard entitlement can be up to £39,160, subject to eligibility and previous study.

Maintenance Loans

Eligible face-to-face learners may also qualify for Maintenance Loans depending on study intensity and personal circumstances.

FE / HE Boundary

Some Level 4–6 study previously funded through Advanced Learner Loans moves into LLE for courses starting from January 2027.

Free school meals • England

Free School Meals & Holiday Food Support

Universal Credit Expansion

From the start of academic year 2026/27, children in households receiving Universal Credit qualify for free school meals regardless of household earnings.

Apply / Check Eligibility

Universal Infant Meals

Children in reception, Year 1 and Year 2 at state-funded schools in England continue to receive universal infant free school meals.

FE Free Meals Expanded

From 2026/27, free-meal arrangements also expand across DfE-funded 16–19 provision, including school sixth forms, subject to the funding rules.

FE Free Meals Guidance

Holiday Activities & Food

HAF continues in every English local authority, but from September 2026 its core eligibility remains aligned to the narrower targeted FSM criteria rather than every household newly brought into FSM through Universal Credit.

HAF Programme
School travel • England

Home-to-School Transport Rights

Local authorities must arrange free travel for eligible compulsory-school-age children. The current statutory guidance was updated in May 2026.

Distance

A child under 8 attending their nearest suitable school is eligible if it is more than 2 miles from home. For age 8+, the statutory walking distance is generally more than 3 miles.

SEND / Disability / Mobility

A child may qualify even within walking distance if they could not reasonably be expected to walk because of SEND, disability or mobility problems, including with parental accompaniment where relevant.

Unsafe Walking Route

Free travel can apply where the child could not walk the route in reasonable safety, even if accompanied by a parent.

Low-Income Extended Rights

Separate extended rights apply to some children from low-income households. Check the local authority's policy and the current DfE guidance.

Post-16 • England

16–19 Bursary, Free Meals & Travel

Vulnerable-Group Bursary

Potential support of up to £1,200 for eligible students in defined vulnerable groups, based on actual participation costs rather than an automatic flat payment.

Discretionary Bursary

Schools and colleges set their own criteria within the national rules and must assess individual financial need and actual costs such as travel, essential books, equipment or clothing.

Free Meals in FE

Eligible 16–18 learners in DfE-funded FE provision can receive free meals, including the expanded 2026/27 arrangements.

Post-16 Transport

Each local authority publishes an annual transport policy statement. Bursary funding should complement, not replace, statutory local transport duties.

Childcare & parents in education • England

Childcare Support for Learners & Students

Care to Learn

For eligible young parents who are under 20 when their study programme starts: up to £180 per child per week outside London or £195 in London.

Care to Learn

Student Childcare Grant

Eligible full-time higher-education students can receive up to 85% of childcare costs, capped at £199.62/week for one child or £342.24/week for two or more in 2026/27.

Childcare Grant

Parents' Learning Allowance

Eligible full-time undergraduate students can receive up to £2,024 in 2026/27 towards study-related costs.

Parents' Learning Allowance

Adult Dependants' Grant

Eligible full-time undergraduate students can receive up to £3,545 in 2026/27 if an adult financially depends on them, subject to scheme rules.

Adult Dependants' Grant
Further education adults • England

Learner Support & Advanced Learner Loans

Learner Support

People aged 19+ on eligible Level 3-or-below FE courses who are in financial hardship may be able to get help with travel, accommodation, materials, equipment, laptop/Wi‑Fi and, for eligible learners aged 20+, childcare.

Learner Support

Advanced Learner Loan

Eligible learners aged 19+ can use Advanced Learner Loans for approved Level 3–6 courses in England, but some Level 4–6 courses starting from January 2027 move to LLE instead.

Advanced Learner Loan

Check for a Grant First

Some Level 3 courses can be funded through the Adult Skills Fund / Free Courses for Jobs instead of a repayable Advanced Learner Loan. Ask the provider before borrowing.

Free Courses for Jobs

Loans Bursary Fund

Where an Advanced Learner Loan is used, additional bursary support can sometimes help with costs such as childcare, travel or disability-related support, subject to the funding rules.

2026/27 Loan Funding Rules
School costs

Uniform, Equipment & Essential School Costs

England – September 2026 uniform change: schools should not require parents/carers to buy more than 3 branded uniform items. Secondary and middle schools may require a fourth branded item where that item is a tie.

Schools should make second-hand uniform available and publish information about how to obtain it. If uniform or PE kit is unaffordable, contact the school and local authority to ask what help is available.

School Uniform & Cost Guidance
Four-nation support

Education Funding Across the UK

Student finance, school meals, travel, post-16 support and grants are devolved. The detailed 2026/27 figures above are mainly for England unless stated otherwise.

England

Use GOV.UK / Student Finance England for higher education, free school meals, 16–19 bursaries, school travel, childcare and adult learner support.

England Education Funding

Wales

Wales has Student Finance Wales, a £40/week EMA for eligible 16–18-year-olds in 2026/27, and a School Essentials Grant of £125 per eligible learner or £200 for learners entering Year 7.

Wales School & College CostsWales EMA 2026/27

Scotland

Scotland provides separate student funding through SAAS, free school meals under Scottish rules, school clothing grants and EMA for eligible 16–19-year-olds. Current national guidance lists clothing grants of £120 primary and £150 secondary.

Scotland Education Cost Support
Evidence & appeals

Before You Challenge a Funding Decision

Get the Written Decision

Ask for the decision, reasons, policy or scheme rules relied on, and any review or appeal deadline.

Check the Correct Academic Year

Funding criteria can change each year. Save the guidance that applied on the date of the application or decision.

Show the Actual Cost

For discretionary support, provide receipts, travel quotes, equipment requirements, childcare invoices or other evidence of the actual barrier to participation.

Keep a Chronology

Record when you applied, what evidence was sent, follow-up contacts, decisions, missed payments and the impact on attendance or participation.

Official sources

Key Official Funding & Financial Support Sources

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