Student finance: how to apply for courses starting in 2027
Household income
You must provide details of your household income if you apply for any of the following:
- more than the minimum Maintenance Loan amount to help with your living costs
- a Childcare Grant
- an Adult Dependants’ Grant
- a Parents’ Learning Allowance
If you choose not to provide your household income, you can still apply for a Tuition Fee Loan and the minimum Maintenance Loan.
Which tax year to use
You’ll need to provide household income details for the 2024 to 2025 tax year if your course or module starts between 1 January 2027 and 31 July 2027.
After you apply, Student Finance England (SFE) will ask the people in your household to confirm their income. They might need to provide evidence.
What counts as household income
What counts as household income depends on your individual circumstances. It can include:
- your own income, such as salary, savings, investments or property (for example, dividends or rent)
- your parents’ income, if you live with them
- your partner’s income, if you live with them
If you’re under 25 and financially depend on at least one parent
Your household income includes:
- your parents’ income, if you live with them or depend on them financially
- the combined income of one of your parents and their partner, if you live with them or depend on them financially
If you’re under 25 and do not financially depend on your parents
Your household income does not include your parents’ income if:
- you have supported yourself financially for at least 3 years
- you have been married or in a civil partnership at any time before the start of your course or module
- you spent at least 13 weeks in the care of your local authority before you turned 16 - in this case, you might be able to apply as a care leaver
- you’ve had no contact with your parents for over a year - in this case, you might be able to apply as an ‘estranged student’
If you’re over 25
Your household income will not include your parents’ income if you are over 25, as you will be classed as an ‘independent student’.
Your household income will include your partner’s income if you live with them (even if they spend most of their time abroad).
If you’re a care leaver
If you’re a care leaver, your household income is not used to calculate your Maintenance Loan. You can choose to borrow the maximum amount. SFE will still use your household income to check what other funding you can get.