A new Bill being introduced to Parliament this week by Luke Charters MP, Member of Parliament for York Outer, could change how student maintenance loans are paid and help reduce financial pressure for students across the country. 

Most students currently receive their maintenance loans in termly lump sums, a system that often creates financial strain. Rent and deposit payments are frequently due before student finance arrives, and long gaps between payments can push students towards overdrafts, borrowing, and increased financial stress, particularly for those without family support. 

These pressures are often felt most strongly between first and second year, when housing costs are due well ahead of the next maintenance loan payment. Unexpected costs or delayed payments can quickly move students from “just about coping” into serious financial anxiety. 

The proposed Student Finance (Review of Payment Schedules) Bill would require the government to review how and when maintenance loans are paid. This includes considering monthly payments instead of termly ones, the possibility of advance payments for essential costs such as rental deposits, and whether current schedules reflect real living costs. 

While the Bill would not immediately change the system, supporters say it could be an important step towards making student finance fairer and more practical. The Bill is due to be presented to Parliament on Wednesday 7 January and offers students an opportunity to influence national policy on an issue that affects millions.