Can I get help paying for my living and course costs?

Yes, you can get help from the government to support you in your time at university in two different ways (2012/13):

The non-repayable Maintenance Grant of up to £3,250 is available to eligible students with a family income of £25,000 or under. The amount of grant you are entitled to is paid in 3 instalments; September, January and April.
If you have a total household income of between £25,001 and £42,600 you can receive a partial grant to help with your living costs. Typically, a student from a family with an income of around £35,000 per year would receive a grant of approximately £1,432.

In addition, the Maintenance Loan a partially income assessed loan of up to £5,500 (if you live away from home, or £4,375 if you live at home) is available to help you pay for your accommodation, bills and course costs. The amount you are actually entitled to also depends on household income, the amount of grant you are awarded
and how much loan you think you will need.