Student Loan Repayment Calculator
Work out your monthly student loan repayment for Plan 1, 2, 4, 5 or a Postgraduate Loan, your take-home pay after it, and whether you are likely to repay before the loan is written off.
Your loan
Will I pay it off? (optional)
| Plan 2 (9% over £29,385) | £505 / yr |
| Income Tax + NI | £6,280 / yr |
| Take-home after tax, NI and loan | £2,351 / month |
Repayment outlook
You would repay about £70,523 over the 30 years left, and roughly £119,334 would be written off — so overpaying is unlikely to save you money.
Estimate in today’s money: thresholds held at 2026/27 levels, one interest rate for the whole term.
Quick answer
UK student loan repayments are 9% of your income above your plan’s threshold (6% above £21,000 for a Postgraduate Loan), taken through payroll. For 2026/27 the thresholds are £26,900 (Plan 1), £29,385 (Plan 2), £33,795 (Plan 4) and £25,000 (Plan 5). On a £35,000 salary a Plan 2 borrower repays about £505 a year, or £42 a month.
How repayments are calculated
Repayment = (earnings − threshold) × 9% for undergraduate plans, or × 6% for a Postgraduate Loan. Your employer applies the monthly or weekly threshold to each payslip, so a one-off bonus can trigger a repayment in that month. If your annual income ends up below the yearly threshold, you can claim the money back.
The amount you owe and the interest rate do not change your monthly repayment — only your earnings do. Interest only decides how long you repay and how much is written off at the end.
Will you repay it in full?
Each plan is written off after a fixed period: 25 years for most Plan 1 loans, 30 years for Plan 2, Plan 4 and Postgraduate Loans, and 40 years for Plan 5. The projection adds interest each year, takes that year’s repayment, and raises your salary by the growth you enter until the balance is cleared or written off.
If a large balance is likely to be written off, overpaying usually just means paying money you would never have been asked for. If you are on track to clear the loan, overpaying can reduce the total interest.
Reference tables & worked examples
| Plan | Who | Yearly threshold | Rate | Written off after |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plan 1 | English/Welsh courses before Sept 2012; all Northern Ireland loans | £26,900 | 9% | 25 years |
| Plan 2 | English/Welsh courses Sept 2012 – July 2023 | £29,385 | 9% | 30 years |
| Plan 4 | Scottish loans | £33,795 | 9% | 30 years |
| Plan 5 | English courses from August 2023 | £25,000 | 9% | 40 years |
| Postgraduate Loan | Master’s and doctoral loans | £21,000 | 6% | 30 years |
| Salary | Plan 1 | Plan 2 | Plan 4 | Plan 5 | Postgraduate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £25,000 | £0 | £0 | £0 | £0 | £20 |
| £30,000 | £23 | £5 | £0 | £38 | £45 |
| £35,000 | £61 | £42 | £9 | £75 | £70 |
| £40,000 | £98 | £80 | £47 | £113 | £95 |
| £50,000 | £173 | £155 | £122 | £188 | £145 |
| £60,000 | £248 | £230 | £197 | £263 | £195 |
Frequently asked questions
How much is my student loan repayment each month?
9% of what you earn above your plan’s threshold, divided across your payslips. On £35,000, that is about £42 a month on Plan 2 and £75 a month on Plan 5.
What are the 2026/27 student loan thresholds?
Plan 1 £26,900, Plan 2 £29,385, Plan 4 £33,795, Plan 5 £25,000 and Postgraduate Loan £21,000 a year.
Which plan am I on?
Plan 1 for English or Welsh courses started before September 2012 and all Northern Ireland loans; Plan 2 for English or Welsh courses from September 2012 to July 2023; Plan 4 for Scottish loans; Plan 5 for English courses from August 2023.
Is student loan repayment taken before or after tax?
It is worked out on your gross pay and deducted alongside Income Tax and National Insurance. It does not reduce your taxable income.
Can I have two student loans at once?
Yes. A Postgraduate Loan is repaid at 6% on top of your undergraduate plan’s 9%, so you can repay 15% of earnings above the thresholds.
When is my student loan written off?
After 25 years for most Plan 1 loans, 30 years for Plan 2, Plan 4 and Postgraduate Loans, and 40 years for Plan 5, counted from the April after you were first due to repay.
Sources
Estimates for general information only — not tax, legal or financial advice. Check your payslip, employer or a qualified adviser before acting.
Popular salary breakdowns
UK take-home pay for every salary from £15,000 to £100,000Related tools & guides
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