Student Loan Repayment UK 2026/27 — Thresholds, Plans, and Write-Off DatesStudent Loan Repayment Calculator UK — How Much Will You Pay?
Calculate your student loan repayments. Thresholds for Plans 1-5, how much is deducted from your salary, and when your loan gets written off.
Student loan repayments depend on your income and loan plan type. Here’s how to calculate exactly what you’ll pay.
Which Plan Are You On?
Identifying Your Plan
| Plan | When/Where You Studied |
|---|
| Plan 1 | England/Wales before Sept 2012 |
| Plan 2 | England/Wales Sept 2012 - July 2023 |
| Plan 4 | Scotland |
| Plan 5 | England from Aug 2023 |
| Postgraduate | Master’s/Doctoral loans |
If Unsure
| Check | How |
|---|
| Student Loans Company | Login to account |
| Payslip | Shows plan type |
| When you started | Generally indicates |
Current Thresholds 2025/26
Annual Thresholds
| Plan | Annual | Monthly | Weekly |
|---|
| Plan 1 | £24,990 | £2,082 | £480 |
| Plan 2 | £27,295 | £2,274 | £524 |
| Plan 4 | £31,395 | £2,616 | £603 |
| Plan 5 | £25,000 | £2,083 | £480 |
| Postgraduate | £21,000 | £1,750 | £403 |
Repayment Rates
| Plan Type | Rate |
|---|
| Plan 1, 2, 4, 5 | 9% of income above threshold |
| Postgraduate | 6% of income above threshold |
Calculating Repayments
| Calculation | Process |
|---|
| Take annual salary | Your gross pay |
| Subtract threshold | Your plan’s threshold |
| Multiply by 9% | (or 6% for PG) |
| = Annual repayment | Divided by 12 for monthly |
Plan 2 Examples
| Salary | Above Threshold | Annual Repay | Monthly |
|---|
| £25,000 | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| £30,000 | £2,705 | £243 | £20 |
| £35,000 | £7,705 | £693 | £58 |
| £40,000 | £12,705 | £1,143 | £95 |
| £50,000 | £22,705 | £2,043 | £170 |
| £60,000 | £32,705 | £2,943 | £245 |
Plan 1 Examples
| Salary | Above Threshold | Annual Repay | Monthly |
|---|
| £25,000 | £10 | £1 | £0.08 |
| £30,000 | £5,010 | £451 | £38 |
| £35,000 | £10,010 | £901 | £75 |
| £40,000 | £15,010 | £1,351 | £113 |
| £50,000 | £25,010 | £2,251 | £188 |
Plan 4 Examples (Scotland)
| Salary | Above Threshold | Annual Repay | Monthly |
|---|
| £30,000 | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| £35,000 | £3,605 | £324 | £27 |
| £40,000 | £8,605 | £774 | £65 |
| £50,000 | £18,605 | £1,674 | £140 |
Postgraduate Loan Examples
| Salary | Above £21,000 | Annual (6%) | Monthly |
|---|
| £25,000 | £4,000 | £240 | £20 |
| £30,000 | £9,000 | £540 | £45 |
| £35,000 | £14,000 | £840 | £70 |
| £40,000 | £19,000 | £1,140 | £95 |
Multiple Loans
If You Have Both
| Loan Types | Repayment |
|---|
| Undergraduate + Postgraduate | Pay both simultaneously |
| Plan 2 + PG | 9% + 6% = 15% |
| If earning above both | Both deducted |
Combined Example
| Salary £40,000 | Calculation |
|---|
| Plan 2 | 9% × (£40k - £27,295) = £1,143 |
| Postgraduate | 6% × (£40k - £21,000) = £1,140 |
| Total annual | £2,283 |
| Monthly | £190 |
Interest Rates
Plan 2 Interest
| Income | Rate (2025/26) |
|---|
| Below threshold | RPI |
| At threshold | RPI |
| Above £49,130 | RPI + 3% |
| Between | Sliding scale |
Other Plans
| Plan | Interest |
|---|
| Plan 1 | Lower of RPI or Bank of England + 1% |
| Plan 4 | Lower of RPI or Bank of England + 1% |
| Plan 5 | RPI only (no additional 3%) |
Impact of Interest
| Reality | Consideration |
|---|
| Most don’t repay in full | Interest often irrelevant |
| Balance grows | While earning below |
| Written off anyway | At end of term |
Write-Off Dates
When Loans Are Cancelled
| Plan | Written Off After |
|---|
| Plan 1 | 25 years (or age 65, if sooner) |
| Plan 2 | 30 years |
| Plan 4 | 30 years |
| Plan 5 | 40 years |
| Postgraduate | 30 years |
Calculating Your Write-Off
| Plan 2 Example | Dates |
|---|
| Left course | July 2020 |
| First April after | April 2021 |
| 30 years from | April 2051 |
| Written off | April 2051 |
Is Write-Off Tax-Free?
| What Happens | Treatment |
|---|
| Balance written off | No tax |
| Regardless of amount | Even if £50k+ |
| Don’t count against | Your income |
Should You Overpay?
When Overpaying Makes Sense
| Scenario | Consider Overpaying |
|---|
| High earner | Will repay in full anyway |
| Small balance | Near end of repayment |
| Plan 1 | Lower threshold, often repay |
When Not to Overpay
| Scenario | Don’t Overpay |
|---|
| Won’t clear before write-off | Money wasted |
| Low/medium earner | Unlikely to repay |
| Better uses | Savings, pension, debt |
Calculation
| Your Situation | Action |
|---|
| Total debt | £40,000 |
| Annual repayment | £2,000 |
| Years to clear | 20 |
| Write-off at | 30 years |
| Will you repay? | Yes, before write-off |
| Versus | |
|---|
| Total debt | £60,000 |
| Annual repayment | £1,500 |
| Years to clear | 40 |
| Write-off at | 30 years |
| Will you repay? | No — will be written off |
Self-Employment
If Self-Employed
| Process | Details |
|---|
| Declare on Self Assessment | Income reported |
| HMRC calculates | Repayment due |
| Pay with tax | By 31 January |
Class 2 NI
| Note | Details |
|---|
| Repayments | Based on profits |
| Same thresholds | Apply |
| Same rates | 9% / 6% |
Repayment While Abroad
Working Overseas
| Requirement | Details |
|---|
| Must still repay | If earning above threshold |
| Country thresholds | Different amounts |
| Report income | To SLC annually |
| Convert to GBP | At official rate |
Overseas Thresholds
| Country | Threshold Multiple |
|---|
| USA | 69% of UK |
| Australia | 120% of UK |
| Varies | By cost of living |
Summary
| Plan | Threshold | Rate | Write-Off |
|---|
| Plan 1 | £24,990 | 9% | 25 years |
| Plan 2 | £27,295 | 9% | 30 years |
| Plan 4 | £31,395 | 9% | 30 years |
| Plan 5 | £25,000 | 9% | 40 years |
| Postgrad | £21,000 | 6% | 30 years |
| Key Calculation | Example |
|---|
| Salary | £35,000 |
| Less threshold (Plan 2) | -£27,295 |
| Income for repayment | £7,705 |
| × 9% | £693/year |
| Monthly | £58 |
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