Student Loan Repayment UK 2026/27 — Thresholds, Plans, and Write-Off Dates When Is My Student Loan Written Off UK? Student loan write-off dates by plan type. How long until your loan is cancelled, what happens at write-off, and whether you should try to repay early.
By James Whitfield
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23 March 2026
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Last reviewed: 14 August 2026
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4 min read Your student loan doesn’t last forever. Here’s when it gets written off based on your loan type.
Write-Off Dates by Plan Summary Plan Write-Off Period Plan 1 25 years or age 65 (whichever first) Plan 2 30 years Plan 4 30 years (or age 65 for older borrowers) Plan 5 40 years Postgraduate 30 years
Detailed Rules Plan From When Condition Plan 1 April after leaving course Earlier of 25 years or age 65 Plan 2 April after leaving course 30 years exactly Plan 4 April after leaving course 30 years (or 65 if pre-2007) Plan 5 April after leaving course 40 years exactly Postgraduate April after leaving course 30 years
Calculate Your Write-Off Date Plan 2 Example Your Details Date Course ended July 2020 First April after April 2021 Plus 30 years April 2051 Write-off date April 2051
Plan 1 Example Your Details Date Course ended July 2010 First April after April 2011 Plus 25 years April 2036 Or turn 65 Whichever first
Plan 5 Example Your Details Date Course ended July 2027 First April after April 2028 Plus 40 years April 2068 Write-off date April 2068
Quick Reference Table By Graduation Year (Plan 2) Left Course Write-Off Year 2015 2046 2016 2047 2017 2048 2018 2049 2019 2050 2020 2051 2021 2052 2022 2053 2023 2054
By Graduation Year (Plan 5) Left Course Write-Off Year 2027 2068 2028 2069 2029 2070 2030 2071
What Happens at Write-Off The Process Step What Happens Date reached Automatic process SLC notifies You’re written to Balance cancelled Goes to £0 No action needed From you
Tax Implications Factor Treatment Write-off amount Tax-free Not income Doesn’t count No penalty Not negative Simply cancelled Clean slate
Credit File Impact Issue Reality Student loan Not on credit file Write-off No negative impact Future borrowing Unaffected Shown on SLC Not credit agencies
Will You Repay Before Write-Off? Who Typically Repays in Full Plan Typical Full Repayers Plan 1 Many (lower balances) Plan 2 High earners only Plan 4 Many (lower fees) Plan 5 Very high earners
Calculation Example Your Situation Numbers Loan balance £50,000 Annual repayment £1,500 Years to repay 33 years Write-off at 30 years Will you repay? No
Factors Affecting Repayment Factor Impact Starting salary Higher = repay more Career progression More increases = repay faster Time in work Gaps reduce payments Years abroad May not repay Interest rate Balance grows
Should You Overpay? When Overpaying Makes Sense Situation Consider Overpaying Will definitely repay Before write-off Very high earner Will clear it anyway Close to clearing Small balance left Plan 1 Often fully repaid
When NOT to Overpay Situation Don’t Overpay Won’t clear before write-off Wasted money Plan 2 medium earner Likely won’t clear Plan 5 40 years = unlikely Better uses Pension, mortgage, saving
The Maths If Your Loan Will Be Written Off You have £40,000 remaining At write-off You’d have repaid £38,000 Overpaying £5,000 Means paying £43,000 vs £38,000 Wasted £5,000
Interest and Balance Growth How Balances Change Factor Effect Interest accrues Balance grows Repayments Reduce balance Net effect Often balance grows initially
Interest Rates by Plan Plan Interest Rate (2026/27) Plan 1 Lower of RPI or BoE +1% Plan 2 RPI to RPI +3% Plan 4 Lower of RPI or BoE +1% Plan 5 RPI only Postgraduate RPI to RPI +3%
Balance Growth Example Year Balance Interest Repayments New Balance 1 £50,000 £3,000 £1,500 £51,500 5 £55,000 £3,300 £2,000 £56,300 10 £58,000 £3,500 £3,000 £58,500
Multiple Loans If You Have Both Plans Loans Write-Off Plan 2 + Postgraduate Each has own write-off Separate tracking By SLC Can differ By years
Postgraduate Loan Feature Details Separate loan From undergraduate 30-year write-off From April after course Repaid concurrently With undergraduate
Taking Breaks from Work Impact on Write-Off Action Effect Career break Clock still ticks Maternity leave Write-off date unchanged Unemployment Same Time abroad Date unchanged
Impact on Repayments Action Effect Below threshold No repayments Clock continues Towards write-off Balance may grow With interest May never repay Works in your favour
Checking Your Status How to Check Method Details SLC account Online Balance shown Current Plan type Confirmed Repayment forecast Estimated
What to Check Item Why Current balance Know where you stand Plan type Confirms write-off rules Repayment history All payments recorded Interest rate Current rate
Summary Plan Write-Off Period Plan 1 25 years or age 65 Plan 2 30 years Plan 4 30 years Plan 5 40 years Postgraduate 30 years
Key Points Remember Automatic No action needed Tax-free Written off amount Most don’t repay In full (Plan 2/5) Don’t overpay If won’t clear anyway
Your Checklist Status Know your plan type □ Calculated write-off date □ Estimated if you’ll repay □ Decided on overpaying □
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