UK Student Loan Repayment Calculator 2026/27
Enter your annual income before tax and choose your plan to estimate UK student loan repayments for 2026/27. Works for a single undergraduate plan, a Postgraduate Loan on its own, or both loans repaid at the same time.
| Loan | Threshold | Rate | Income above threshold | Annual | Monthly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plan 2 | £29,385.00 | 9% | £5,615.00 | £505.35 | £42.11 |
| Combined deduction | £505.35 | £42.11 | |||
All plans compared at your income
| Plan | Threshold | Rate | Annual | Monthly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plan 1 | £26,900.00 | 9% | £729.00 | £60.75 |
| Plan 2 | £29,385.00 | 9% | £505.35 | £42.11 |
| Plan 4 (Scotland) | £33,795.00 | 9% | £108.45 | £9.04 |
| Plan 5 | £25,000.00 | 9% | £900.00 | £75.00 |
| Postgraduate loan | £21,000.00 | 6% | £840.00 | £70.00 |
Repayments at common salaries
Annual estimates for each plan at five typical salaries, using the 2026/27 thresholds.
| Salary | Plan 1 | Plan 2 | Plan 4 | Plan 5 | Postgraduate loan |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £25,000.00 | £0.00 | £0.00 | £0.00 | £0.00 | £240.00 |
| £30,000.00 | £279.00 | £55.35 | £0.00 | £450.00 | £540.00 |
| £40,000.00 | £1,179.00 | £955.35 | £558.45 | £1,350.00 | £1,140.00 |
| £50,000.00 | £2,079.00 | £1,855.35 | £1,458.45 | £2,250.00 | £1,740.00 |
| £75,000.00 | £4,329.00 | £4,105.35 | £3,708.45 | £4,500.00 | £3,240.00 |
How it works
UK student loans are repaid through the payroll as a percentage of income above a threshold, not as a fixed instalment against the balance. If you earn below the threshold for your plan, you repay nothing at all.
Thresholds and rates for 2026/27
- Plan 1: 9% of income above £26,900
- Plan 2: 9% of income above £29,385
- Plan 4 (Scotland): 9% of income above £33,795
- Plan 5: 9% of income above £25,000
- Postgraduate Loan: 6% of income above £21,000
Holding two loans at once
An undergraduate plan and a Postgraduate Loan are repaid simultaneously and appear as separate payslip lines. Someone on £35,000 with Plan 2 and a Postgraduate Loan repays £505.35 on the undergraduate loan and £840 on the postgraduate loan — £1,345.35 in total for the year.
Which plan applies
Your plan depends on where and when you studied rather than on which university you attended. Plan 1 covers pre-2012 English and Welsh borrowers, Plan 2 covers 2012 to 2023 starters, Plan 4 covers Scottish borrowers, and Plan 5 covers English students starting from August 2023. The student loan plans guide walks through each one in detail.
Annual estimate versus PAYE
Employers calculate student loan deductions for each pay period against a weekly or monthly slice of the annual threshold and round down to the nearest pound. A steady salary produces a total close to the annual estimate here, but overtime, bonuses or a mid-year job change can move it. To see the deduction alongside tax and National Insurance, use the take-home pay calculator.
Worked example
£40,000 salary, Plan 5 undergraduate loan. Income above the £25,000 threshold is £15,000. At 9% that is £1,350 for the year, or £112.50 a month.
Add a Postgraduate Loan. Income above £21,000 is £19,000, and 6% of that is £1,140 a year. The combined deduction becomes £2,490 a year, roughly £207.50 a month, before Income Tax and National Insurance.
Limitations of this calculator
- Estimates a full year on a steady income; PAYE calculates each pay period separately and rounds down.
- Does not project the outstanding balance, interest added or the write-off date.
- Ignores self-assessment income, overseas repayment thresholds and voluntary payments.
- Assumes you are past your course end date and liable to repay for the whole year.
- Not a Student Loans Company statement and not financial advice.
Frequently asked questions
How is a student loan repayment worked out?
You repay 9% of income above your undergraduate plan's threshold, or 6% above £21,000 for a Postgraduate Loan. Only the income above the threshold counts, so someone on £30,000 with a Plan 2 loan repays 9% of £615, not 9% of £30,000.
What if I have both an undergraduate and a postgraduate loan?
You repay both at the same time. The undergraduate deduction is 9% above your plan threshold and the Postgraduate Loan deduction is 6% above £21,000, and the two are added together on your payslip. Tick the Postgraduate Loan box to see both lines separately.
Do repayments clear the balance?
Not necessarily. Repayments depend on your income rather than on how much you owe, and interest is added throughout. Any balance left at the end of your plan's write-off period is cancelled, which is why many borrowers never repay in full.
Do voluntary overpayments make sense?
It depends on your plan and your expected earnings. Borrowers who are unlikely to clear the balance before write-off often gain little from overpaying, while higher earners who will repay in full can reduce the interest they pay. Voluntary payments cannot be refunded.
Why does my payslip differ from this estimate?
PAYE deducts student loan repayments for each pay period against a weekly or monthly threshold and rounds down to the pound, so a bonus month or irregular pay can change the total. This calculator gives a clean annual estimate from a steady salary.
What happens if I move abroad?
You still owe the loan and must tell the Student Loans Company. They set repayments using a threshold adjusted for the cost of living in the country you move to, and failing to keep them informed can lead to fixed penalty repayment amounts.
Related calculators
Official sources
Figures on this page follow official UK government guidance for the 2026/27 tax year. Rates last verified: 27 August 2026. See our data sources and calculation methodology.
Estimates for general guidance only — not personalised financial advice.