Mortgages & Money2 min check

Student Loan Repayment Calculator (2026/27)

Estimate your monthly student loan deduction based on your salary and the plan(s) you're on.

Short answer

You repay 9% (or 6% for postgraduate) of income above the plan threshold. Repayments stop automatically when the loan is cleared or the write-off date is reached.

Step 1 of 10%

Calculation method, coverage and version

Inputs used: Annual gross salary, Repayment plan, Also have a Postgraduate loan?.
Calculation approach: The calculator applies the rules and assumptions described in “How it works” to the values you enter. Rounding can cause small differences from an official or provider calculation.
Coverage: Mortgages & Money. UK nations, tax treatment, local rules and provider criteria can differ; check the official sources shown below before acting.
Content version: No page-specific review date is currently published. Treat the result as indicative and verify current rules independently.

Not included unless explicitly requested: personal circumstances not entered, provider discretion, future rule changes, professional fees and case-specific exceptions. Read the full calculator methodology.

Primary sources and official verification

Use these official sources to verify current rules before acting. Coverage and dates can differ across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

See the sitewide source policy.

How it works

Student loans are an income-contingent tax in disguise. You repay a fixed percentage of income above the plan threshold for a set number of years (typically 25–40), then any remaining balance is written off. Most graduates never repay the full balance, especially on Plan 2 and Plan 5.

Worked example

Aisha is on Plan 2, earning £40,000.

(£40,000 − £29,385) × 9% = £955.35/yr
About £80 per month

Who should use this

•Recent graduates checking payslip deductions
•Anyone with multiple plans (e.g. undergrad + postgrad)
•Considering whether to make voluntary repayments
•Self-employed graduates filing Self Assessment

Common mistakes

×Overpaying voluntarily when you'll never clear the balance anyway
×Forgetting Postgraduate is on top of your undergrad plan
×Confusing Plan 2 (England post-2012) with Plan 5 (post-Aug 2023)
×Not telling a new employer your plan, leading to wrong deductions

Frequently asked questions

Which plan am I on?▾

Generally: started uni before 2012 in E&W → Plan 1; 2012–Aug 2023 → Plan 2; from Aug 2023 → Plan 5; Scotland → Plan 4; postgrad master's/PhD → Postgraduate.

When is my loan written off?▾

Plan 1: age 65 or 25 years; Plan 2: 30 years; Plan 4: 30 years; Plan 5: 40 years; Postgraduate: 30 years from first April after graduation.

Should I make voluntary overpayments?▾

Usually no — most borrowers don't repay in full and overpayments would be wasted. Only worthwhile if you're a high earner who'll definitely clear the loan.

Do bonuses get extra deductions?▾

Yes — PAYE deducts based on each pay period, so a big bonus month can trigger a higher deduction. It self-corrects over the year.

What's the interest rate?▾

Interest rates vary by plan and can change during the tax year. Check your Student Loans Company account or GOV.UK for the rate currently applied to your balance.

Does the loan affect my credit score?▾

No — student loans don't appear on your credit file.

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Take-Home Pay Calculator →Income Tax →National Insurance →Self-Employed Tax →Salary Sacrifice →Debt Repayment →