Student Loan Repayment Calculator UK 2025–26
Calculate your annual, monthly, and weekly student loan repayments for 2025–26. Supports Plan 1, Plan 2, Plan 4 (Scotland), Plan 5, and postgraduate loans — including combined calculations for borrowers with multiple loan types.
How student loan repayments are calculated
Student loan repayments are not structured like commercial loan repayments. You repay a fixed percentage of income above a plan-specific threshold — not a fixed monthly amount based on your balance. Repayments are linked to what you earn, not what you owe.
Repayment rates and thresholds
For Plan 1, 2, 4, and 5 loans, you repay 9% of income above the threshold. Postgraduate loans are repaid at 6% above £21,000. If your income falls below the threshold at any point — for example, during a career break or part-time work — repayments pause automatically and resume when income exceeds the threshold again.
Collection through PAYE
If you are employed, repayments are collected by your employer through PAYE alongside income tax and National Insurance. The employer receives the repayment information through your tax code and deducts the appropriate amount from each pay period. If you are self-employed, repayments are calculated and collected through Self Assessment.
Interest on student loans
Interest accrues on the outstanding balance throughout the life of the loan. Plan 1 interest is linked to either RPI or the Bank of England base rate plus 1% (whichever is lower). Plan 2 and Plan 5 interest is linked to RPI, with an additional spread based on income for Plan 2 while studying. Plan 4 uses RPI. Postgraduate loan interest is RPI plus 3%. Crucially, interest does not affect your monthly repayment amount — it only affects whether you clear the balance before write-off.
Frequently asked questions
Which student loan plan am I on?
Your plan depends on when and where you started your course. Plan 1 applies if you started an undergraduate course before September 2012 (or if you studied in Northern Ireland). Plan 2 applies if you started in England or Wales between September 2012 and July 2023. Plan 4 applies if you studied in Scotland. Plan 5 applies to new students starting from August 2023. Postgraduate loans are a separate category regardless of when you studied. You can check your plan on the Student Loans Company website or your P60.
What are the repayment thresholds for 2025–26?
Repayments begin once your income exceeds the threshold for your plan. For 2025–26: Plan 1 threshold is £24,990; Plan 2 is £27,295; Plan 4 (Scotland) is £31,395; Plan 5 is £25,000. Postgraduate loans have a threshold of £21,000. You repay 9% of income above the threshold (6% for postgraduate loans).
Can I have more than one student loan plan at the same time?
Yes — you can hold both an undergraduate loan (any plan) and a postgraduate loan simultaneously. Repayments for each are calculated independently based on the same income figure, and both are collected through PAYE. The calculator supports entering two plans to account for this.
When does my student loan get written off?
Write-off timescales differ by plan. Plan 1 loans are written off 25 years after entering repayment, or when you reach age 65 (whichever comes first). Plan 2 and Plan 5 loans are written off 30 years after entering repayment. Plan 4 (Scotland) is written off after 30 years. Postgraduate loans are written off 30 years after entering repayment.
Does making voluntary repayments reduce my monthly deductions?
Voluntary repayments reduce your outstanding loan balance and therefore the interest that accrues, but they do not directly reduce your PAYE deductions. Your employer calculates deductions based on your income, not your balance. Voluntary repayments are only likely to be worthwhile if you are on track to repay the full balance within the write-off period — otherwise the loan is written off regardless.
Related calculators
This calculator provides estimates only. Results are based on the 2025–26 tax year. Credibrate is not a tax adviser. For personalised advice speak to a qualified accountant.