UK Student Loan Calculator
Understanding UK Student Loan Plans 2025/26
Plan 2 applies to English/Welsh students starting university 2012-2023, with £27,295 repayment threshold (2025/26) and 9% repayment rate on income above threshold. Someone earning £35,000 pays £697/year (£58/month): (£35,000 - £27,295) × 9% = £693. Interest rate varies with income: RPI + 3% while studying, RPI + 0-3% after graduation (higher earners pay more interest), currently 7.3% maximum. Loans written off after 30 years or at age 65 (whichever comes first). Average Plan 2 graduate borrows £45,000 including maintenance loans, pays back £25,000-£40,000 depending on salary trajectory, with remainder written off.
Plan 1 covers students from England/Wales who started before 2012, Northern Ireland students, and Scottish students studying in England/Wales. Threshold: £24,990 (2025/26), repayment rate 9%, interest fixed at RPI + 1% (currently 6.25%), written off at age 65 or after 30 years. Plan 4 (Scotland): £31,395 threshold, 9% rate, 6.25% interest, written off at 65 or after 30 years. Plan 5 (Postgraduate Master's/Doctoral loans): £21,000 threshold for Master's (£12,167 for Doctoral loans), 6% rate, 6.3% interest. Can hold multiple plans simultaneously—graduates with undergraduate Plan 2 and Master's Plan 5 pay both repayments (15% total on earnings above respective thresholds). Scottish students studying in Scotland receive SAAS funding (tuition paid directly), bursaries for low-income families, no tuition fee loans needed.
How UK Student Loan Repayments Work
Automatic deduction through PAYE payroll means employers calculate student loan repayments alongside tax and National Insurance—no manual action required. April 6 tax year start triggers new threshold: £35,000 salary with £27,295 Plan 2 threshold = £7,705 above threshold × 9% = £693 annual repayment (£57.75 monthly). This continues automatically until loan fully repaid or written off. Salary increases trigger higher repayments: jumping from £30,000 to £40,000 increases annual repayment from £245 to £1,143 (extra £75/month). Part-time work, multiple jobs, self-employment require notifying Student Loans Company to avoid underpayment.
Self-employed graduates pay through Self-Assessment tax return based on previous year's income. Starting salary £25,000 (below threshold) triggers zero repayments. Earning £50,000 requires £2,043 annual repayment (£170/month) on Plan 2. Working overseas with UK student loan requires notifying SLC—different repayment thresholds apply by country. Australia threshold: £27,295 equivalent (AUD $53,117), USA: $37,899. Failure to repay while overseas triggers penalties, interest charges, and legal action. Maternity/paternity leave, unemployment, or low income automatically reduces/stops repayments through PAYE—no action needed. Can request deferment if income drops below threshold temporarily. Overpayments occur if multiple employers, bonus payments, or income fluctuations—claim refund from SLC with payslips proving overpayment.
Should You Pay Off Student Loans Early?
Early repayment makes financial sense only for high earners certain to repay full loan before write-off. Graduate earning £60,000+ annually likely repays loan in full, so 7.3% interest rate justifies early repayment using savings earning 4-5%. However, £30,000 earner paying £245/year (£20/month) for 30 years totals £7,350—never repaying £45,000 loan principal, making extra payments wasteful. Money better invested in ISA, pension, or house deposit. Student loan acts as graduate tax, not traditional debt—don't prioritize repayment over other financial goals.
Voluntary repayments to Student Loans Company reduce outstanding balance and future interest charges. Contact SLC directly (not through payslips) specifying lump sum payment. Some choose paying off loan before marriage to avoid partner's income affecting means-tested benefits or childcare calculations (student loan itself doesn't affect household income assessments, but reduced take-home pay might). Parents considering paying child's tuition upfront: compare £9,250/year × 3 years = £27,750 upfront vs child potentially repaying £15,000-£20,000 over career (or nothing if low earnings). Upfront payment prevents interest accrual but removes £27,750 from parent's investments potentially earning 6-7% returns (£50,000+ over 30 years). Gift £27,750 to child for house deposit instead, letting student loan function as intended—income-contingent repayment protecting low earners. Loan doesn't affect credit score, mortgage applications, or other borrowing—lenders see post-repayment income when assessing affordability. Some high earners negotiate salary sacrifice pension contributions reducing taxable income below student loan threshold, saving both tax and student loan repayments.
UK Student Finance: Maintenance Loans and Grants
Maintenance loans support living costs: up to £10,227/year for students living away from home outside London, £13,348 for London students, £8,610 living with parents (2025/26 rates). Amount depends on household income: full amount for incomes under £25,000, partial loan £25,000-£70,000, minimum loan above £70,000. Repayment terms identical to tuition fee loans (same threshold, rate, write-off). Someone borrowing £9,250 tuition + £8,000 maintenance annually for 3 years totals £51,750 debt. Living costs exceed maintenance loan—students need additional £3,000-£5,000/year from part-time work, parental support, or savings.
Maintenance grants (non-repayable) abolished in England 2016, replaced with larger loans increasing debt burden. Wales offers £1,000-£11,370 grants for students from low-income families (household income under £18,370 receives maximum). Scotland provides £2,000 Young Students' Bursary (household income under £24,421). Northern Ireland offers £3,475 Maintenance Grant (household income under £19,203). Disabled Students' Allowances (DSA) up to £25,575/year for specialist equipment, non-repayable regardless of income. Childcare Grant pays 85% of childcare costs (max £193.62/week one child, £331.95 two+ children), income-assessed but not repayable. Parents' Learning Allowance £1,915/year for course materials if dependents. University bursaries/scholarships: £1,000-£3,000/year from individual universities for students from low-income backgrounds or high academic achievement. Apply directly to university, not Student Finance England. Part-time students receive partial tuition fee loans and maintenance loans proportional to course intensity—50% intensity course gets 50% loan entitlement. Interest accrues from first payment, compounding throughout study and repayment period—£45,000 loan at 7.3% grows to £49,000 during 3-year degree before repayments begin.