Student loan repayment calculator
Enter your annual salary, choose your student loan plan, and add a Postgraduate Loan if you repay one as well. The calculator estimates annual, monthly and weekly repayments.
How to use this calculator: choose the plan shown on your student loan account or payslip. If you have both an undergraduate loan and a Postgraduate Loan, tick the postgraduate option.
2026/27 student loan thresholds
The calculator uses the following UK repayment thresholds for the 2026/27 tax year. These figures are for repayment estimates, not interest or loan balance forecasting.
| Plan | Annual threshold | Repayment rate | Used for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plan 1 | £26,900 | 9% above threshold | Older England/Wales loans and some Northern Ireland loans. |
| Plan 2 | £29,385 | 9% above threshold | Many England/Wales undergraduate loans from 2012 onwards. |
| Plan 4 | £33,795 | 9% above threshold | Scottish student loans. |
| Plan 5 | £25,000 | 9% above threshold | Newer England undergraduate loans. |
| Postgraduate Loan | £21,000 | 6% above threshold | Postgraduate Master’s or Doctoral loans. |
Thresholds correct as of June 2026.
Student loan repayment formula
Student loan repayments are calculated on income above the relevant threshold. If your income is below the threshold, the estimated repayment is zero.
income_above_threshold = max(0, annual_salary − plan_threshold)
Plan 1, 2, 4 or 5:
annual_repayment = income_above_threshold × 9%
Postgraduate Loan:
annual_repayment = income_above_threshold × 6%
monthly_repayment = annual_repayment ÷ 12
What your result means
The result is an estimate of what may be deducted from your pay based on your income and repayment plan. Student loan repayments are linked to income, not directly to the size of your balance in this calculator.
If your salary rises, your repayment normally rises. If your income falls below the threshold, repayments can stop until your income is above the threshold again.
Compare debt and income together
Student loan repayments can affect take-home pay and affordability, but they behave differently from normal loans because repayments depend on income.
What if you have more than one student loan?
If you have more than one undergraduate repayment plan, payroll normally uses the relevant active plan instruction rather than charging 9% for every undergraduate loan type at the same time.
A Postgraduate Loan can be repaid at the same time as an undergraduate student loan. That means you may repay 9% above your undergraduate threshold and 6% above the Postgraduate Loan threshold.
Important: this calculator estimates income-based repayments only. It does not forecast interest, balance write-off dates, voluntary repayments or overseas repayment rules.
What affects your repayment?
- Your annual income: repayments are based on income above the threshold.
- Your plan type: each plan has its own threshold.
- Postgraduate loans: postgraduate repayment is usually calculated separately at 6% above its threshold.
- Pay frequency: actual payroll deductions can vary by weekly or monthly pay periods.
- Changes in income: bonuses, overtime or salary changes can affect deductions.
- Overseas rules: repayment thresholds can differ if you live overseas.
Student loan repayment FAQs
How are UK student loan repayments calculated?
Repayments are based on income above your plan threshold. Plans 1, 2, 4 and 5 use 9% above threshold. Postgraduate Loans use 6% above threshold.
What are the 2026/27 student loan thresholds?
The 2026/27 thresholds used here are Plan 1 £26,900, Plan 2 £29,385, Plan 4 £33,795, Plan 5 £25,000 and Postgraduate Loan £21,000.
What happens if my income is below the threshold?
If your income is below the threshold for your plan, your estimated repayment is £0 for that period.
Can I repay a student loan and postgraduate loan together?
Yes. If you have both, the calculator can estimate the undergraduate repayment and the Postgraduate Loan repayment separately, then add them together.
Does this calculator show interest or balance write-off?
No. It estimates income-based repayments only. It does not forecast balance, interest, voluntary repayments or write-off dates.
Key terms used in this calculator
These glossary terms explain the student loan and borrowing language used on this page.