UK Student Loan Repayment Calculator 2026/27 — Plan 1, 2, 4, 5 & Postgrad
Work out your monthly and annual UK student loan repayments for the 2026/27 tax year. Covers Plans 1, 2, 4, 5 and Postgraduate. Multiple plans can stack.
Last updated · Tax year 2026/27
| Gross salary | £35,000 |
|---|---|
| Income Tax | −£4,486 |
| National Insurance | −£1,794 |
| Student loan | −£505 |
| Take-home | £28,214 |
Take-home pay
£505
17.9% effective tax rate Income Tax plus employee National Insurance as a percentage of your gross salary. Excludes pension, student loan, and HICBC.
- Monthly
- £42
- Weekly
- £10
- Daily
- £2
- Hourly
- £0.26
How student loan repayments work
UK student loan repayments are deducted automatically through PAYE by your employer. You only pay when your salary exceeds the threshold for your plan, and you pay a percentage of earnings above that threshold.
2026/27 thresholds and rates
| Plan | Who | Threshold | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plan 1 | Pre-2012 England/Wales + Northern Ireland | £26,900 | 9% |
| Plan 2 | Post-2012 England/Wales | £29,385 | 9% |
| Plan 4 | Scotland | £33,795 | 9% |
| Plan 5 | Post-August-2023 England | £25,000 | 9% |
| Postgraduate | Master’s / PhD loans | £21,000 | 6% |
Worked example
On a £40,000 salary with Plan 2:
- (£40,000 − £29,385) × 9% = £955.35 per year
- = £79.61 a month through PAYE
Multiple plans stack. If you have Plan 2 + Postgraduate both above their thresholds, you pay 9% of the difference for Plan 2 plus 6% for Postgrad — that’s 15% at the margin.
What we don’t model
- Voluntary overpayments and loan balance tracking.
- Interest accruing on outstanding balance (varies by plan and income).
- Loan write-off points (currently 25–40 years depending on plan).
Frequently asked questions
- Which plan am I on?
- Plan 1: started pre-2012 in England/Wales or at any time in Northern Ireland. Plan 2: started 2012+ in England/Wales. Plan 4: Scotland. Plan 5: started August 2023+ in England. Postgraduate: master's or PhD loan. Check via your Student Loans Company account.
- Can I have more than one plan?
- Yes — it is common to have an undergraduate plan plus a Postgraduate Loan. Both are deducted simultaneously if you earn above each threshold.
- Do repayments affect Income Tax?
- No — student loan repayments are separate from Income Tax. They are collected via PAYE but go straight to SLC, not HMRC, and do not reduce your taxable income.
- What happens if I don't earn enough?
- You pay nothing. Repayments only start once you earn above the threshold for your plan, and only 9% (or 6% for Postgrad) of earnings above that threshold.
- What's the threshold for my plan?
- 2026/27: Plan 1 £26,900, Plan 2 £29,385, Plan 4 £33,795, Plan 5 £25,000, Postgraduate £21,000. Thresholds are reviewed annually.