A UK student loan is repaid as a percentage of your earnings above a threshold, deducted directly from your salary by your employer. Repayment rates, thresholds, interest, and write-off periods vary between Plan 1, 2, 4, 5 and Postgraduate loans. Use this free calculator to see your monthly repayments, total cost, interest accrued, and projected years to repay based on your salary and loan balance.
Your Loan Details
Optional: projected annual salary increase
Repayment Summary
Year-by-Year Projection
| Year | Salary | Repayment | Interest | Balance |
|---|
Uses 2025/26 thresholds. Interest rates are illustrative based on current RPI. This is an estimate — verify with the Student Loans Company for official figures.
How to Use the UK Student Loan Repayment Calculator
Student loan repayments are one of the most misunderstood deductions from UK salaries. Unlike a traditional loan, repayments are based on your income rather than the amount you owe, and any remaining balance is written off after a set period. This free calculator helps you understand exactly how much you will repay, how long it will take, and whether your loan will be written off before you clear it.
Step 1: Enter Your Annual Gross Salary
Enter your total annual salary before any deductions. This is the figure on your employment contract. Student loan repayments are calculated on your gross salary, not your take-home pay. If you only know your monthly salary, multiply by 12. The calculator uses this to determine how much you repay above the relevant threshold for your plan.
Step 2: Enter Your Loan Balance
Check your outstanding balance on the Student Loans Company website or your latest statement. The balance includes both the original loan and any interest accrued so far. This figure is essential for calculating how many years it will take to fully repay and how much interest will accumulate over the repayment period.
Step 3: Select Your Loan Plan(s)
Choose one or more plans that apply to you. Plan 1 covers loans taken before September 2012 in England and Wales. Plan 2 covers post-2012 loans. Plan 4 is for Scottish borrowers. Plan 5 applies to loans from 2023 onwards. If you also took a Postgraduate loan, tick that box too. Many graduates have both an undergraduate and postgraduate loan deducted simultaneously.
Step 4: Set Salary Growth (Optional)
Adding a salary growth percentage makes the projection more realistic. A typical UK salary increase is 2-4% per year. Higher salary growth means higher repayments each year, which can reduce the total interest paid. Leave this at 0% to see a static projection based on your current salary.
Understanding Your Results
The results show six key figures: monthly and annual repayment amounts at your current salary, projected years to repay, total amount repaid over the life of the loan, total interest accrued, and any amount written off if the loan is not cleared before the write-off date. The year-by-year amortization table shows how your balance changes each year, factoring in both repayments and interest. Use this to understand whether voluntary overpayments make financial sense for your situation.
FAQ
Is this UK student loan calculator free?
Yes, this student loan repayment calculator is completely free with no signup, no account, and no limits. All calculations run locally in your browser. You can estimate repayments for any salary and loan balance as many times as you like.
Is my salary and loan data private?
Absolutely. All calculations happen entirely in your web browser using JavaScript. No salary, loan balance, or personal data is ever sent to any server or stored anywhere. You can disconnect from the internet after loading the page and the calculator will still work.
What is the difference between Plan 1, Plan 2, Plan 4, and Plan 5?
Plan 1 covers loans taken out before September 2012 in England/Wales, or any time in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Plan 2 covers post-2012 English and Welsh loans. Plan 4 is for Scottish loans from September 2007. Plan 5 covers loans from 2023 onwards. Each plan has different thresholds, interest rates, and write-off periods.
Can I have two student loans at once?
Yes, many graduates have both an undergraduate loan (Plan 1, 2, 4, or 5) and a Postgraduate loan. Both are deducted simultaneously from your pay. The undergraduate plan charges 9% above its threshold and the Postgraduate loan charges 6% above its threshold. This calculator supports selecting multiple plans.
When is my student loan written off?
Plan 1 loans are written off when you turn 65. Plan 2 loans are written off 30 years after the April you were first due to repay. Plan 4 loans are written off 30 years after graduation (or age 65, whichever comes first). Plan 5 loans are written off after 40 years. Postgraduate loans are written off 30 years after the April you were first due to repay.
How is student loan interest calculated?
Interest rates vary by plan. Plan 1 and Plan 4 charge RPI (currently 3.25%). Plan 2 charges RPI while studying and a sliding scale from RPI to RPI+3% based on income after graduation. Plan 5 charges RPI only. Postgraduate loans charge RPI+3%. Interest accrues from the day your loan is paid out.
Will I actually repay my student loan in full?
Many graduates on Plan 2 and Plan 5 will not repay their full loan before it is written off. Whether you repay in full depends on your salary, loan balance, and how quickly your salary grows. This calculator shows the projected years to repay and any amount that would be written off.
Does salary growth affect my repayments?
Yes, higher salary means higher repayments and faster loan clearance. This calculator includes an optional salary growth percentage so you can model realistic projections. Even a 2-3% annual increase can significantly reduce the total interest paid and years to repay.