One undergraduate plan
If you have more than one undergraduate plan, payroll normally uses the lowest relevant threshold for the undergraduate deduction. This tool asks for one undergraduate plan to keep the estimate easy to check.
Student Loan Repayment Calculator UK
Estimate Plan 1, 2, 4, 5 and postgraduate repayments.
2026/27 repayment assumptions
Reviewed 20 July 2026. This tool uses the 2026/27 Plan 1, 2, 4, 5 and postgraduate thresholds in the bundled UK tax data. It applies 9% above the undergraduate plan threshold and 6% above the postgraduate threshold.
Check current GOV.UK student loan repayment guidance. Payroll can use weekly or monthly thresholds, so a payslip may differ from an annualised estimate.
How student loan repayments are estimated
The calculator compares your repayment income with the threshold for each selected loan. Plan 1, Plan 2, Plan 4 and Plan 5 use 9% of income above the relevant threshold. Postgraduate loans use 6% above the postgraduate threshold and can be added alongside an undergraduate plan.
The result can be shown weekly, monthly or annually. That helps when you want to compare a payslip deduction with a yearly estimate, or when you are checking how a pay rise, overtime month or salary sacrifice arrangement could affect repayments.
Why payslips can differ
Weekly and monthly payroll thresholds, bonuses, overtime, multiple jobs, refunds and Self Assessment can make real repayments differ from a simple annualised estimate.
Source notes
Threshold and rate assumptions use the bundled Clear Calculators UK tax data, checked against GOV.UK student loan repayment guidance on 19 July 2026.
What to check before relying on the number
Student loan deductions are usually taken through payroll when earnings are above the relevant threshold for the period. A single high-pay period can create a deduction even if annual income later ends up below the yearly threshold, and refunds can depend on annual income and the repayment route.
Salary sacrifice can reduce the pay used for some payroll calculations, but the exact treatment depends on payroll setup and the benefit involved. Multiple jobs, Self Assessment, overseas repayment rules, plan changes, postgraduate loans and employer start or stop notices can also change the real amount collected. Use this page as an estimate and check official Student Loans Company or GOV.UK guidance for formal repayment questions.
Examples to compare
Run one estimate using normal basic pay, then another using a bonus or overtime month. Student loan deductions are sensitive to pay-period income, so a high monthly payslip can produce a repayment even when the annual picture feels borderline.
If you have a postgraduate loan as well as an undergraduate plan, include both and compare the result with the payslip line. The two repayments can sit together, so the total deduction may be higher than checking only one plan.
Plan uncertainty
If you are not sure which plan applies, check Student Loans Company records, employer notices or GOV.UK guidance before relying on the estimate.
Refund questions
Repayment refunds depend on annual income, plan type and how the deduction was collected. The calculator does not decide refund eligibility.
Self Assessment
Self-employed income, overseas repayments and Self Assessment calculations can use different timing from payroll deductions.
Student loan repayment questions
These answers match the assumptions used by the calculator. For the full plain-English walkthrough, read the UK student loan repayment guide.
How is student loan repayment calculated in the UK?
Student loan repayment is estimated by comparing repayment income with the threshold for the selected plan. Plan 1, Plan 2, Plan 4 and Plan 5 usually use 9% of income above the plan threshold. Postgraduate loans usually use 6% above the postgraduate threshold.
Is student loan taken before or after tax?
Student loan repayments are normally based on income used by payroll, not on take-home pay after Income Tax and National Insurance. They are deducted from pay, but they do not reduce taxable income like some pension methods can.
Which student loan plan am I on?
Your plan can depend on where you lived when you applied, when you started your course and whether the loan is undergraduate or postgraduate. Check Student Loans Company records, employer notices or GOV.UK guidance before relying on an estimate.
Why is my student loan repayment different on my payslip?
A payslip can differ because payroll uses weekly or monthly thresholds, bonuses, overtime, refunds, multiple jobs, plan start or stop notices and rounding. Self Assessment and overseas repayments can also use different timing.
Can salary sacrifice affect student loan repayments?
Salary sacrifice may reduce the pay used in some payroll calculations, but exact treatment depends on the arrangement and employer payroll setup. Use the salary sacrifice calculator as a separate estimate.
Where can I compare the full payslip?
Use the UK pay calculator to include student loans in a take-home estimate, or the payslip checker to compare tax, NI, pension and student loan lines.