This page checks the deduction for one pay period using the plan threshold, pay frequency and any postgraduate loan flag. That makes it useful when a payslip, salary offer or bonus looks wrong and you need to see which part of the deduction is coming from the student loan rather than tax or National Insurance.
STUDENT LOANS · 2026/27
Student loan repayment calculator
Estimated deduction this payslip
£117
- Main-plan deduction
- £117
- Postgraduate deduction
- £0
- Plan threshold for this pay period
- £2,449
- Postgraduate threshold for this pay period
- £0
- Annualised deduction if pay stays level
- £1,404
- Annualised gross pay
- £45,000
Uses the 2026/27 threshold for the selected pay period and rounds each calculated loan deduction down to whole pounds. Payroll usually works on the pay period threshold, so monthly and weekly deductions can differ even at the same annual salary.
Student loans are payroll deductions, not conventional debt. The plan threshold matters more than the headline balance because repayments only start above that threshold, and the loan can be written off before you ever clear the full amount.
This page checks the deduction for one pay period using the plan threshold, pay frequency and any postgraduate loan flag. That makes it useful when a payslip, salary offer or bonus looks wrong and you need to see which part of the deduction is coming from the student loan rather than tax or National Insurance.
If a borrower is on Plan 2 and earns £3,750 in a monthly pay period, only the slice above the monthly threshold is repaid at the plan rate. A salary that looks fine on paper can still produce a noticeable deduction once the student loan is added, which is why the threshold matters more than the headline balance.
- Comparing the loan balance instead of the payroll threshold and pay period.
- Forgetting that monthly, weekly and four-weekly payrolls can produce different deductions.
- Ignoring the postgraduate loan flag when a borrower has both loans at the same time.
- Repayments change with pay frequency, plan type, postgraduate loan status and any period where pay is irregular.
- A bonus month or a pay rise can push deductions up even if the annual salary has not changed much.
Student loans are payroll deductions first and debt second. The useful question is not the headline balance, but how much of this pay period sits above the repayment threshold and which plan rate applies.
Monthly pay checked£3,750
Monthly threshold£2,275
Plan 2 repayment£133
Annualised at this pay£1,593
On a monthly pay of £3,750, the slice above the threshold is about £1,475. At a 9% Plan 2 rate, that produces a deduction of roughly £133 for the month.
How to read the result
The tool shows the deduction for the current pay period, then annualises that amount if pay stays level. That is useful for pay reviews, job comparisons and payslip checks, but it is still a payroll estimate rather than a final HMRC statement.
If the result looks wrong, check the plan type, the pay frequency and whether a postgraduate loan also applies. If you are comparing jobs or bonuses, compare this alongside the net-to-gross salary and tax code tools so you can separate the student loan from the rest of the payroll deductions.
SOURCES & REVIEW
Checked against official guidance
Last reviewed 1 September 2026 · Rule version GB-2026.27.1
Daily/weekly source monitoring. If a source changes, the affected rule set is reviewed before publication.
All source links are kept visible so you can verify the figures used on this page.
Source line: The plan thresholds and repayment rates are checked against GOV.UK guidance and current UK rules data.
GOV.UK: What you repay ↗Sources, methodology and update policy →Report an issue or correction →WHY RESULTS DIFFER
Why two users can see different results
Why the result can differ
Different tax codes, payroll periods, Scottish bands, pension methods or lender assumptions can change the outcome.
One-off bonuses, pay frequency, overpayments, allowances and reliefs can move the result away from a simple annual estimate.
Where a rule depends on eligibility or legal status, this page shows an estimate and links to official guidance.
This section is intentionally repeated on key tools so the explanation stays near the result instead of being hidden in a separate policy page.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Frequently asked questions
Which student loan plan am I on?
The plan depends mainly on where and when you studied. GOV.UK provides a plan checker and your annual statement confirms it.
Are repayments based on the original balance?
No. Payroll deductions are based on income above the plan threshold, not on the balance outstanding.
Should I pay my student loan off early?
Only if you are likely to repay it in full before write-off. If not, overpaying may not save you money.
Does a student loan affect my mortgage application?
It does not appear on your credit file, but lenders do factor the deduction into affordability calculations.
Can I have more than one loan plan at the same time?
Yes. Some borrowers repay an undergraduate plan and a postgraduate loan together if both apply.
Why does the monthly deduction change?
The plan threshold depends on your pay frequency, so monthly, weekly and four-weekly deductions can differ.
Will the loan always be repaid in full?
Not necessarily. Many borrowers never clear the whole balance before the write-off date, which is why the threshold matters more than the headline balance.
Does this replace official payroll advice?
No. It is an estimate only; confirm the plan and repayment status against GOV.UK or your annual statement before acting on it.