Which student loan plan am I on?
The short answer: your plan depends on where you lived when you applied and when your course started. In England, you are on Plan 1 if you started before September 2012, Plan 2 if you started between September 2012 and July 2023, and Plan 5 if you started from August 2023. Scottish students are on Plan 4 and Northern Irish students on Plan 1.
Which plan you are on
| Plan | Who it covers | Threshold 2026/27 |
|---|---|---|
| Plan 1 | England or Wales, started before 1 September 2012; or Northern Ireland, any start date | £26,900 |
| Plan 2 | England, started 1 September 2012 to 31 July 2023; or Wales, started on or after 1 September 2012 | £29,385 |
| Plan 4 | Scotland, any start date | £33,795 |
| Plan 5 | England, started on or after 1 August 2023 | £25,000 |
| Postgraduate | Master's or doctoral loan, England or Wales | £21,000 |
The rule follows where you lived when you started the course, not where you studied. A student from Scotland who went to university in England is on Plan 4.
How to check your plan
- Student Loans Company online account: the quickest way. Your plan type is on the account home page and your annual statement.
- Old letters and emails from Student Finance England, Wales, SAAS or Student Finance NI often name the plan.
- Your payslip may show the plan next to the student loan deduction, but some just say "SL".
- Call the Student Loans Company if you cannot get into your account.
Monthly repayments by plan
| Salary | Plan 1 | Plan 2 | Plan 4 | Plan 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| £25,000 | £0 | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| £30,000 | £23 | £5 | £0 | £38 |
| £40,000 | £98 | £80 | £47 | £113 |
| £55,000 | £211 | £192 | £159 | £225 |
Interest and write-off by plan
| Plan | Interest from September 2026 | Written off |
|---|---|---|
| Plan 1 | 4.1% | 25 years after first due, or age 65 for older loans |
| Plan 2 | RPI to RPI + 3% (4.1% to 6%) | 30 years after first due |
| Plan 4 | 4.1% | 30 years after first due, or age 65 for older loans |
| Plan 5 | 4.1% | 40 years after first due |
| Postgraduate | 6% | 30 years after first due |
Plan 2 interest depends on your income: RPI only at £29,385 or less, rising to RPI + 3% at £52,885 or more, capped at 6%. Whether you will ever clear the loan matters more than the rate for most people. See will I pay off my student loan?
If you have more than one loan
- Two undergraduate plans (for example Plan 1 and Plan 2): you pay 9% of income above the lower threshold, and the payment is shared between them.
- Undergraduate and postgraduate: you pay both at once, 9% above your plan threshold and 6% above £21,000.
Make sure your employer has it right
When you start a job, the starter checklist asks about your loans. If you tick the wrong plan, you can pay too much or too little. Tell your employer and HMRC straight away. Overpayments are refunded at the end of the tax year once the Student Loans Company matches up your payments; underpayments are taken later. If you are self-employed, repayments go through your tax return.
Thresholds are set each April. The Plan 1 threshold rises to £28,005 from April 2027, and the Plan 2 threshold is frozen at £29,385 until April 2030.
Postgraduate and Scottish and Northern Irish loans
- Master's and doctoral loans from Student Finance England or Wales are repaid as a Postgraduate loan: 6% above £21,000, on top of any undergraduate plan.
- Scottish postgraduate tuition fee loans from SAAS are added to your Plan 4 loan, not a separate postgraduate plan.
- Northern Irish postgraduate loans are repaid as Plan 1.
If you live or work abroad
Repayments are not taken through a UK payslip, so you must tell the Student Loans Company and repay directly. The amount depends on overseas thresholds set for the country you live in. If you do not send income details, the SLC can set a fixed monthly amount that is often much higher.
Should you pay extra?
On Plan 2 and Plan 5, most people will not clear the loan before it is written off, so extra payments may simply be money you never needed to pay. On Plan 1 and Plan 4, with lower balances and a shorter time to clear, overpaying is more likely to save interest. Check with the calculator before you overpay.
This is general information, not financial advice. Figures are for 2026/27.
Sources
Common questions
How do I find out which student loan plan I am on?
Log in to your Student Loans Company online account. Your plan type is shown on your account summary and on your yearly statement.
Which plan am I on if I started university in 2015?
Plan 2 if you lived in England or Wales, Plan 4 if you lived in Scotland, or Plan 1 if you lived in Northern Ireland.
Can I be on more than one plan?
Yes, for example a Plan 2 undergraduate loan and a Postgraduate loan. You repay 9% above the lowest undergraduate threshold and 6% above the postgraduate threshold at the same time.
What if my employer uses the wrong plan?
Tell your employer and HMRC. Any overpayment is refunded by the Student Loans Company once your account is updated at the end of the tax year.
Do Welsh students go on Plan 5?
No. Plan 5 is only for students from England who started on or after 1 August 2023. Students from Wales stay on Plan 2.
Do I still repay my student loan if I move abroad?
Yes. You must tell the Student Loans Company and repay directly, based on overseas thresholds set for the country you live in.