Skip to main content
Part of Start a new job: step by step

Repaying your student loan

Skip contents

When you start repaying

You’ll only repay your student loan when your income is over the threshold amount for your repayment plan, unless you’ve been overpaid.

Your income is the amount you earn (including things like bonuses and overtime) before tax and other deductions.

The threshold amounts change on 6 April every year.

The earliest you’ll start repaying is the April after you leave your course. If you’re studying more than one course at the same time, they could have separate repayment start dates.

If you’re studying part-time, you’ll start repaying in the April that falls 4 years after your course started, as long as the course:

  • is longer than 4 years
  • started before 1 January 2027

Your repayments automatically stop if either:

  • you stop working
  • your income goes below the threshold

You’ll make a repayment if your income goes over the weekly or monthly threshold for your plan (for example, if you’re paid a bonus or overtime). You can ask for a refund at the end of the tax year if your annual income was less than the yearly threshold for your plan.

If you have a Plan 1 student loan

You’ll only repay when your income is over £517 a week, £2,241 a month or £26,900 a year.

If you have a Plan 2 student loan

You’ll only repay when your income is over £565 a week, £2,448 a month or £29,385 a year.

If you have a Plan 4 student loan

You’ll only repay when your income is over £649 a week, £2,816 a month or £33,795 a year.

If you have a Plan 5 student loan

You’ll only repay when your income is over £480 a week, £2,083 a month or £25,000 a year.

If you’re on a Postgraduate Loan repayment plan

If you took out a Master’s Loan or a Doctoral Loan, you’ll only repay when your income is over £403 a week, £1,750 a month or £21,000 a year.

Early repayments

There’s no penalty for paying some or all of your loan off early.

Impact of repayments on other borrowing

Student loans do not appear on credit reports and do not affect your credit score. However, lenders may consider them during affordability checks for other types of borrowing, such as a mortgage.

Repaying an overpayment

The Student Loans Company (SLC) will write to you if you’re paid more student loan or grant than you’re entitled to.

You must repay this separately from the rest of your student loan.

Read more about repaying an overpayment.

View a printable version of the whole guide

This page is Part of Start a new job: step by step

  1. Step 1 Get your National Insurance number

    You'll usually need your National Insurance number when you start your new job.

    1. Find your National Insurance number
    1. Apply for a National Insurance number if you do not already have one

  2. Step 2 Accept the job offer

    The offer might be ‘conditional’ or ‘provisional’, which means you may need to give further details to your new employer or pass pre-employment checks.

    1. Find out about your rights when accepting a job offer

  3. Step 3 Share your details for any employer checks

    Give your new employer what they need to complete any pre-employment checks.

    1. Find out what checks your employer can make
    1. Find out how to prove your right to work
    1. Find out about criminal record checks

  4. Step 4 Review your employment contract

    Your new employer should give you an employment contract. Check the terms before you agree to it.

    1. Find out about employment contracts

  5. and If you're leaving a job, hand in your notice

    Tell your current employer that you’re going to leave and when your last day will be. This is known as handing in your notice.

    1. Find out how to hand in your notice

    When you hand in your notice, ask your employer when you’ll get your P45.

    1. Find out about the P45

  6. Step 5 Prepare your personal information for your first day

    To get paid, you’ll need to give your new employer:

  7. Step 6 Give your P45 to your new employer

    Your new employer will use your P45 to work out how much tax to take from your pay.

    1. Find out about the P45

  8. or If you do not have a P45, fill in the starter checklist

    Use the starter checklist to give your employer details they need to work out your pay and tax.

    1. Fill in the starter checklist

  9. Step 7 Check your first payslip

    Your employer must give you a payslip on or before payday.

    1. Find out what should be on your payslip

    It’s your responsibility to make sure you’re paying the right amount of tax.

    1. Check if the tax on your payslip is correct

    If you think the tax is wrong, your tax code may be incorrect.

    1. Find out what to do if you think your tax code is wrong