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Repaying your student loan

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Which repayment plan you're on

When you start repaying your loan and how much you repay depends on your repayment plan.

If you’re not sure which repayment plan you’re on, you can sign in to your online account to check.

You cannot choose your repayment plan. If you have more than one loan, you could be on different plans.

If you applied to Student Finance England

The repayment plan you’re on depends on when you started your course and what type of course you studied.

If you started your course on or after 1 August 2023

You’ll be on Plan 5 if:

You’ll be on a Postgraduate Loan plan if you’re studying a postgraduate master’s or doctoral course.

You’ll be on Plan 2 if you take out a Higher Education Short Course Loan.

If you started your course between 1 September 2012 and 31 July 2023

You’ll be on Plan 2 if:

You’ll be on a Postgraduate Loan plan if you’re studying a postgraduate master’s or doctoral course.

If you started your course before 1 September 2012

You’re on Plan 1.

If you applied to Student Finance Wales

The repayment plan you’re on depends on when you started your course and what type of course you studied.

If you started your course on or after 1 September 2012

You’re on:

  • Plan 2 if you studied an undergraduate course or a Postgraduate Certificate of Education (PGCE)
  • a Postgraduate Loan plan if you studied a postgraduate master’s or doctoral course

If you started your course before 1 September 2012

You’re on Plan 1.

If you applied to Student Awards Agency Scotland

You’re on Plan 4, whether you studied an undergraduate course or a postgraduate course.

If you applied to Student Finance Northern Ireland

You’re on Plan 1, whether you studied an undergraduate course or a postgraduate course.

If you think you’re on the wrong plan

Check which plan you’re on by signing in to your online account and downloading your ‘active plan type letter’. Then ask your employer which plan they have you on.

If it’s different from the plan in your letter, show this to your employer so they can update your payroll details. You can get a refund if you paid back too much of your loan because you were on the wrong plan type.

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