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’re studying an undergraduate course
  • you’re studying a Postgraduate Certificate of Education (PGCE)
  • you take out an Advanced Learner Loan

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

Part of Get undergraduate student finance: step by step

  1. Step 1 Check if you're eligible for student finance

    1. If you’re from England or outside the UK, check if you're eligible

    There’s a different process if:

  2. Step 2 Find out how much loan you could get

    You may be able to apply for:

    • a Tuition Fee Loan to help pay your course tuition fees
    • a Maintenance Loan to help with your living costs

    Find out how much you could get if you're a:

    How much Maintenance Loan you get depends on where you'll study and your household income.

    1. Use the student finance calculator to estimate your Maintenance Loan

    You'll have to pay back any loan you get.

    1. Find out how much you'll repay
    2. Find out when you'll start repaying

  3. and Check if you can get extra help

    You might be able to get extra money if you:

    You might also be able to get other financial help, for example from your university or the government.

    1. Find out about extra help

  4. Step 3 Prepare your application

    1. Check when you can apply
    2. Check what ID you'll need
    3. Check if you need to give proof of your household income

  5. Step 4 Apply or reapply

    You can apply online or by post depending on the type of student finance you’re eligible for.

    If you apply in the wrong way, it could delay your application.

    1. Find out how to apply

    It can take up to 6 weeks to process your application. You might have to provide extra evidence.

  6. Step 5 Update your details if your circumstances change

    You must update your application if your circumstances change. For example if you:

    • change your course through clearing
    • change where you're going to live - for example with your parents instead of halls
    1. Find out how to update your application

  7. Step 6 Make sure you can be paid

    After you register at your university or college you'll usually get your Maintenance Loan paid directly into your bank account at the start of each term.

    Use your student finance account to:

    • update your bank details - for example if you open a student account
    • check how much you'll be paid
    • check when you'll be paid
    1. Sign in to your student finance account

    Tuition Fee Loans are paid directly to your university or college.

  8. Step 7 Check what to do while you're studying

    You'll need to reapply for student finance for each year of your course.

    You must keep your details up to date throughout your course because some changes can affect your loan payments, for example if your household income or bank details change.

    1. Check how to update your details
    2. Find out what to do if you suspend or leave your course

  9. Step 8 Check what to do when you stop studying

    When you stop studying the Student Loans Company (SLC) will create a student loans repayment account for you.

    The log in details will be the same as for your student finance account. You should check your contact details are correct.

    1. Sign in to your student loan repayment account

    You must update your employment details if:

    • you leave the UK for more than 3 months
    • SLC asks you to update them
    1. Update your employment details

  10. Step 9 Repay your loan

    The repayment plan you're on will determine when you start repaying and how much you repay.

    1. You are currently viewing: Check which repayment plan you’re on
    2. Find out how much you'll repay
    3. Find out when you'll start repaying
    4. Find out how to repay