Repaying your student loan
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’re studying an undergraduate course
- you’re studying a Postgraduate Certificate of Education (PGCE)
- you take out an Advanced Learner Loan
- you take out a Higher Education Short Course Loan
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.