Student Loan Thresholds 2026/27: All 5 Plans in One Table
Annual, monthly, and weekly thresholds. Updated 17 April 2026.
2026/27 student loan repayment thresholds
| Plan | Annual threshold | Monthly threshold | Weekly threshold | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plan 1 | £26,065 | £2,172 | £501 | 9% | gov.uk/repaying-your-student-loan |
| Plan 2 | £29,385 | £2,449 | £565 | 9% | gov.uk/repaying-your-student-loan |
| Plan 4 (Scotland) | £32,745 | £2,729 | £630 | 9% | Student Awards Agency Scotland |
| Plan 5 (from Aug 2023) | £25,000 | £2,083 | £480 | 9% | gov.uk/repaying-your-student-loan |
| Postgraduate Loan | £21,000 | £1,750 | £404 | 6% | gov.uk/repaying-your-student-loan |
Verified against gov.uk/repaying-your-student-loan on 17 April 2026.
How student loan repayment thresholds work
You only repay when your income exceeds your plan's threshold. The repayment is calculated on income above the threshold, not your total income. So if you are on Plan 2 with a threshold of £29,385, and you earn £35,000, you repay 9% of £5,615 (the amount above the threshold), which is £505 per year.
Thresholds are applied on an annual, monthly, and weekly basis. PAYE employers deduct student loan repayments based on how much you earn in each pay period. If you are monthly paid and one month you earn more (e.g. due to a bonus), the threshold for that month is one-twelfth of the annual threshold, and you repay 9% of the monthly earnings above that monthly threshold.
This monthly calculation means that repayments are not always perfectly smooth. A high-earning month (e.g. with a bonus) will trigger higher repayments, even if your average monthly earnings are below the threshold. For accurate annual planning, use the annual figures.
How thresholds have changed
| Plan | 2024/25 | 2025/26 | 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plan 1 | £24,990 | £26,065 | £26,065 | Unchanged |
| Plan 2 | £27,295 | £28,470 | £29,385 | +£915 |
| Plan 4 | £31,395 | £32,145 | £32,745 | +£600 |
| Plan 5 | N/A (new) | £25,000 | £25,000 | Unchanged |
| Postgrad | £21,000 | £21,000 | £21,000 | Unchanged (frozen) |
Plan 2 threshold has historically been linked to RPI inflation in the preceding March. Plan 4 is set annually by the Scottish Government. The Postgraduate Loan threshold has been frozen since the plan launched in 2016.