Postgraduate Student Loan Repayment Calculator
The Postgraduate Loan calculator covers repayments for both the Postgraduate Master's Loan and the Postgraduate Doctoral Loan. These loans work differently from undergraduate loans — with a lower repayment rate of 6% and a lower threshold of £21,000.
Enter Your Annual Salary
Combined Repayment Calculator
If you also have an undergraduate loan, add it here to see your total monthly deduction.
Will you repay your loan before write-off?
Adjust your starting balance and interest rate to see a projected 30-year repayment timeline.
| Year | Estimated Balance | Cumulative Repaid | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 5 | £12,683 | £3,300 | Ongoing |
| Year 10 | £13,619 | £6,600 | Ongoing |
| Year 15 | £14,902 | £9,900 | Ongoing |
| Year 20 | £16,659 | £13,200 | Ongoing |
| Year 25 | £19,067 | £16,500 | Ongoing |
| Year 30 | £22,365 | £19,800 | Written off — Year 30 |
At this salary, your loan is projected to be written off in Year 30 with £22,365 remaining. Total repaid: £19,800.
Postgraduate loans charge RPI + 3% interest from day one, regardless of your income. This is a higher rate than most undergraduate plans and begins accruing while you are still studying.
Who Has a Postgraduate Loan?
You have a Postgraduate Loan if you took out a:
- Postgraduate Master's Loan — available to students studying a taught or research Master's degree in England
- Postgraduate Doctoral Loan — available to students studying a doctoral degree (PhD) in England
Students in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland have separate postgraduate funding arrangements and should check with their respective funding bodies.
How Postgraduate Loan Repayments Are Calculated
You repay 6% of your income above the repayment threshold — a lower rate than undergraduate loans. The threshold for 2025/26 is £21,000 per year (£1,750 per month).
Repaying Both an Undergraduate and Postgraduate Loan
If you have both an undergraduate loan and a Postgraduate Loan, you repay both simultaneously. Your undergraduate repayment is calculated at 9% above its threshold, and your Postgraduate repayment at 6% above £21,000. These are added together and appear on your payslip.
Example at £35,000 salary (Plan 2 + Postgraduate):
- • Plan 2 repayment: 9% of (£35,000 minus £28,470) = £587.70/year = £48.98/month
- • Postgraduate repayment: 6% of (£35,000 minus £21,000) = £840/year = £70.00/month
- • Total: £1,427.70/year — approximately £118.98/month
When Does the Postgraduate Loan Get Written Off?
Postgraduate Loans are written off 30 years after the April following your graduation.
Interest on Postgraduate Loans
Interest on Postgraduate Loans is charged at RPI + 3% from the day the first payment is made, regardless of your income level. This is the same rate as Plan 2 loans for high earners and begins immediately — including while you are still studying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Does my Postgraduate Loan affect my credit score?
A: No. Postgraduate Loans are not recorded on your credit file.
Q: Can I defer my Postgraduate Loan repayments?
A: Yes — repayments only begin once your income rises above £21,000. If you are below this threshold at any point, repayments pause automatically.
Q: I have a Master's and a PhD loan — do I repay both?
A: Both are classified as Postgraduate Loans and are combined into a single repayment calculation at 6% above £21,000. They are not treated separately.