Over the years, the government has introduced a number of repayment plans for repaying student loans. You cannot choose what repayment plan you are on; this is determined on when you enrolled for university and where you are located. This article details the types of repayment plans currently in the U.K.
What Repayment Plan am I on?
Your repayment plan is determined by when you started your course. The following repayment plans are in place (as of 2024) for undergraduate student loans:
Repayment Plan 1 – This is applicable if you started your course before the 1st of September 2012
Repayment Plan 2 – This is applicable if you started your course between the 1st of September 2012 and 31st July 2023
Repayment Plan 4 – This is applicable if you studied an undergraduate or postgraduate course through the Student Awards Agency Scotland
Repayment Plan 5 – This is applicable if you started your course on or after the 1st August 2023
If for some reason, you are unable to determine the date you started your course, the repayment plan for your loan is detailed on your student loan balance page on the SLC website. See our article on how to check your student loan balance for more information.
Postgraduate Loan
If you started a postgraduate Master’ s course on or after 1 August 2016 or a Doctoral course on or after 1 August 2018, you will classify for a Postgraduate Loan. This loan is separate to your undergraduate loans and is repaid in tandem.