Postgraduate Loan Repayment Calculator
For master's and doctoral students in England and Wales who have taken out a Postgraduate Master's Loan or Postgraduate Doctoral Loan. Repaid separately from any undergraduate loan at 6% above £21,000.
Student Loan Repayment Calculator
Enter your details below to see your projected repayments and outcome.
For postgraduate master's and doctoral loans in England and Wales - repay 6% above £21,000, written off after 30 years
UK average earnings growth is around 2–3% per year. Use 0% for a pessimistic scenario.
How the Postgraduate Loan Works
The Postgraduate Master's Loan and Postgraduate Doctoral Loan are government-backed loans available to eligible students in England and Wales undertaking postgraduate study. They are administered by the Student Loans Company and repaid through the same PAYE or Self Assessment systems as undergraduate loans.
The postgraduate loan operates completely separately from any undergraduate student loan. If you have both, you make two separate repayments each month — 9% above your undergraduate threshold (Plan 1, 2, or 5) plus 6% above £21,000 for the postgraduate loan. This means at higher salaries you can be making both repayments simultaneously.
Any outstanding postgraduate loan balance is written off after 30 years from the April after you leave your course. This runs entirely independently of the write-off clock on any undergraduate loan you hold.
Postgraduate Loan Amounts Available (2026/27)
| Course type | Maximum loan | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Postgraduate Master's | £12,167 | Paid in monthly instalments |
| Postgraduate Doctoral | £28,673 | Paid over the course duration |
Maximum amounts for 2026/27. Amounts are reviewed annually. Eligibility criteria apply — check student-finance-england.co.uk for full details.
Having Both an Undergraduate and Postgraduate Loan
This is extremely common. Most postgraduate borrowers also hold a Plan 2 (or Plan 5) undergraduate loan from their first degree. In this situation, you make two separate repayments once your income exceeds each threshold.
For example, a Plan 2 borrower also holding a postgraduate loan earning £40,000 would pay:
Use this calculator to project your postgraduate loan in isolation. For a combined picture, you should add the monthly repayment amounts from both calculators together.
Will You Repay Your Postgraduate Loan in Full?
The postgraduate loan has a lower repayment rate (6% vs 9%) but also a lower threshold (£21,000 vs £29,385 for Plan 2). The lower balance typical of postgraduate loans (maximum £12,167 for a master's, versus £50,000+ for undergraduate) means many postgraduate borrowers do repay in full, particularly those pursuing higher-earning careers.
Doctoral loan borrowers with the full £28,673 may be less likely to fully repay, particularly early-career researchers who spend years in relatively low-paid postdoctoral positions before salaries increase.
The same interest rate applies as Plan 2 (estimated at 7.3% in our calculator), so balances can grow quickly. Enter your specific balance and salary in the calculator above to see your projected outcome.
Postgrad Loan Quick Facts
- Applies toEngland & Wales
- Threshold (2026/27)£21,000/yr
- Rate6% above threshold
- Interest (est.)RPI + 3% (~7.3%)
- Write-off30 years
- Max (Master's)£12,167
- Max (Doctoral)£28,673
Example postgraduate repayments
Rounded to nearest £1. Based on 2026/27 threshold of £21,000.
Repaid separately from undergraduate loan
The postgraduate loan has its own separate write-off clock. Repaying your undergraduate loan does not affect the postgraduate write-off date, and vice versa.
Compare All Plans
| Plan | Threshold | Rate | Interest (est.) | Write-off |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plan 1 For students who started before 1 September 2012 (England/Wales) or NI students - repay 9% above £26,065, written off after 25 years | £26,065/yr | 9% above threshold | 4.3% | 25 years |
| Plan 2 For students who started on or after 1 September 2012 in England and Wales - repay 9% above £28,470, written off after 30 years | £28,470/yr | 9% above threshold | 7.3% | 30 years |
| Plan 4 (Scotland) For Scottish students - repay 9% above £32,745/yr, written off after 30 years | £32,745/yr | 9% above threshold | 4.3% | 30 years |
| Plan 5 For students starting courses from August 2023 onwards in England - repay 9% above £25,000, written off after 40 years | £25,000/yr | 9% above threshold | 4.3% | 40 years |
| Postgraduate Loan For postgraduate master's and doctoral loans in England and Wales - repay 6% above £21,000, written off after 30 years | £21,000/yr | 6% above threshold | 7.3% | 30 years |
Frequently asked questions
What is the Postgraduate Loan repayment threshold?
The Postgraduate Loan (PGL) repayment threshold for 2025/26 is £21,000/year (£1,750/month). You repay 6% of earnings above this threshold. At £30,000 salary: 6% of (£30,000 − £21,000) = £540/year (£45/month).
Can I have both a Postgraduate Loan and an undergraduate student loan?
Yes. If you have both, you repay both simultaneously, with separate repayments calculated on separate thresholds. Undergraduate repayments are 9% above their threshold; Postgraduate repayments are 6% above £21,000. These are calculated separately and both deducted from your payslip.
When is the Postgraduate Loan written off?
Postgraduate Loans are written off 30 years after the April you first became eligible to repay. Interest accrues at RPI + 3% regardless of income, which is higher than most undergraduate plans.
Does the Postgraduate Loan affect my undergraduate repayments?
The loans are administered and calculated separately. Having a Postgraduate Loan does not reduce or increase your undergraduate loan repayments. You pay both simultaneously once earning above the respective thresholds.
Is the Postgraduate Loan worth it?
This depends on the career and salary uplift from your postgraduate qualification, the interest rate, and your projected repayment. At RPI + 3%, the Postgraduate Loan accrues interest faster than most undergraduate loans. Model your specific scenario using this calculator to understand the total cost before deciding.