When you start repaying your loan and how much you repay depends on your repayment plan.
You can find out:
- about the repayment plans, and which one you should be on
- what to do if you think you’re on the wrong plan
The repayment plans
There are 4 plans:
- Plan 1
- Plan 2
- Plan 4
- Postgraduate Loan
You cannot choose the repayment plan you’re on. If you have more than one loan, they could be on different plans.
Plan 1
You’re on Plan 1 if you’re:
- an English or Welsh student who started an undergraduate course anywhere in the UK before 1 September 2012
- a Northern Irish student who started an undergraduate or postgraduate course anywhere in the UK on or after 1 September 1998
- an EU student who started an undergraduate course in England or Wales on or after 1 September 1998, but before 1 September 2012
- an EU student who started an undergraduate or postgraduate course in Northern Ireland on or after 1 September 1998
Plan 2
You’re on Plan 2 if you’re:
- an English or Welsh student who started an undergraduate course anywhere in the UK on or after 1 September 2012
- an EU student who started an undergraduate course in England or Wales on or after 1 September 2012
- someone who took out an Advanced Learner Loan on or after 1 August 2013
- someone who took out a Higher Education Short Course Loan on or after 1 September 2022
Plan 4
You’re on Plan 4 if you’re:
- a Scottish student who started an undergraduate or postgraduate course anywhere in the UK on or after 1 September 1998
- an EU student who started an undergraduate or postgraduate course in Scotland on or after 1 September 1998
Postgraduate Loan
You’re on a Postgraduate Loan repayment plan if you’re:
- an English or Welsh student who took out a Postgraduate Master’s Loan on or after 1 August 2016
- an English or Welsh student who took out a Postgraduate Doctoral Loan on or after 1 August 2018
- an EU student who started a postgraduate course on or after 1 August 2016
If you think you’re on the wrong plan
Check which plan you’re on by signing in to your online repayment 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 should have been on Plan 2 or Plan 4 and you overpaid.
