£51,000 student loan repayment by plan
Each plan repays 9% of income above its own threshold, except a postgraduate loan, which is 6%. The plan you are on depends on when and where you studied.
| Plan | Threshold | Repayment a month | A year | Take-home after loan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plan 1 | £26,900 | £181 | £2,169 | £37,968 |
| Plan 2 | £29,385 | £162 | £1,945 | £38,192 |
| Plan 4 (Scotland) | £33,795 | £129 | £1,548 | £38,589 |
| Plan 5 | £25,000 | £195 | £2,340 | £37,797 |
| Postgraduate Loan | £21,000 | £150 | £1,800 | £38,337 |
£51,000 with an undergraduate and a postgraduate loan together
A postgraduate loan is a separate deduction, so someone repaying both pays 9% above the undergraduate threshold and 6% above £21,000, from the same salary.
| Combination | Repayment a month | A year | Take-home after both |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plan 2 + Postgraduate Loan | £312 | £3,745 | £36,392 |
| Plan 5 + Postgraduate Loan | £345 | £4,140 | £35,997 |
What a student loan takes from £51,000
The repayment comes out of pay after income tax and National Insurance, so it does not reduce either. On Plan 5, £51,000 leaves about £37,797 a year in the hand against £40,137 with no loan, a difference of £2,340. The balance is written off after 40 years on Plan 5, so on a modest salary the monthly figure, not the balance, is what matters.
Student loan on £51,000 in Scotland
A Scottish undergraduate is on Plan 4, which starts at £33,795, so the loan on £51,000 is £1,548 a year. Scottish income tax also differs, so take-home after the loan is about £37,019. The Scottish income tax calculator shows the tax side.
Salaries near £51,000
Work out your own figure
The tables assume the whole salary is above the threshold for the year and no change of job mid-year. Open the student loan repayment calculator to set your exact salary, plan and postgraduate loan, or see £51,000 after tax for the full take-home breakdown.