2026/27 figures checked 29 Sept 2026 · First instalments are landing now – see payment dates
Maintenance LoanCalculator · UK
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Degree Cost & Repayment Planner

A three-year degree in England can mean borrowing £60,000 or more in tuition and maintenance loans. This planner adds up every year, applies interest while you study and projects what you’ll really repay on Plan 5.

Figures checked 29 September 2026By Ashish YadavHow we calculate

Your degree

Plan 5 · England
£
£
Calculate yours
£a year
%
%
Plan 5 charges RPI
You’ll repay in total
£113,583
Borrowed£62k
Balance, April 2030£68k
First monthly£38
£0£50k£100k£150k2030204020502060
BalanceTotal repaid
Maximum on chart: £150k
After 40 years, £137,711 is written off in 2070. Interest while studying adds about £6,086 before your first repayment.
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How the planner works

  1. Borrowing: tuition fee loan (£9,790 in 2026/27) plus your maintenance loan, for each year of the course.
  2. Interest while studying: Plan 5 charges RPI (currently 4.1%) from the first payment.
  3. Repayment: from the April after you finish, 9% of income above £25,000 until the loan is cleared or written off after 40 years.

The number that matters

For most graduates the total repaid matters more than the balance. Two people with the same debt can repay very different amounts depending on their earnings.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a degree cost in student loans?
In England, three years of tuition (£9,790 a year) plus a maintenance loan of about £10,000 a year adds up to around £60,000 before interest.
Will I pay back all my student loan?
It depends on your earnings. On Plan 5 anything left after 40 years is written off, so lower and middle earners often repay less than they borrowed plus interest.