Student Loan Write-Off Calculator

Understanding Student Loan Write-Offs

A key feature of the UK student loan system is that all loans are automatically written off after a set period, regardless of how much you've repaid or how much is left. This is sometimes called the "forgiveness period."

How Write-Offs Work

When your loan is written off:

• You'll no longer need to make any repayments
• Any remaining balance is completely cleared
• You'll receive confirmation from the Student Loans Company
• The write-off happens automatically - you don't need to apply

Different Plans, Different Write-Off Periods

The time until write-off varies by loan plan:

• Plan 1: 25 years from the April after you finish your course
• Plan 2: 30 years from the April after you finish your course
• Plan 4: 30 years from the April after you finish your course
• Plan 5: 40 years from the April after you finish your course
• Postgraduate Loan: 30 years from the April after you finish your course

Should You Wait for Write-Off?

For many borrowers, especially those on Plan 2 and Plan 5 with moderate incomes, waiting for the loan to be written off can be a financially sensible strategy. Research suggests that around 80% of Plan 2 borrowers will not repay their loan in full before it's written off.

However, higher earners may repay their loans in full before the write-off date. If you're likely to be in this category, you might consider making voluntary overpayments to reduce the total interest you pay. Our Overpayment Calculator can help determine if this makes sense for your situation.