When are student loans written off in the UK?

The write-off period depends on your loan plan: Plan 1 loans are written off after 25 years, Plan 2 after 30 years, Plan 4 after 30 years, Plan 5 after 40 years, and Postgraduate loans after 30 years from the April after you complete your course.

Do I need to apply for my loan to be written off?

No, the write-off happens automatically. The Student Loans Company will notify you when your loan has been cancelled, and you do not need to take any action.

Will my credit score improve when my loan is written off?

Student loans do not appear on your credit file, so the write-off will not directly impact your credit score. However, it will reduce your monthly outgoings, which may improve your overall financial position.

Student Loan Write-Off Calculator

Find out exactly when your student loan will be cancelled, regardless of how much you've repaid.

About Loan Write-Offs

All UK student loans are automatically written off after a certain period, regardless of how much you've repaid. The period varies by loan plan.

Loan Plan

Course Type

Course Start Year

Course Duration

Used to work out your finish year.

Advanced: adjust repayment start

Start offset (months)

0 = April after you finish (official). Use -12 to assume April of your final academic year.

Your Write-Off Date

2052

April 2052

30 years after entering repayment

Plan type:

Plan 2 (2012–2023)

Repayment period:

30 years

Started repaying:

April 2022

Years remaining:

27 years

Remember: Your loan will be written off regardless of how much you've repaid or how much is outstanding.

Write-Off Periods by Loan Plan

Loan Plan	Write-Off Period	Starting Point
Plan 1	25 years	From first April after graduation
Plan 2	30 years	From first April after graduation
Plan 4 (Scotland)	30 years	From first April after graduation
Plan 5	40 years	From first April after graduation
Postgraduate Loan	30 years	From first April after graduation

Related Calculators

Total Cost Calculator

Calculate how much you'll pay before the write-off date

Interest Calculator

See how interest accumulates until your write-off date

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."

Frequently Asked Questions

Calculate your total repayment

Want to know how much you'll repay before your loan is written off? Try our total loan cost calculator.

Try Total Cost Calculator