Part-Time Earnings Calculator
Understand how additional part-time income affects your student loan repayments
Combined Income Impact
Student loan repayments are based on your total income from all sources. Part-time work adds to your repayment obligations.
Your main employment income
≈ £417/month
Threshold: £29,385 | Rate: 9.0%
Outcome: extra repayment due on the part-time income
You keep 93.5% of your part-time earnings
£5,000 of extra work adds £325 a year to your student loan deductions — £27 a month.
Student loan only. Income tax and National Insurance come off as well, so the cash in your pocket is lower again.
Repayment impact
Combined annual income
£33,000
£28,000 full-time + £5,000 part-time
Total monthly repayment
£27
£325 a year (2026-27)
Extra from part-time work
+£27
+£325 a year, against £0 without it
Effective rate on part-time earnings
6.5%
You keep 93.5% of it, before tax and NI
How this is worked out
(£33,000 − £29,385) × 9% = £325.35
Plan 2, 2026-27. HMRC adds every source of income together, so the threshold is applied once to the total, not once per job.
How this is worked out
£325.35 − £0.00 = £325.35
What the part-time work itself costs you in student loan repayments across the year.
Income breakdown (2026-27)
Rates, assumptions and sources
Every figure below is the 2026-27 published figure, read from this site's single source of truth at page-render time[source]. The 6% Plan 2 and Postgraduate interest cap covers the 2026/27 year only and is not assumed to continue[source].
| Plan | Threshold | Rate | Interest | Written off | Threshold freeze |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plan 2 | £29,385[source] | 9% | 4.1% to 7.1% by income, capped at 6% for 2026-27[source] | 30 years[source] | Frozen at £29,385 until April 2030 |
Write-off is counted from the April after the course ends, not from the course-end date itself, and the Plan 2 interest bands (£29,385 lower, £52,885 upper) are frozen alongside the Plan 2 repayment threshold.
This calculator also assumes
- Tax year
- 2026-27
- Income assessed
- All sources added together, then one threshold applied
- What is not included
- Income tax and National Insurance (8% then 2%)
- Basis
- Annual, as HMRC reconciles it — not per payslip
Growth, inflation and long-run interest figures are assumptions, not published rates. Change them and the projection changes.
Part-time earnings scenarios
Your £28,000 full-time salary on Plan 2, at 2026-27 thresholds.
| Part-Time Earnings | Total Income | Monthly Repayment | Annual Repayment | Take-Home Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| £0 | £28,000 | £0 | £0 | - |
| £2,500 | £30,500 | £8 | £100 | 96.0% |
| £5,000(Current) | £33,000 | £27 | £325 | 93.5% |
| £7,500 | £35,500 | £46 | £550 | 92.7% |
| £10,000 | £38,000 | £65 | £775 | 92.2% |
| £15,000 | £43,000 | £102 | £1,225 | 91.8% |
Take-Home Rate: The percentage of part-time earnings you keep after student loan repayments (not including tax or National Insurance).
Important Considerations
Combined Income
HMRC considers all your income from all sources. Part-time work, freelancing, and side hustles all count toward repayments.
Tax & NI Too
Remember: you'll also pay tax and National Insurance on part-time earnings. The actual take-home will be lower than shown here.
Automatic Deductions
If you're employed, student loan repayments are automatically deducted through PAYE. Self-employed? You'll pay through Self Assessment.
How Part-Time Work Affects Student Loan Repayments
Many graduates take on part-time work, freelance projects, or side hustles to supplement their income. It's important to understand that all your income is combined when calculating student loan repayments.
Common scenarios
Worked through the same engine as the calculator, at 2026-27 thresholds.
Weekend retail job
Sarah works full-time earning £26,000 and does weekend shifts at a shop earning £4,000 a year.
Freelance designer
James has a full-time job at £32,000 and takes freelance design projects earning £8,000 a year.
Evening hospitality work
Emma works full-time at £24,000 and does evening restaurant shifts earning £6,000 a year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to tell anyone about my part-time job?
Yes. If you're employed, your employer will report your earnings to HMRC. If you're self-employed, you must declare the income through Self Assessment. HMRC will automatically calculate your combined student loan repayments.
Will both my employers deduct student loan repayments?
Each PAYE employer deducts based only on what they pay you. However, if neither job alone crosses the threshold but combined they do, you may need to pay extra through Self Assessment or an adjusted tax code.
What if I'm paid in cash for part-time work?
You're still legally required to declare this income to HMRC, even if paid in cash. Failure to declare can result in penalties and back-payments with interest.
Does seasonal work count?
Yes. Even temporary or seasonal work counts toward your total annual income. Your student loan repayments are based on your total annual earnings from all sources.
Should I avoid part-time work to reduce repayments?
Generally no. You pay more in student loan repayments, but a basic-rate taxpayer still keeps about 68p of every extra pound after income tax, National Insurance and the loan deduction. Plus, you're reducing your loan balance and paying less interest long-term. The financial benefit usually outweighs the extra repayments.
Explore More Calculators
Understand your complete financial picture with our other student loan calculators
Important: This calculator shows student loan repayments only. Your actual take-home pay will be lower after income tax and National Insurance. Always consult with HMRC or a financial advisor for personalized advice.
Related student loan calculators
The part-time earnings calculator answers one specific question. For the full picture, start with our UK student loan calculator on the homepage, work out what leaves your payslip each month with the monthly repayment calculator, or check what you can borrow with the student finance calculator. Every tool on the site is listed in the UK student loan calculator directory.
- multiple jobs and side income calculator: what side income adds on top of PAYE employment
- self-employed student loan calculator: what you owe through Self Assessment rather than PAYE
- repayment start date calculator: the April your deductions actually begin