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Postgraduate Loan Calculator

Last updated: April 2026

Postgraduate loan inputs

Course type

Monthly repayment at £30,000 salary

£45/month

Postgrad only

£45/month

Combined with undergrad

£45/month

Loan projection

Starting balance

£14,171

Balance at 5 years

£14,942

Balance at 10 years

£12,806

30-year outcome

Repaid in year 18

Amount written off

£0

Total repaid

£26,273

Comparison

Loan route

£45/month

Employer-funded

£0/month

Part-time/self-fund

Depends on salary

Postgrad loan vs undergraduate loan differences

Postgraduate loans are repaid at 6% above £21,000, separate from undergraduate repayments. If you have both, they are repaid at the same time, which can create a noticeable deduction from salary.

Is a master's degree worth the debt?

It depends on the course, career path, employer demand, and whether the qualification unlocks a role you could not otherwise access. The repayment system means the headline debt is not the same as a bank loan, but monthly deductions can still matter.

Employer-sponsored postgraduate study

Employer sponsorship, part-time study while working, scholarships, and bursaries can reduce or remove the need for borrowing. Always compare these routes before taking the full loan.

About this calculator

The Postgraduate Loan Calculator estimates borrowing, repayment, and interest for a postgraduate master loan or similar study finance. It helps students understand how loan balance and repayments may change once earnings exceed the repayment threshold. Use this expanded guide when you need more than a quick result. It explains the assumptions behind the Postgraduate Loan Calculator, the records to gather, and the decisions the estimate can support. It is especially useful for postgraduate students and graduates estimating loan repayments, interest, and interaction with other student loan plans. The strongest use of the page is scenario comparison: change one input at a time, compare the output, and keep a note of which assumption changed.

Postgraduate loan repayment method

Postgraduate loan repayments are usually based on earnings above a threshold, with interest added to the balance according to loan rules. The calculator result depends on the quality of the inputs and on the rule set or formula selected in the calculator above. For practical use, treat the output as a structured estimate: start with the core inputs, review the main outputs, then test the decision points that matter most to your situation. Key decisions include how much monthly repayment may be due, whether postgraduate and undergraduate repayments overlap, how salary growth changes total repayment.

  • annual repayment = max(0, income - threshold) x repayment rate
  • monthly repayment = annual repayment / 12
  • new balance = old balance + interest - repayments
  • better estimate = accurate inputs + correct rule set + realistic assumptions
  • scenario difference = revised result - original result

How to use the postgraduate loan calculator

  1. Enter loan amount borrowed.
  2. Enter expected salary and salary growth.
  3. Choose repayment threshold and rate if configurable.
  4. Add interest assumptions.
  5. Review estimated monthly repayment, total repaid, and balance path.
  6. Gather the main inputs first: loan amount, salary, repayment threshold.
  7. Check supporting records such as loan statement and salary forecast before relying on a final number.
  8. Enter one realistic scenario first, using conservative assumptions where the future is uncertain.
  9. Review the main outputs: monthly repayment, annual repayment, balance projection.
  10. Run at least one alternative scenario so you can see which input changes the answer most.
  11. Compare the result with GOV.UK postgraduate loan repayment guidance or the relevant contract, bill, statement, or professional document.
  12. Keep the calculation date and assumptions with your notes so you can revisit the estimate when rates, rules, or circumstances change.

Worked example

Income-contingent repayment

Input: Income GBP35,000, repayment threshold GBP21,000, repayment rate 6%

Calculation: (GBP35,000 - GBP21,000) x 6% = GBP840 per year

Result: Estimated monthly repayment is GBP70 before interest effects on the balance.

Dual-loan scenario

Input: A graduate has an undergraduate plan and a postgraduate loan.

Calculation: Each repayment is estimated under its own rule.

Result: Monthly deductions can be higher than looking at one loan alone.

Salary-growth scenario

Input: Income rises over five years after graduation.

Calculation: Repayments are recalculated each year above the threshold.

Result: The repayment path increases as earnings rise.

Repayments depend on income

Postgraduate loan repayments are usually linked to income rather than the outstanding balance alone. Higher earnings mean higher repayments, while lower earnings can mean no repayment for that period, subject to current rules.

What to check before relying on the result

A useful Postgraduate Loan Calculator result starts with the same evidence you would use if you were checking the answer manually. The calculator can organise the arithmetic, but it cannot know whether a payslip is final, a bill is estimated, a quote excludes fees, or a personal circumstance has changed since the last statement.

Before making a decision, compare the calculator result with the source document that controls the real outcome. For this topic, that usually means checking GOV.UK postgraduate loan repayment guidance. If there is a difference between the calculator and an official statement, contract, assessment, or professional advice, treat the official document as the stronger source.

loan statement
Use this as supporting evidence for the calculation. If it is out of date, estimated, or based on a different period, the calculator output may look precise while still being wrong for the decision.
salary forecast
Use this as supporting evidence for the calculation. If it is out of date, estimated, or based on a different period, the calculator output may look precise while still being wrong for the decision.
student finance plan type
Use this as supporting evidence for the calculation. If it is out of date, estimated, or based on a different period, the calculator output may look precise while still being wrong for the decision.
payslips
Use this as supporting evidence for the calculation. If it is out of date, estimated, or based on a different period, the calculator output may look precise while still being wrong for the decision.

Inputs that usually change the answer

The most important input is not always the largest number on the form. Sometimes a date, threshold, percentage, eligibility flag, or timing assumption changes the result more than the headline amount. This is why scenario testing is more useful than a single calculation.

InputWhy it mattersWhat to double-check
loan amountIt feeds directly into the estimate or changes which rule is applied.Check the period, units, eligibility, and whether the figure is final or estimated.
salaryIt feeds directly into the estimate or changes which rule is applied.Check the period, units, eligibility, and whether the figure is final or estimated.
repayment thresholdIt feeds directly into the estimate or changes which rule is applied.Check the period, units, eligibility, and whether the figure is final or estimated.
repayment rateIt feeds directly into the estimate or changes which rule is applied.Check the period, units, eligibility, and whether the figure is final or estimated.
interest assumptionIt feeds directly into the estimate or changes which rule is applied.Check the period, units, eligibility, and whether the figure is final or estimated.

How to interpret the output

The output should be read as a decision aid, not just a number. For Postgraduate Loan Calculator, the useful question is often what the result means for timing, affordability, eligibility, comparison, or next steps.

monthly repayment
Use this output alongside the other results rather than in isolation. A monthly amount, percentage, date, or payback figure can look acceptable until fees, timing, evidence, or eligibility conditions are added.
annual repayment
Use this output alongside the other results rather than in isolation. A monthly amount, percentage, date, or payback figure can look acceptable until fees, timing, evidence, or eligibility conditions are added.
balance projection
Use this output alongside the other results rather than in isolation. A monthly amount, percentage, date, or payback figure can look acceptable until fees, timing, evidence, or eligibility conditions are added.
total repaid estimate
Use this output alongside the other results rather than in isolation. A monthly amount, percentage, date, or payback figure can look acceptable until fees, timing, evidence, or eligibility conditions are added.

Scenarios worth comparing

A single estimate is a snapshot. A better approach is to save a base case, then adjust one assumption at a time. This shows whether the result is stable or whether a small change in timing, rate, usage, income, or cost creates a very different answer.

ScenarioChange one assumptionWhat the comparison shows
Base caseUse the best current evidence.Shows the result you would expect if nothing important changes.
Conservative caseUse lower income, higher cost, slower growth, or less favourable timing.Shows whether the decision still works with less optimistic assumptions.
Improved caseUse the realistic upside, such as lower cost, better rate, higher usage, or stronger evidence.Shows the potential benefit without treating it as guaranteed.

Common mistakes and edge cases

Most errors come from using the right formula with the wrong assumption. Dates can be counted differently, rates can change, official thresholds can move, and real bills or contracts often include conditions that a simple calculator cannot infer automatically.

Repayment is usually income-contingent.
Check this point before using the estimate for a payment, claim, purchase, application, employment decision, or health-related decision.
Postgraduate repayments can run alongside undergraduate loan repayments.
Check this point before using the estimate for a payment, claim, purchase, application, employment decision, or health-related decision.
Thresholds and interest rules can change.
Check this point before using the estimate for a payment, claim, purchase, application, employment decision, or health-related decision.
A high balance does not always mean high monthly repayment if income is low.
Check this point before using the estimate for a payment, claim, purchase, application, employment decision, or health-related decision.

Next steps after calculating

Once you have a result, write down the key assumptions and compare them with GOV.UK postgraduate loan repayment guidance. If the number affects a deadline, tax return, benefit claim, employment issue, medical question, finance agreement, or major purchase, use the calculator as preparation for a more formal check.

For lower-stakes use, the next step may simply be comparing two or three scenarios. For higher-stakes use, the next step should be checking the official guidance, speaking to the relevant organisation, or getting qualified advice before acting.

Important edge cases

  • Repayment is usually income-contingent.
  • Postgraduate repayments can run alongside undergraduate loan repayments.
  • Thresholds and interest rules can change.
  • A high balance does not always mean high monthly repayment if income is low.

Limitations

This calculator is for general information only and is not student finance advice. This is general student finance information and not financial advice. The calculator is designed to support understanding and planning, but it cannot verify documents, predict future rule changes, or account for every exception. Use it as an estimate and check the official source before acting where the result matters.

  • Rules differ by UK nation, course, and plan type.
  • Interest rates and thresholds can change.
  • The calculator does not decide eligibility for a loan.
  • Check GOV.UK postgraduate loan repayment guidance for current rules, rates, definitions, and eligibility where relevant.
  • Do not rely on a single scenario where income, costs, dates, rates, usage, or health circumstances may change.
  • Keep records of the inputs used so that the estimate can be reviewed later.

Frequently asked questions

Do postgraduate loans repay alongside undergraduate loans?

They can be repaid at the same time, depending on the loan plans and income.

Is repayment based on the balance?

Monthly repayment is usually based on earnings above the threshold, not directly on the balance.

Can the loan be written off?

Write-off rules depend on the loan plan and country rules, so check official guidance.

Can I repay early?

You can usually make voluntary repayments, but whether it is worthwhile depends on income, write-off rules, and other priorities.

Does interest affect my payslip deduction?

Payslip deductions are usually based on income above threshold, while interest affects the balance.

Will the loan be written off?

Write-off rules depend on the plan and start date, so check official guidance.

Related calculators

  • Student Loan Repayment Calculator
  • University Total Cost Calculator
  • Student Maintenance Loan Eligibility Calculator
  • Income Tax Calculator

What does this mean?

This calculator is designed to help you understand the likely number before you make a decision or start an application.

Your result should be checked against official UK guidance, especially if your circumstances include dependants, exemptions, prior leave, or a complex immigration history.

Treat the figure as a planning tool rather than legal advice. Where the answer affects an application deadline or major payment, speak to an authorised adviser.

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