When is a student loan written off? Plan 2 vs Plan 5

Any balance left on a student loan is cancelled after a fixed period:

• Plan 2: 30 years after the April you were first due to repay.
• Plan 5: 40 years after the April you were first due to repay.

Why it matters

For many graduates the write-off date, not the balance, decides how much they repay in total. At a steady £35,000 salary, Plan 5 repayments are £900.00 a year. Over 40 years that is up to £36,000.00 in today's money, before any pay rises, if the balance is not cleared first. On Plan 2 the same salary gives £505.35 a year, or up to £15,160.50 over 30 years.

These are simple illustrations, not forecasts. Real salaries change and thresholds can be updated.

Source: GOV.UK — when your student loan gets written off.

Last checked: 19 October 2026. Estimates only, not tax advice.