Student Loan Plan 4 (Scotland) Calculator
Calculate Plan 4 (Scottish) student loan repayments at 9% above the £33,795 threshold for 2026/27. See monthly and annual deductions.
By Konstantin Iakovlev · Founder, Calks.uk
Last updated: · Verified against HMRC and GOV.UK 2026/27 rates
Monthly Repayment (Plan 4 Scotland)
£9.04
£108.45/year · 9% above £33,795
~139 years to repay (without interest)
Plan 4 (Scotland): 9% of income above £33,795. Written off 30 years after first repayment due. If you also have a Plan 2 loan, you repay both simultaneously.
Disclaimer
This calculator is provided for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial or tax advice. All calculations are performed locally in your browser — no personal data is collected or sent to our servers. Rates and thresholds are sourced from HMRC and GOV.UK and are updated for the current tax year. Always verify results with HMRC or consult a qualified professional before making financial decisions.
How It Works
Plan 4 applies to students who took out loans from the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) or who started undergraduate courses in England or Wales before September 2012 and now live in Scotland. The repayment threshold for 2026/27 is £33,795 — the highest of all UK plan types.
You repay 9% of everything you earn above £33,795. The interest rate on Plan 4 is the lower of RPI or the Bank of England base rate plus 1%. Plan 4 loans are written off when you turn 65 (or 25 years after the April you were first eligible to repay, whichever comes first).
Enter your salary to see monthly and annual repayments. If you are on Plan 4 plus a Postgraduate Loan, both are deducted separately. The higher threshold means Scottish graduates repay less per month than English graduates on the same salary.
Plan 4 — Scotland-specific student loan. Plan 4 applies to Scottish students (lived in Scotland when course started). 2026/27 threshold £33,795 — higher than English Plan 2 (£29,385). 9% repayment on income above threshold. Plus loan interest cap RPI (much lower than Plan 2's RPI + up to 3%). Significantly more generous than English plans.
Differences from English Plan 1/2/5. Plan 1 (England pre-2012): £26,900 threshold. Plan 2 (England 2012-2023): £29,385 threshold. Plan 5 (England post-Sep 2023): £25,000 threshold + 40-year writeoff. Plan 4 (Scotland): £33,795 threshold + 30-year writeoff + RPI interest cap. Plan 4 graduates pay £170-£250/year less than equivalent Plan 2 graduates at same salary.
Eligibility — Scottish residence test. Must have been ordinarily resident in Scotland when course started. Plan 4 follows you for life — even if you move to England later, repay at Plan 4 thresholds. Scottish-domiciled students get free tuition fees in Scotland (£0 vs £9,250 in England) — so they typically have only maintenance loans, not tuition loans. Average Scottish graduate debt £15-£20k vs £45-£50k English graduate.
Repayment via PAYE. Deductions automatic via your employer once income exceeds threshold. Check via payslip — should show 'Student Loan' deduction at 9% of pay above £33,795/year (£2,816/month, £649/week). Multiple jobs: deduction applies to each job exceeding threshold independently. Self-employed: paid via Self Assessment. Voluntary overpayments rarely worthwhile — 73%+ Plan 4 graduates won't fully repay before write-off.
Example: £40,000 salary, Plan 4
- Income above threshold: £40,000 − £33,795 = £8,605
- Annual repayment: £8,605 × 9% = £774.45
- Monthly deduction: £64.54
- Compare to Plan 2 at same salary: £1,143.45/year (£95.29/month)
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does the Student Loan Plan 4 (Scotland) Calculator do?
- Calculate Plan 4 (Scottish) student loan repayments at 9% above the £33,795 threshold for 2026/27. See monthly and annual deductions.
- Does this use current UK interest rates?
- You can enter any interest rate to model different scenarios. The Bank of England base rate and FCA guidelines influence typical lending rates available in the UK market.
- Should I get professional debt advice?
- If you are struggling with debt, free professional advice is available from StepChange (0800 138 1111), Citizens Advice, and the National Debtline (0808 808 4000). This calculator provides estimates only.