Student Loan Due Dates: Your Quick Guide to Staying Ahead

Missing a student loan payment can hit your credit score and add nasty fees. The good news? The UK repayment calendar is predictable. Once you know the key dates, you can set reminders, automate payments, and sleep easy.

How the Repayment Calendar Is Built

Student loans in England, Wales and Northern Ireland use the £27,295 income threshold (2025‑26) as the trigger. If you earn more than that in a month, you start paying 9% of the amount over the threshold. Payments are taken directly from your payroll on the same day your employer sends your salary to HMRC. In practice, that means the due date lines up with your regular payday.

For Scottish loans the threshold is lower and the rate is 9% of earnings above £19,918. The same payroll‑deduction rule applies, so the due date follows your pay schedule as well. There are no separate “monthly bills” to chase – the loan deduction shows up on your payslip.

Key Dates to Mark on Your Calendar

1. First Payment Start – Usually April 1st of the tax year after you graduate or leave your course, provided your income exceeds the threshold. If you’re still studying, repayments are paused.

2. Annual Review – HMRC checks your earnings each tax year (April 6 to April 5). If your salary jumps, the repayment amount adjusts from the next month.

3. Payment Cut‑Off – If you change jobs or become self‑employed, tell the Student Loans Company (SLC) within 30 days. Otherwise you might keep paying on the old salary, which could be too high or too low.

4. Loan Forgiveness Dates – Loans are written off after 30 years (England/Wales/Northern Ireland) or 25 years (Scotland) from the April you became eligible to repay. Mark that date; it’s the ultimate deadline.

5. Annual Statement – SLC sends a repayment statement every October. It tells you how much you’ve paid, the balance left, and the next year’s estimated payment.

Knowing these dates lets you line up your budgeting tools. For example, set a calendar reminder a week before the October statement arrives, so you can review it and adjust your savings plan.

If you prefer a visual aid, download the free “Student Loan Repayment Calendar” from the SLC website. It lists every month’s expected deduction based on your salary band. Plug your actual earnings into the table, and you’ll see exactly how much will be taken each pay‑day.

When your income fluctuates, use the “How Much Is a $50,000 Student Loan Monthly Payment?” article as a reference point. It breaks down the math, showing how interest accrues and how different repayment amounts affect the total term. Apply the same logic to your UK loan – just replace dollars with pounds and the interest rate with the 6.3% (or current) SLC rate.

Finally, automate everything. Most banks let you set up a direct debit to the SLC account on the same day you receive your salary. That way, the loan payment never slips through the cracks, even if you’re on a busy payday.

Staying on top of student loan due dates is mostly about timing and a bit of planning. Keep the key dates handy, use the free calendar, automate deductions, and you’ll avoid fees, protect your credit score, and get the loan cleared faster. Your future self will thank you.