Money After University

Loan repayments normally start in the April after graduation or leaving your course i.e. April 2024 for those Undergraduates finishing in June 2023 or for Postgraduates finishing in September/January.

If you are working, repayments are collected from your salary through the PAYE (Pay As You Earn) scheme. This should happen automatically but check your pay slips.

If you are abroad, self-employed, or have significant unearned income then you will have to arrange payment to Student Loans Company (SLC) by direct debit. For self-employment the amount you pay will be calculated based on your HMRC self-assessment form. You will need to inform HMRC that you are self-employed.

If you are in a position to repay part or your entire loan early the (SLC) will accept ‘one-off’ payments to your loan account. It is wise to consider whether this is worthwhile. If you have other debts with higher interest rates, then it makes sense to repay those first. Once paid, it is not possible to request a ‘one-off’ payment is refunded to you.

There is no penalty or additional charge for repaying early. The MoneySavingExpert website offers advice on whether it is worth repaying early.

There are different repayment thresholds depending on when you started your course and whether you were funded as an English, Welsh, Northern Irish or Scottish resident. There is more information at SLC repayments.

If you are starting work remember that employers quote salaries as gross income and do not account for tax, national insurance and Student Loan deductions. Use this calculator to see how much you are likely to take home once these deductions are made.

When starting a new job make sure you take your P45 from any previous job whether full- or part-time  or ask the new employer for a ‘Starter Checklist’from HMRC, otherwise you could be put onto an emergency tax code and have too much money deducted from your monthly salary.

If you have paid too much tax during the tax year (which runs from 6^th April to 5^th April each year), then you may be able to claim back tax you paid in that year. This is not automatic so check your pay slips. For straightforward tax refunds visit gov.uk. For more detailed help visit Tax Guide for Students.

While you have been a student, if you live in a hall of residence or a dwelling solely occupied by students, there should not be a Council Tax bill.

If you live off campus, Council Tax is calculated on a daily basis. Any relevant change in your circumstances, such as when you move, or cease to be a student, can affect your liability. If you stay on in your student house from the end of the academic year until graduation, you will be liable to pay council tax for the period between the end of term and the date you leave the property. Also, council tax could be chargeable on your house if you live with continuing students after you have left your course.

It is also important to remember that you will be a non-student in between courses. If you complete your undergraduate degree and start a postgraduate course you will not be treated as a student over the intervening period, normally the summer vacation and will probably have to pay Council Tax.

If you are the only person liable for council tax in your home you should be eligible for a 25% discount. If you are on a low income and not a full-time student you might be eligible for help with your Council Tax through the benefits' system.

Over recent years the Government has replaced a number of older benefits with Universal Credit.

If you are not immediately starting paid work you may wish to apply for Universal Credit.

Universal credit can be claimed from the day after your course finishes. So for 2023 you may be entitled to benefits from 22nd June. You can start to make an application a week or two before, as it takes some time to complete the process.

As a general rule, do not delay in making any claim for benefits. There are strict rules on how much can be backdated and in what circumstances.

For more information please see the Citizens Advice website.

If you are planning to take a Masters course or a PhD, you need to be aware that these courses do not qualify for the same student loans and grants that are available to undergraduates.

Postgraduate Student Loans are available to students who normally live in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland for taught Postgraduate courses. The amount of loan, eligibility criteria and repayment terms vary according to the awarding body. EU students starting a course on or after 1 August 2021, must have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme to get student finance.

Postgraduate loans provide a contribution towards the costs of tuition and living but are rarely enough to cover the full costs of undertaking postgraduate study.

If you are a Loughborough student moving on to a postgraduate programme here the following resources might be helpful:

• Masters study
• PhD

If you are starting a PhD your academic department will be able to inform you of any scholarships that are available.

The special banking terms available to students (e.g. interest free overdrafts) will eventually cease after leaving university. Nevertheless, many banks have financial packages aimed at graduates offering services on preferential terms. Several banks allow you to retain a partial interest free overdraft with the interest free element of the overdraft reducing over a period of a few years. Contact your bank to find out how they can help after you have left your course. Always remember to compare interest rates and charges on graduate accounts, loans and overdrafts.

There are multiple webpages dedicated to different money matters available to give you guidance. If you require further guidance or advice you can contact the Student Advice and Support Service.

Last Updated: 2nd January 2024