Nation variants: SAAS, SFW, SFNI
Lesson 11 of 15 in our free Student Finance guide: a 5-minute money game with the key points below.
Shown for England. Some rules here are different in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland: the lesson shows your nation's version.
This lesson is in the full version.
Free with a code from your uni, college, council, landlord or employer (worth £600/year). Lesson 1 of Student Finance is free for everyone.
Got a code? Unlock this lesson
Questions you'll answer
Scotland's Plan 4 repayment threshold for 2026/27 is…
Quick facts
- Student from Manchester studying in Leeds → SFE (England). Home nation England = Student Finance England.
- Student from Glasgow studying in Edinburgh → SAAS (Scotland). Scotland = SAAS. Eligible Scottish students don't pay tuition fees at Scottish unis.
- Student from Cardiff studying in Bristol → SFW (Wales). Your home nation decides — so Student Finance Wales.
- Student from Belfast studying in Liverpool → SFNI (N. Ireland). Student Finance NI, even when studying in England.
- Fact: “Northern Ireland undergrad loans are on Plan 1.” — Plan 1 threshold is £26,900 for 2026/27 (rising to £28,005 from April 2027).
- Myth: “Everyone in the UK repays at exactly the same threshold.” — Thresholds vary by plan — £25,000 to £33,795 for undergrad plans.
- Fact: “All four nations repay at 9% above their plan's threshold for undergrad loans.” — The rate is 9%; it's the threshold that differs.