SLC Disbursements Explained: How and When Your Student Loan Arrives

If you've applied for student finance and you're waiting for your money to land, understanding how the Student Loans Company (SLC) pays out can help you plan ahead.

Here's everything you need to know about how disbursements work, when to expect them, and what happens to your money before and after it arrives.

What Is a Disbursement?

A disbursement simply means paying out money from a fund. In the context of student finance, it refers to the SLC releasing the money it holds on your behalf and sending it to either you or your university, depending on the loan type. The SLC is a non-profit government-owned organisation set up in 1989 to administer loans and grants to students across the UK.

What Types of Student Loans Does the SLC Disburse?

There are two types of loan, and they reach you in different ways:

Tuition Fee Loans

These are paid directly to your university in three instalments across the academic year — you never handle this money personally. Each instalment is triggered when your attendance is confirmed at the start of each term.

Maintenance Loans

These are paid directly into your student bank account to cover living costs (rent, food, travel, and so on). The amount you receive depends on your household income, where you study, and whether you live at home or away. For guidance on how much to expect, see our guide to how much maintenance loan you should be getting.

When Does the SLC Pay Out?

Payment timing varies depending on where in the UK you're studying:

England, Wales & Northern Ireland

Maintenance loan payments arrive in three roughly equal instalments, timed to the start of each academic term — typically September/October, January, and April. Your money usually arrives within five working days of your term start date, once your university has confirmed your attendance. Check exact student finance payment dates for 2026/27 to see when your instalment is due.

Scotland

In Scotland, funding is administered by the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS) rather than the SLC directly. Payments are made monthly rather than in three lump sums, typically around the 7th of each month. The first payment of the year is usually a double instalment to help students get settled.

Repayment Thresholds for 2026/27

You only start repaying once you're earning above the threshold for your loan plan. The 2026/27 thresholds are:

Plan	Who it applies to	Repayment threshold	Rate
Plan 1	Started before Sept 2012 (England/Wales); pre-2012 (NI)	£26,900/year	9%
Plan 2	Started Sept 2012–July 2023 (England)	£29,385/year	9%
Plan 4	Scotland	£33,795/year	9%
Plan 5	Started August 2023 or later (England)	£25,000/year	9%
Postgraduate	Postgraduate Loan holders	£21,000/year	6%

Important for 2026: If you started your course in England in August 2023 or later, you're on Plan 5 — and April 2026 is the first time Plan 5 repayments have kicked in. Unsure which plan you're on? See our guide to student loan plans explained.

How Long Do You Repay For?

Any remaining balance is written off after a set period, regardless of how much you've repaid:

Plan 2: Written off after 30 years
Plan 5: Written off after 40 years

What If Your Money Doesn't Arrive?

If your disbursement is late, check that your university has confirmed your attendance with the SLC and that your bank account details are up to date in your student finance account. Delays most commonly happen at the start of the academic year when universities are processing large numbers of registrations simultaneously. You may also be entitled to a refund in some situations — see our guide to student loan refunds to find out when and how to claim.

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