For students starting Sept 2023 onward · threshold £25,000 from April 2026 · interest RPI (3.2%) · written off after 40 yrs · gov.uk ↗
02 — THE VERDICT
YELLOW
Software Engineering pays back eventually, but slower than it should — and automation risk isn't negligible.
Break-even point
15 yrs post-grad
Total borrowed at grad
£51,750
Balance after 20 yrs
£0
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03 — SALARY VS. LOAN BALANCE
Yearly gross salary against your loan balance — rising with interest, falling with repayments, until it's cleared or written off.
Y0Y15Y30
Gross salary
Loan balance
Projected clear: loan fully repaid by year 20 post-grad.
04 — YEAR-BY-YEAR BREAKDOWN
The material impact, spelled out: gross salary, take-home after the 9% graduate tax, and what's still owed.
Year
Gross
Take-home
Loan balance
Year 0
£32k
£26k
£54k
Year 2
£42k
£32k
£56k
Year 5
£58k
£41k
£55k
Year 10
£82k
£53k
£44k
Year 20
£100k
£69k
Clear
Year 30
£122k
£81k
Clear
🔒 Years 10 / 20 / 30 unlock with the full report
05 — DEGREE PATH VS. ALTERNATIVE PATH
Software Engineering doesn't strictly require a degree to enter. Cumulative net earnings, degree route vs. direct work / apprenticeship — the crossover is the moment the degree route pulls ahead.
Y0Y15Y30
Degree path (cumulative)
Alternative path (cumulative)
Crosses over at year 18 (15 yrs post-grad)
06 — AI-RESILIENCE
MEDIUM RISK
automation exposure for Software Engineering
Confidence: High. Full driver analysis of task-level automation exposure for this role, sourced from occupational risk modelling.