As of 2025, the total outstanding student loan debt in the United Kingdom is estimated at £292 Billion.

This debt is primarily held by the UK government through the Student Loans Company (SLC), and it continues to grow due to rising tuition fees, interest accrual, and slower repayment rates under income-contingent repayment plans.

The UK government has sold portions of the student loan book to private investors, typically at a discounted rate. These sales are part of efforts to improve public finances:

• In 2013, around £890 million worth of mortgage-style loans (from 1990–1998) were sold to Erudio Student Loans for £160 million—a significant discount
• In 2017, the government sold income-contingent repayment (ICR) loans (from 2002–2006) to a group of investors, raising £1.7 Billion

The National Audit Office (NAO) and Public Accounts Committee have raised concerns about whether these sales represented value for money for taxpayers, especially given the steep discounts and administrative complexities.

There has to be a concentration of effort and decision-making on the whole issue of Student debt as it is having severe unintended consequences.

Plan to accelerate recovery of student debt and offering discount for early repayment.

Reduce rate of interest charged on outstanding amounts taken out 2012–2023 as they are especially high.