Ask PayslipIQ · Last reviewed 2026-05-08
What does PGL mean on my payslip?
PGL stands for Postgraduate Loan. It is the deduction for a Master's or PhD-funded loan, taken at 6% of earnings above the postgraduate repayment threshold (£21,000 for 2026/27). It is separate from undergraduate Plan 1, 2, 4, or 5 deductions and can appear alongside them.
PayslipIQ provides educational information and estimated calculations only. It does not provide tax, legal, financial, payroll, accounting, pension, benefits or employment advice. Always verify your payslip, tax code, deductions and take-home pay with your employer's payroll department, HMRC, your pension provider, a qualified accountant, tax adviser or another appropriately qualified professional.
If you have both an undergraduate loan and a postgraduate loan, you will see two separate deductions on your payslip.
The threshold and rate for the postgraduate loan are different from undergraduate plans, so it is normal to see a smaller, separately-named deduction.
Confirm both loans are correct by logging into your gov.uk repayment portal. If you only have an undergraduate loan and a PGL deduction appears, raise it with payroll immediately.
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Reviewed by PayslipIQ Editorial. Sources cited where applicable.
PayslipIQ provides educational information and estimated calculations only. It does not provide tax, legal, financial, payroll, accounting, pension, benefits or employment advice. Always verify your payslip, tax code, deductions and take-home pay with your employer's payroll department, HMRC, your pension provider, a qualified accountant, tax adviser or another appropriately qualified professional.