Unjust Student Loans
Overview
Unjust Student Loans was built to expose how the UK student loan system is broken, unfair, and unjust. After explaining to viewers how it works, there is a calculator that allows graduates, current students, and prospective students to see the true cost of their education. Lastly, it provides a quick and easy way for you to email your local MP and demand an overhaul of the system.
The problem
I never took out a student loan, but a lot of my friends did without knowing the long-term financial implications of doing so. Once I saw headlines that the government had frozen the repayment thresholds for Plan 2, I looked deeper into the specifics of these loans and was unpleasantly surprised. I wanted a way to (1) explain to others how the system is unjust and that they are signing up for a graduate tax, not a simple loan, and (2) mobilise students to lobby their MP for a change.
The solution
I used Gemini to generate images explaining concepts such as frozen repayment thresholds and the impact of interest. I then built a calculator that distilled complex calculations into a simple, user-friendly UI. It enables users to estimate the total debt they would take on from their current or prospective studies or to calculate how much longer they would need to repay their existing debt after graduation. Finally, I integrated the TheyWorkForYou API so users can enter their postcode, find their local MP, and open a drafted email in their inbox to send. Since its launch in February 2026, the site has attracted thousands of users.
