10 best study abroad loan providers – Indian banks, NBFCs or international lenders?

best-study-abroad-loan-providers

Let’s look at 10 best study abroad loan providers in today’s post.

After securing admission into your dream university abroad (MS, MBA or BS), you must organize the finances to cover the costly expenditures of a university, including living costs, tuition fees. Even though your parents might be able to aid you in covering the cost of education, taking a study abroad education loan to smoothly sail through higher education without any financial burden would be advantageous to you in many ways. 

The principal reason for students opting for an education load is to become financially independent and reduce the workload on their parents. Getting a loan can also be due to a lack of funds compared to the high cost of renowned universities in foreign countries. Sometimes, the savings are not enough to fund your education, so taking a study abroad loan becomes necessary.

Another major cause of students taking an education loan is when unexpected circumstances occur e.g., loss in parent’s financial matters. As a result, the loan money is used to fund the student’s education without any break.

Whatever the reason for opting for an education loan, maybe, once you must consider which loan to take. A mortgage is influenced by a number of factors, such as the interest rate, type of lenders, and the repayment policy. Therefore, a comparison and a list of outstanding loans are discussed here to help you in making an intelligent decision while taking an education load for studying abroad.  

Loan Providers for Study Abroad Aspirants

1 – Loan provided by National Banks

A significant advantage of taking a loan from national banks is that they have very low-interest rates compared to the other banking systems.

However, there are two main disadvantages to such loan schemes.

First of all, national banks need security if the loan amount is more than ten lakhs. It is often challenging for students to arrange security.

Secondly, hundreds of thousands of people apply for education loans via the national bank. As a result, the processing time is very long, making the entire process tiring. Moreover, such loans usually cover only the tuition fee with a minimal amount.

2 – Loan through Non-banking Financial Companies (NBFCs)

Major NBFC’s include Auxilio and Credila. NBFCs provide a good option for taking a loan; however, the main disadvantage is that the interest rate of the loan is very high. Moreover, some of the tax benefits are excluded in their loan schemes.

These companies mainly target student education loans. Therefore, they are much more focused on providing a good option for the applicant. They also offer highly customized loan plans for the students wishing to take a loan and study abroad.

The processing time of the NBFCs loan is very low. If your documents are complete, authentic, and verified, it is likely that the decision about the loan is made within 1 to 5 days. Options of unsecured loans, home service, and flexibility in the repayment schedule are offered as well.

3 – Loans by Non-Indian Lenders

Major non-Indian organizations offering a loan to the students are Prodigy Finance and Mpower. The details of these loans can be accessed very easily as they built very user-friendly applications and websites for easy accessibility. No security is necessary for many of the loans through foreign lenders. Moreover, the rate of interest is lower than the other lenders.

On the other hand, these loans have their disadvantage as well. Usually, the loans do not cover all of the expenses associated with studying and living abroad. About 15% to 20% of the fee and other expenses have to be paid by the students themselves. These companies do not enjoy the tax benefits as they are foreign-based. Even though the interest rate is low, the amount ultimately repaid can be much higher than the original amount due to the depreciation of the country’s currency.

The processing fee is very high for foreign loan lenders. This is because they work very rapidly and efficiently, so the charges are high. Moreover, only a restricted number of universities are covered by foreign lenders.

4 – Foreign Loans

Foreign loans have a very low rate of interest, from about 2% to 5%. Moreover, no collateral is necessary for the majority of these loans.

The disadvantage of a foreign loan is that it can only be taken on the guarantor’s name. You need to get someone very close to take out the loan on his or her name.

In order to conclude about the best choice between an Indian lender and a foreign loan provider, every applicant must determine and smartly calculate the total loan needed and rate of interest that you will have to pay according to the policies of each lender.

In international lenders, the interest rate is very low compared to the Indian banks. However, the currency keeps fluctuating over time so a final calculation cannot be made about the repayment amount. On the other hand, Indian lenders have a high-interest rate, but you will be able to calculate the definite repayment amount and plan the schedule accordingly.

Therefore, every applicant must decide between the Indian and international lenders, depending on their specific situation.

Also read: How to get a Study Abroad Education Loan?

Ten best study abroad education loan providers

A number of options, Indian banks, as well as international lenders, are available for students to get study abroad education loan. Some of them are (in no particular order):

  1. State Bank of India
    It offers a maximum loan of RS 20 lakhs with an interest rate of 10.5% per annum.
  2. Axis Bank
    It is a good choice for customized loans with an amount greater than 20 lakhs. The interest rate of Axis Bank is 13.7% above 7.5 lakhs.
  3. HDFC
    Applicants can take the maximum loan of 10 lakhs from HDFC, with the rate of interest being around 13% per annum.
  4. State Bank of Mysore
    It can lend a maximum of 40 lakhs to make your dream of studying abroad come true. The interest rate varies from case to case.
  5. Avanse Financial Services
    It has no limit on the maximum loan. Applicants can discuss their specific cases with the bank representative. The interest rate at Avanse Financial Services is 11.7% above ten lakhs.
  6. Prodigy Finance International Student Loans Company
    Some students face immense difficulty in getting a goal from Indian lenders. However, many global options are present in this industry. One of the most popular ones is the Prodigy Finance Loans Company. It has various schemes and options for applicants.
    The range of the loan offered is from 10 lakhs to 1.5 crores. No major security is required in this loan scheme, and the interest rate is from 11.57% to 13.57%. A big but is – they support only a limited schools.
  7. Credila
    It does not specify any limit on the loan.An interest rate of about 12% is present above the loan of 7 lakhs.
  8. Indian Overseas Banks
    It offers the maximum loan of 40 lakhs and an interest rate of 12.25% above 7.5 lakhs.
  9. Allahabad Bank
    With the limit of 50 lakhs loan, Allahabad Bank has an interest rate of 10.85% above 7.5 lakhs.
  10. Syndicate Bank
    It offers an optimum loan of 50 lakhs and an interest rate of 12.25% for the amount of more than 7.5 lakhs.

How to get a Study Abroad Education Loan?

study abroad education loan

Before understanding the process of getting an education loan to study abroad, you must be familiar with how it works. First of all, you cannot even apply for the student loan if you have not secured admission at a renowned school abroad.

How does education loan work?

The admission offer is necessary to asses your credibility for the study abroad education loan. After a total approximation of the education cost is provided by the education institute, the type of the program or degree you have applied to will play a role loaning. The prospects of your future are guessed depending on your degree, to determine if you will be able to repay the loans in the future.

Majority of the loan givers need a guarantor to ensure the loan will be returned over time. Education loan to study abroad is usually free from the condition of putting something valuable against the loan money to secure loan repayment.

Moreover, a student is never given the loan money directly. These loans are managed by the educational institute and its financial aid office. Thus, education loan for studying abroad is provided directly to the institution instead of specific students’ bank accounts.

Shall I go for study abroad education loan?

There is a myriad of benefits of getting an education loan to study abroad. Some of them are:

  1. A loan can make you financially independent. Major loans cover all of your expenses to study abroad, including living expenses, healthcare charges, and other expenditures.
  2. Study abroad loan offers easy repayments. The small repayment amount is decided over a longer period of time to make it easy for the students to repay the charges.
  3. Education loan also includes the option of applying for a scholarship, which can result in loan forgiveness or decrease in the amount of loan to be repaid.
  4. Many students are eligible to apply for the education loan to study abroad.  Applicants from undergraduate as well as postgraduate can apply.
  5. Loan processing time is very less so the students can make decisions about their admissions quickly well before the deadline of a particular institute.

What kind of loans are available?

Bank Name Study Abroad Education Loan Amount Interest Rates
State Bank of India (SBI) Up to ₹20,00,000 (20 Lakhs) 10.70%
HDFC BankUp to ₹36,00,000 (36 Lakhs) 14.88%
ICICI Bank Up to ₹3,00,00,000 (3 Crore) 11.50%
Punjab National Bank (PNB) Up to ₹1,00,00,000 (1 Crore) 11.10%
Canara Bank Up to ₹36,00,000 (36 Lakhs) 10.70%
Axis Bank Up to ₹75,00,000 (75 Lakhs) 13.70%
Bank of Baroda   Up to ₹20,00,000 (20 Lakhs) 15.00%
IDBI Bank Up to ₹20,00,000 (20 Lakhs) 9.50%
Avanse Financial Services Customized according to the applicant Custom

Also read: 10 best study abroad loan providers – Indian banks, NBFCs or international lenders?

What documents are required for study abroad education loans?

To apply for education loan for studying abroad, the applicants must have four main types of documents which are listed below:

1. Academic Documents

  • Offer letter from the college (in case of Bachelor’s) or graduate school (MS or MBA)
  • SAT Exams, LSATS, GRE GMAT, TOEFL, IELTS, other aptitude tests
  • Result cards of previous classes:
    • Class 10th
    • Class 12th
    • Equivalence certificate can be provided as well.
    • Graduation degree, if relevant.
    • Post-Graduation degree, if relevant.
  • Student Status Certificates (country-specific)
  • USA I-20 Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status
  • UK (England) CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies)
  • Australia GTE (Genuine Temporary Entrant) as per SVVF
  • Other student VISA and immigration letters
  • Scholarship for foreign education records (if any)

2. Financial Documents

  • Bank Statements
  • IT Returns copy
  • GST returns copy: (only in case of self-employed/business-oriented applicants/co-applicants)
    • Min: last two quarters, max: last year
  • Salary Proof:
    • Income tax computation statement (attested by CA and employer)
    • Salary Slips (Min: last three months, max: last nine months)

3. Collateral Documents

  • Loan against property:
    • Property deed/lease agreement/allotment letter by Govt./Municipal Authority/NOC from society-builder
    • Property tax statements
  • Loan against security:
    • DE-mat account statement (min: 12 months, max: 36 months)
    • Insurance policy receipt and original policy certificate
  • Loan against deposits:
    • Original FD/RD/Gold Deposit/Bond certificate
    • Interest statement: (min: 6 months, max: 24 months)
  • Loan against third-party guarantee:
    • Certificate of third party guarantee (with signature and verified by appropriate authority)

4. Identification/KYC Documents

  • PAN card (at least Co-applicant mandatory)
  • Aadhaar Card/ Passport Copy/Driving License/ Voter’s ID
  • Residence proof: rent agreement/residential lease/electricity bill-phone bill/LPG bill
  • PIO (person-of-Indian origin)/NRI (non-residential Indian) Identification documents

It is recommended to start preparing the documents early for the loan program to avoid any confusion at the last minute.

What is the process for getting a study abroad education loan?

Every major education institution has a student financial aid office assist the students in applying for education loan. The whole process is quite lengthy and exhausting, so it is better to apply as soon as possible. In this way, you will be able to avoid any problem in getting a loan to study abroad.

Generally, the following process is performed for getting a study abroad education loan:

  • Evaluate the list of degrees in which you are going to enroll in to make sure it is recognized by the loan provider
  • Asses the total amount of the loan you will be needing. Calculate the money that you will be able to arrange by yourself.
  • Compare the various student loans offered by a number of banks. This helps you in determining the best loan scheme according to your demand.
  • Finalize the bank, loan scheme, and the total loan amount as soon as possible. Apply for the load using the application form and contact the loan provider if you have any ambiguities about the process.
  • Once the loan is approved, a loan document is issued by the bank. This document will include every detail about the loan.
  • Sign the loan document if you are satisfied with the terms and conditions of the loan.
  • The loan amount will be disbursed by the bank according to the terms of the university.

Also, read: Study abroad scholarships for students