What is Education Loan? The ultimate guide to benefits and its product offerings
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Education is one of the most vital parts of our life. Nowadays, the funding required from nursery education to higher education and pursuing a full-time course from foreign universities come with an excessive load of finances. People from different backgrounds and income groups find it tough to acquire funding for their children's education.
Today, Byju’s, Unacademy, and Upgrad are one of the largest edtech players globally, that makes adaptive, engaging, and effective learning programs for students. These major players have become a part of a rare and exclusive club: the Unicorn club.
India holds a major role in the global education industry. The education sector in India was estimated to be worth US$ 117 billion in FY20. Edtech startups raised over $4.7 billion in the year 2021.
We are lucky to live in the digital era where getting multiple types of loans has become effortless. Nowadays, the cost of education in India and abroad is increasing and it becomes difficult for students to get a quality education.
Hence, NBFCs and financial institutions in India realized the need for educational loans and introduced short-term loans for funding education.
Benefits of getting an Education loan
Education loans are accessible to everyone due to the simplified processes offered by financial institutions to support students' careers.
A student's Education loan covers different costs like travel, living, study material, laptops, insurance, etc.
Interest on Education loans is comparatively lower than the other types of loans.
By taking an education loan, parents get relieved of the financial burden and the student gets a great chance to pay for their own education.
Another important aspect is that the financial institution provides a flexible repayment option making it simpler for students to pay back the loan themselves once they get a job.
Education Loan: Product offerings
Education loan is taken by students to continue their education with the least financial load. Here are the standard offerings of loans:
Domestic Education Loan: A student would get a loan only if he/she gets admission to an Indian educational institution.
Study Abroad Education Loan: This loan is provided to Indian students as well as non-residents of India to complete their education from outside the geographical area of the country.
Graduate Student Loans: These loans are directed for the student who are planning to go for post graduation degree within India only.
Career Education Loan: This loan can be availed by students who want to join career-oriented programs at technical colleges etc.
Refinance loan: This loan is generally taken to pay out one or more outstanding loans.
Education Institution loan: This loan focus on building the education infrastructure of the country more prominent.
Top Education Loan Providers in India
There are many Education loan providers which provide a variety of options to students and helped them to finance their studies. The highest quality of education should be available for all students regardless of someone’s financial background. That’s exactly the reason why these loan providers have made the availability of Student Loans as easy as possible. Here is the list:
ICICI Education Loan
TATA Capital Education Loan
HDFC Education Loan
Mpower Financing
Prodigy Finance
PNB Education Loan
Bank of Baroda Education Loan
Necessary documents required to get Education Loan
Education Loans are allowed to a student only after they submit the required documents.
Marksheet and passing certificate of 10th and 12th exams
Admission Letter from the respective college/university
Fee structure
KYC document of the applicant and co-applicant
Income proof in some cases
Address proof
Identification card
Collateral Security documents.
Conclusion
Education loan is the most cost-effective means to fund education. As we have seen Education sector plays a major role in today’s era. Education loan is the most cost-effective means to fund education. An educational loan is a good way for parents and students itself to finance their higher studies in case of a shortage of funds. Major Fintechs and financial institutions are standing out and providing education loans with great efficiency. Though most banks provide an education loan, in today's era there are certain fintech players giving attractive offers on the same.
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FAQs
How does the Repayment Schedule Work?
Generally, financial institutions don’t expect to do repayments for the loan during the course of the program. Generally, all education loan provides a moratorium duration while there may be no want to pay anything to the bank. The repayment commonly begins six to 12 months after the course completion.
Do education loans have any Income Tax benefits?
Loan borrowers can avail tax benefits on interest paid on education loan under Sec 80E of the Income Tax Act. This benefit is available over and above the Rs. 150,000 deduction allowed under Section 80C. Tax benefits can be availed once the borrower starts paying the interest on the education loan. Further, the deduction is available until the borrower pays off the full interest amount on the loan or for a maximum period of 8 years, whichever is earlier.
Who is eligible for an education loan?
Every bank has its own eligibility criteria for providing education loans, but a few common points are:
Applicant must be an resident of an Indian.
Applicant should have confirmed admission in a college/educational institution in India or abroard.
The age of applicant must be betwee 18 to 35 years.
The Applicant should have a co-borrower such as a parent who acts as guarantor for the loan.
Does an education loan require security or collateral?
The requirement of collateral varies from one bank to another, however, the following is generally common parameters are :
No collateral or third party guarantee is needed for loans under Rs. 4 lakh.
Collateral is not necessary for loans between Rs. 4 lakh and Rs. 7.5 lakh, but a third-party guarantee is required.
Collateral is required for loans worth more than Rs. 7.5 lakh.
Is the loan disbursed in favour of the borrower or the institute/college/university?
According to the institute's schedule and cost structure, the tuition and hostel fees are paid directly to the organization, typically in the form of drafts. The loan applicant may claim and receive additional loan components such as course-related costs for lab equipment, a laptop computer, a uniform, and travel expenses.
Can a student avail another loan for further studies? When will the repayment of the new loan commence?
Yes it is possible. You can take a loan for your bachelor's and then a loan for your master's without having to pay back the previous debt.
Is there a maximum limit on an education loan that a lender can disburse?
For studies within India, the majority of lenders have a maximum restriction of Rs 10–15 lakhs, whereas the highest limit for education loans for studies abroad is between Rs 20–30 lakhs. If bank-accepted collateral is presented, certain lenders will grant a larger loan amount for the applicant.
What is the tenure of an education loan?
For the majority of lenders, the average loan term is between 5-7 years. For larger loan sums, certain lenders may provide a longer term of up to 15 years.
Who can avail an education loan?
Educational loan is available to students who pursue higher studies across the country. Each bank has different policies for providing loans to students taking different courses. Banks offer educational loans for management, engineering, law, architecture, medicine, applied sciences and pure sciences, and nursing.