Tuesday 12 February 2019

What is an education loan?

Education at all levels has become quite a costly affair in India. Whether it is studying for a postgraduate degree or meeting the cost of expensive courses, good quality education has seen spiralling costs. While saving prudently for education is one of the ways to ensure you can afford a good quality education, another way of enrolling yourself for your dream course is to take an education loan.

What is an education loan?

An education loan is a loan that meets the cost of education. The student is the primary applicant of the student loan. The parent or the spouse of the student is the co-applicant in most cases. Most banks give out these type of education loans:

• Education loan for Indian education:
This loan is given for education from primary to post-graduate studies in any educational institution in India. The loan amount that the bank grants will vary from bank to bank. The loan amount depends on the cost of the course. Some banks may also consider the cost of accommodation, examination fees, and other course-related expenses as well. Loans up to a particular amount (usually Rs. 5 lakhs) are given without any collateral.

• Central Government Interest Subsidy Scheme:
The Central Government has given an interest subsidy on education loans to students whose parents do not have an income above Rs. 4.5 lakhs. However, the courses that get this benefit are restricted. To get a benefit under this section, you need to provide a certificate from the State Government that proves your income levels.

• Education loan for foreign education:
This loan is given out to students who are looking at studying abroad. The bank may finance either the whole course fee or part of the course fee.

An education loan is also called a student loan.  Student loans usually do not start with repayment immediately after disbursement. These loans begin repayment a few months after the completion of the course. This period is known as loan moratorium.

One of the advantages of taking an education loan is that there is a deduction available under the Income Tax Act. As per the Income Tax Act of 1961, interest on loan taken for education is allowed as a deduction. There are no restrictions on the amount of deduction that you can claim. It can only be claimed by the person paying interest for himself, spouse, or children up to 8 years.

To avail of the education loan, the student needs to be enrolled, i.e. accepted into the course. The acceptance letter is an important document that banks require. Banks also insist on collaterals for the loan. Generally, the collateral for a loan for foreign education is higher, since the loan amount is high.

A study loan is one of the best options to fund higher education, especially for education abroad.

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