Student loans prove to be very beneficial for those
students who would like to pursue their dream careers but don’t have the money
at that time. The student will repay the loan in installments after he finishes
his course and secures his first job. Student loans today are available from
almost all recognized banks and financial institutions at extremely affordable
interest rates. This is because the deserving students are encouraged to pursue
their careers and achieve success in life. Hopefully, they will become a
valuable resource for their homeland country. At the very least, they will not
be a drag on their country’s economy.
Student loans are generally issued
by government organizations so as private organizations that are profit-oriented
may not benefit much from them due to lower interest rates. The types of loans
and the rates of interest differ from country to country, but they all have a
common aim. The types of student loans and the terms of the loans vary. In the
paragraphs that follow, we will just provide you a gist of the types and terms
of student loans in some countries.
In Australia, students are able to
pay their university course fees through schemes like Higher Education
Contribution Scheme also known as HECS. The selection of the candidates to make
them eligible for the loan is done on the basis of scores achieved by the
students in their secondary school examinations. The HECS fees are subsidized by
the Australian Government and are cheaper than other fee paying
options.
In Canada, students can opt for loans provided by the federal
government. Also loans are also provided by their residential province. The
loans are available at comparatively cheaper rates than other loans and also
carry additional grants. Students can apply for the loans through their
residential province. There are also loans available through institutions like
the Canada Students Loans which provides for loans up to a maximum of $165 per
week for full time study. Low interest loans can also be applied for from
Canadian Banks.
In countries like Germany, higher education is provided
free of charge in many German Universities. German Universities provide free
loans to deserving students whose families can’t afford higher education. In
Ireland, third level tuition fees has been made free since 1997, and for other
student studies, interest-free or cut-rate loans are provided by banks to
students. In countries like India, loans for students to pursue their studies
either in India or abroad are provided by nationalized banks at low interest
rates.
Hence, we conclude that most of the developed and developing
countries are in favor of providing low-interest or interest-free loans with
options to pay in installments after the student’s studies are completed and
they get a job. Every country would like to see their students prosper at a
professional level and contribute towards the GDP and the overall positive
development of the nation in whatever way they can. In fact, many universities
now grant scholarships to deserving students for various courses as they firmly
believe that students should not be deprived of an education just for a few
hundred dollars. Their progress cannot be hampered … and the risks for the
countries supplying the loans is manageable.