What to watch for
Four things that cost students money. The first one catches nearly everybody.
Interest while you study
Most no-collateral loans charge interest from day one, even when repayments start later. On a three-year course that can add a fifth to what you owe before your first payment.
Anyone asking for a fee up front
Legitimate lenders take their money from the interest, never from a fee to "process" or "guarantee" your application. A fee before approval is a scam.
Currency risk
You borrow in dollars or pounds and repay in dollars or pounds, but you may be earning in something else. A 10% currency move is a 10% larger loan.
The scholarship you did not apply for
Interest at 15% over ten years roughly doubles what you borrowed. An afternoon spent on a scholarship application is worth more per hour than almost anything else you will do.
Borrow less
Every pound a scholarship covers is a pound you do not repay at 15%. Our top 12 fully funded awards are in one place, and the eligibility check takes a minute.
Borrow less in the first place
Every pound of funding you win is a pound you never repay with interest.
Fully Funded Scholarships
3 pagesTwelve awards that cover tuition, flights and rent — and who each one is really for.
See the 12What It Really Costs
15 countriesTuition, rent and the bank balance the embassy asks to see, added up per country.
Compare costsHow to Apply, Step by Step
5 pagesThe order to do things in, and the small mistakes that sink good applications.
Start hereAm I Eligible?
5 questionsFive questions, then the awards you actually qualify for. No sign-up.
Check meQuestions about education loans
Can I get an education loan after 12th, for an undergraduate degree?
It is harder. Most no-collateral lenders prefer postgraduate students, because the earnings are easier to predict and the course is shorter. Undergraduate applicants usually need a co-signer or security of some kind.
If you are going straight from school, scholarships are the more realistic route.
Do I have to pay anything to apply?
No. Legitimate lenders make their money from interest, never from an up-front fee. Anyone asking you to pay to “process”, “release” or “guarantee” a loan is running a scam. Stop and report it.
Is this financial advice?
No. This is general information to help you ask better questions, and the calculator is a maths tool. We take no money from any lender and recommend none. Rates and terms change constantly — confirm everything with the lender before you commit.