What affects your loan offer? A simple breakdown for students

You’ve chosen your university. You know what comes next. Now you’re probably asking a practical question, what actually affects the loan offer I receive?

It’s a fair question. Loan offers are not the same for every student. They are based on a mix of factors linked to your course, your application and the overall profile you present.*

Once you understand the main factors involved, the process starts to feel much clearer.

What does a loan offer include?

Your loan offer will usually set out:

• How much you may be able to borrow*

• Your personalised rate*

• How your repayments work*

That offer is based on a range of information used to assess your application and determine what may be available to you.

1. Your university and programme

Your chosen university and course can play an important role in your loan offer.*

This can include factors such as:

• The university you plan to attend

• The type of programme you choose

• The typical outcomes linked to that field of study

For example, some programmes may lead to clearer career pathways than others. That can form part of the overall picture when your application is assessed.*

2. Your future career potential

Some lending models look beyond your past financial history and consider your likely career path after graduation.*

That can include things like:

• The field you plan to enter

• Demand in that area

• Typical career outcomes associated with similar qualifications

This is one of the ways your application may be assessed more broadly, rather than relying on one factor alone.*

3. Your academic background

Your previous academic experience can also form part of the assessment.*

This may include:

• Your earlier qualifications

• Academic performance

• Relevant professional or academic experience

Together, these details help build a fuller picture of your readiness for the programme you’ve chosen.*

4. Your overall financial profile

Your financial profile can also affect the offer available to you.*

This may include details such as:

• Other funding you have in place

• Scholarships or savings

• Your overall ability to support your study plans

This is not about expecting every student to arrive with significant funds. It is about understanding the wider context of your application.*

5. Your loan amount and study costs

The amount you can borrow is linked to your actual education costs.*

That can include:

• Tuition fees

• Living costs, within school-defined limits

This helps ensure the loan is based on the cost of your studies rather than an amount that goes beyond what is needed.

And when we send the funds to your school, the money goes directly to the institution.

6. How repayment works

Your repayment structure is also part of your loan offer.*

Our loans include USD 100 per month in-school payments, and full monthly repayments begin 6 months after your course is complete.*

This is important to understand early, so you know how the loan fits into your wider study plans and post-study budget.

Bringing it all together

Your loan offer is shaped by a combination of factors, including:

• Your university and programme

• Your likely career path

• Your academic background

• Your overall financial profile

• Your study costs and loan amount

• Your repayment structure

It is a fuller view of your application, designed to reflect more than one single data point.*

A quick example

Imagine two students applying for funding.

One chooses a programme with a clear route into a high-demand field. The other chooses a programme where career outcomes are less defined. Even if both students are strong applicants, the offers they receive may differ based on the overall assessment of their profiles.

Final thoughts

Understanding what affects your loan offer can help you prepare more confidently.

It gives you a clearer sense of what lenders may look at, helps you ask better questions, and makes it easier to plan your next step.

Most of all, it helps you see the process for what it is, a decision based on a range of factors connected to your study plans and application profile.

Ready to see your options?

If you’re planning your next step, you can check your loan eligibility and see what offer may be available based on your profile and chosen programme.* Check your loan eligibility.*

*Loan and promotion offers are subject to our eligibility, funding, and credit assessment criteria. Loan amounts are subject to the cost of attendance limits set by schools.