"Demand for educational loans continues to grow"

In the midst of the admission campaign, applicants decide on their future profession and choose where to continue their studies. Some expect to enroll in budget places, while others are considering paid tuition. Today, in Russia, an educational loan with state support at a rate of 3% per annum is available only for certain specialties. At the same time, discussions are underway to create a market-based educational loan that will not be subject to regulation for ordinary consumer loans and will expand the list of specialties for students, Ivan Safonov, head of Mortgage and Education Loans at T-Bank, said in an interview. According to him, there is already a discussion with the authorities about the need for legislative changes, for example, in terms of calculating the debt burden for students. How this will affect future students and why the demand for educational loans continues to grow — in an exclusive interview with Izvestia.

— What is an educational loan and how does it differ from a regular consumer loan?

— The main difference is its targeted nature. If the borrower can use a consumer loan at his discretion, then an educational loan with a discounted rate of 3% is intended solely to pay for tuition. The money is not transferred to the student, but directly to the educational organization, so it is impossible to use it for other purposes.

— Who can apply for such a loan?

— Any Russian citizen over the age of 14. If the borrower is under the age of 18, the consent of the parent or legal representative will be required. After reaching the age of majority, the decision of the applicant himself is sufficient.

— Which universities can apply for such a loan?

— The program of educational loans with state support applies to universities with state accreditation. Currently, T-Bank issues such loans only for higher education programs.

"The number of referrals for educational loans has decreased by about 70%"

— A list of specialties for which you can get an educational loan with state support has recently appeared. What has changed?

— Until December 2025, it was possible to apply for such a loan for almost any field of study. Now the program applies only to priority specialties, primarily engineering, mathematics, teaching and medical. According to our estimates, the number of areas that are available for obtaining a loan with state support has decreased by about 70%.

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— How did this affect the payments?

There are still many people who want to get an educational loan, but banks are required to follow the requirements of the state program. The number of refusals has increased, and precisely because of the limited list of specialties.

— What should applicants do if their chosen specialty is not included in the list?

— So far, the only option is to apply for a regular consumer loan. However, we have been in discussions with the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, the Bank of Russia and other market participants for a long time. We are discussing the creation of a market-based educational loan.

Such products are already appearing on the market, but it is important for us not only to offer another high-interest educational loan option, but to make it truly affordable for students. To do this, we need changes in legislation that will allow us to take into account the specifics of this audience when issuing such loans.

— At what stage is this work?

— Legislative changes are currently being discussed. The main task is to remove educational loans from the regulation that currently applies to ordinary consumer loans. For example, students most often do not have a steady income, and one of the key requirements when issuing a loan is to calculate the debt burden. Accordingly, it is almost impossible to give them a loan. In addition, a number of other requirements are not always suitable for educational loans, for example, the cooling-off period, because tuition fees are often tied to specific deadlines set by the educational institution.

Therefore, for educational loans, it is necessary to change the calculation of the debt burden of customers, banking regulations, reservation requirements and a number of other provisions. This will create a product that is both sustainable for banks and affordable for students.

"The maximum amount of 6 million is enough for almost all our clients"

— How much can I get on an educational loan?

— Now the minimum amount is 30 thousand rubles. At the same time, the maximum amount of 6 million is enough for almost all of our clients. Exceptions are rare, for example, when it comes to long—term medical training programs with high tuition fees.

— Is it necessary to apply for a loan for the entire tuition fee?

- no. A student can apply for a credit limit for the entire tuition fee, but use only the amount that is needed at a particular moment. For example, you can apply for a limit of 5 million rubles, but transfer only 1 million to a university. In this case, the debt arises only for the amount actually used, and it will be necessary to pay for it. This allows you not to make a new transfer before each semester and pay for tuition as needed.

— Is it possible to transfer to another university or change your specialty?

— It depends on when the educational loan was issued. If the loan is issued before December 1, 2025, the student can transfer to another university or change his specialty, including one that is not currently on the priority list. In this case, nothing will change for an already issued loan, its terms will remain.

If the loan is issued after this date, then new rules will apply when transferring: the new specialty must be included in the list of areas with state support. Otherwise, you will not be able to use the loan to pay for the next semesters, although the preferential rate for the amount already issued will remain.

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— What happens if a student takes a sabbatical?

— Academic leave is not considered termination of studies. It simply extends the term of the loan agreement, if executed properly.

— And if the student is expelled?

— In this case, the educational loan is no longer considered a target loan. The preferential rate of 3% ceases to be effective, and the loan is transferred to the terms that were stipulated in the contract when it was signed.

— How has demand changed over the past year?

— The demand for educational loans continues to grow. Traditionally, interest is especially high in the summer, during the admission campaign. At the same time, the number of approved applications decreased due to legislative changes.

— Do you expect further growth in demand?

- yes. We see that interest in educational loans continues to grow. People increasingly perceive education as a long-term investment and choose the opportunity to study at a higher level.

For many applicants, an educational loan is an opportunity to choose a university, focusing primarily on the quality of education and future career prospects, and not just on current financial opportunities.