Student Loans for International Students

February 27, 2014

Financing an education to study abroad can be difficult for international students. Paying for college education in UK, USA, Australia and Canada is rather harder for them.If you are unable to obtain any scholarship or grant for your studies abroad, another option may be to take a loan to meet your costs. As the loan funding is dependent on the applicant’s country so international students may not qualify for them outside their home country.

Thousands of

students go abroad to join private universities to take undergraduate and masters degree courses. Although local students can receive loans in their country, but these valuable loans are not available for international students.

In USA, the citizen students can get government loans such as Stafford Loans which are not available for international students. However there are private bank loans and these can be available with the US cosigner.

In European Union, most full-time and part-time undergraduate students from the EU will receive a Tuition Fee Loan to pay for their college courses fee. There are maintenance grants and loans also available to help local students.

For international non-EU students the eligibility to get government loans can be complicated.

In UK, the majority of funding is derived from Government funds which is restricted to home (UK) students. This means international students are not eligible for UK Student Loans.

Bank Loans in USA for International Students

In USA, for international students that do not have the personal capital available to pay for the university degree programs, student loans may be obtained by banks.

Types of Loans for International Students

For international students, there are generally two types of loans you may apply for:

1. Loans from U.S. banks that require a U.S. based cosigner to guarantee the loan,
2. Loans from U.S. and international banks that do not require a U.S. based cosigner.

Loans from U.S. banks that require a U.S. based cosigner to guarantee the loan
Several US banks offer loans to international students who have a family member, relative or friend who is willing to cosign the loan. The cosigner (citizen or permanent resident) guarantees that the loan will be paid after you return to your home country.

The Guarantor must have a good Credit history and have to have a certain level of income.

Loans from U.S. and international banks that do not require a cosigner

Since the number of international students increasing in USA every year, there are companies who are offering student loans to international students without a US based cosigner. However these loans may require some sort of collateral to secure the loan.

There are some companies offering private loans for international and distance learning students that does not require a co-signer from another country. You should be careful here because they might charge much higher interest rates.

Popular Loans for International Students

International Student Loan Program (ISLP) and Study Abroad Loan Progam (SALP) is an alternative loan program for international students to study at approved US colleges and universities.

Global Student Loan Corporation (GSLC) offers student loans for international students. It do not require a US citizen or permanent resident to co-sign the loan.

Canadian Higher Education Loan Program (CanHELP) is an alternative loan program for Canadian college and university students to study in the USA and approved schools throughout the world.

Credila Financial Services offers private education loans to students from India. Credila is a subsidiary of the Housing Development Finance Corporation (HDFC), the largest mortgage lender in India.

In the UK, the UK Council for International Student Affairs provides advice on fees, fees status, funding and student support for international students.

Home Country Study Loans

Easiest way to get student loan for studying abroad is to apply for loan in home country. It is easy to satisfy home country loan requirements on your own sold, however, no cosigner will be required.

Scholarships Alternatives

Whatever your means, there’s no need to fall into the student loans. Students can take their time, focus on their grades and test scores, and apply for several scholarships available for international students.

Cheaper Study Destinations Alternatives

Cost of studying in countries like UK, USA, Australia and Canada can go up to £10,000 to £40,000 per year for courses which may be studied cheaper in other countries.

Students should chose least expansive study destinations such as Germany and France where annual cost can be just £ 4200 per year.

Wishing you success!

Indu Dager

Read more: Student Loans for International Students : Blog Scholarships for International Students 2014
http://scholarship-positions.com 

CASSAVA FARMING: A WAY OUT OF POVERTY IN NIGERIA

Empowering church people through cassava farming and processing

I am the humble General Overseer of the House of Prayer Ministries for All Nations worldwide. I am also the National President of Nigeria Cassava Growers Association (NCGA). I desire to share my vision for Cassava Farming with fellow believers and indeed Church leaders in order for them to see the potentials in Cassava Project for individuals and collective prosperity of Nigeria.

There are many Church leaders today that have a heavy burden in their heart to empower their miserable followers in good business. For the reason that most successful Church leaders have academic background, their passion to empower has led them to establish Schools and Universities. Unfortunately cost of education in these Universities are beyond that which the greater percentage of their followers can afford. It is my belief that, reading through this message will inspire them on how they can use Cassava Project to help and empower their followers.

Cassava is that wonderful crop that provides numerous local food varieties to the Nigerian people. Foods derived from cassava include, Gari, Fufu, Lafun, Tapioka, Starch and others. Cassava is also raw material to Ethanol, Industrial Starch and Cassava Flour. These three items are raw materials to numerous utility products with limitless domestic and International market potentials. This is to say that cassava can trigger Industrial Revolution in Nigeria such that every Senatorial District can have very viable Cassava Processing Factory and engage millions of Nigerians in Cassava Farming and Processing.

Our Dependence on Oil.

Oil provides over 80% of revenue to the government of Nigeria. Recently there are indications that the reign of oil as money provider for Nigeria will soon end, in that oil has been discovered in large quantity in nearly all other West African Countries. Besides, Countries like Brazil, Columbia, Thailand and others now power their automobile with Ethanol which is a renewable energy. America, the major market for Nigeria oil has discovered more oil. America is planning to reduce drastically her dependence on imported oil. We need to know that Malaysia that took her first palm seed from Nigeria now make from palm products alone an income that is more than double what Nigeria make from oil yearly.

All the above are my reasons for this enlightment campaign as to why our nation  should embrace Cassava Farming and use cassava as alternative source of revenue for Nigeria Nation. Fortunately, cassava can be cultivated in the 36 States of Nigeria and also at FCT.

Empowerment of the people through Cassava Farming only requires acquisition of large expanse of cultivable land and clearing the bush. The land will be allocated to the participating farmers in blocks of 5, 10, 20 hectares according to individual ability. Farming system will be mechanized, a situation that will lead to a high yield of not less than 30mt and above per hectare. If one hectare yields 30mt, 10 hectares shall yield 300mt. Sold at N10,000 per ha, the farmer realizes 3 million Naira from 10 hectares.

Finance

The Nigeria Cassava Growers Association (NCGA) will arrange finance for cultivation process for every farmer through a tripartite arrangement that include Farmers, Off-takers and the Banks. This program is already in practice. It is also possible for Church Institutions to install Cassava Processing Plants in the vicinity of the farms.

Market Potentials

As I said earlier, market for Cassava products is limitless. For example, Cassava Bread requires 3,300mt of Cassava Flour daily, if we should include 20% Cassava Flour in our bread. This is to say Cassava Roots requirement daily is 13,200mt. In 320 working days of the year, it is 4,224,000mt. As for Industrial Starch, over 10million mt of Cassava is required while Ethanol can consume another 10 million mt.  If and where our cassava can be produced cheaply enough in order to have favourable competition in the world market, and where 5 million hectares out of the 84 million hectares of arable land in Nigeria is devoted to Cassava Cultivation, adequate market is assured. This will translate to 40 trillion Naira in a year.

We all know that the Lord Jesus cares. It was His caring heart that led Him to feed 5,000 people with 5 loaves of bread and two fishes. Our Church leaders are therefore expected to care for the wellbeing of their members.

The present government has opened a wonderful opportunity for farmers to prosper. The government is ready to join hand with various Institutions to clear cultivable land in hundreds and thousands of hectares across the nation. Opportunities abound to set up Cassava Milling Factories with ease. Finance of cultivation process with 75% CBN guarantee of loans is also available while interest rate on loan for Cassava Farming has been drastically reduced to a single digit of 8%. Added to the above is the willingness of many foreign investors to collaborate with Nigeria Institutions in Cassava Project. Moreover subsidies of various dimensions are available for both Cassava Farming and Processing.

 I therefore throw the challenge to various Institutions including Public and Private Schools, Christian and Islamic Institutions, Corporate and Cooperative bodies, Retirees and various individuals to register immediately with Nigeria Cassava Growers Association directly through the following Banks;

Account name: Nigeria Cassava Growers Association (NCGA)                                                        Bank                                      Account No  

Union Bank Plc                    0037233874   

First Bank Plc                       2020748041

Zenith Bank Plc                   1010766357

                                                Unity Bank                            0020742614

Meetings and Seminars will be held for further enlightenment of the program. National office of NCGA is 1019 Gimbiya Street Area 11 Garki Abuja. Phone numbers that can be contacted for further enquiries are:

National Vice President                  -           08032110025

National Secretary                           -           08037125019 

National Treasurer                          -           08035958998

National PRO                                   -           08034590374

Assistant National Secretary          -           08065474621

Desk Officer                                      -           08037201126

Email address is nigeriacassavagrowers@gmail.com

                                                                                                Pastor Segun Adewumi

                                                                                                08039425631

                                                                                                pastorsegunadewumi@gmail.com