Avanse education loans to have lower rates for female students

Mumbai: Avanse has launched an education loan for female students with lower processing fees and a waiver of the last 12 instalments. The special product, SWALAKSH, introduced on International Women’s Day 2025, aims to support women pursuing higher education abroad.It offers a 0.25% interest rate concession, a flat Rs. 10,000 processing fee, and additional benefits of Rs. 10,000 for students with an academic score above 80% or a CGPA of 3.5. The last 12 EMIs will be waived, reducing the repayment burden.Avanse, India’s second-largest education-focused NBFC, aims to increase the percentage of female students it funds. As of Mar 2024, women comprised around 30% of its total funded students, a figure that has remained stable over the years. The company is committed to growing this share and has launched the #StartYourStory campaign on social media to encourage more women to pursue higher education. The campaign highlights financial freedom, new opportunities, and the importance of education.CEO Amit Gainda said education is a key tool for empowerment, and this initiative reinforces Avanse’s commitment to supporting female students. He noted that India has taken steps to improve gender parity in STEM fields and hopes SWALAKSH will help fund more women pursuing STEM courses. The initiative aligns with the govt’s focus on increasing women’s participation in higher education, which the President recently emphasized as crucial to India’s goal of becoming a developed nation by 2047.Avanse provides education financing across multiple segments, including international and domestic student loans, executive education, and skilling programs. It also funds private educational institutions, primarily K-12 schools in tier I peripheral and tier II cities. With a focus on seamless and affordable financing, the company continues to innovate in the education finance space. SWALAKSH is expected to drive greater female participation and marks another step toward inclusive education financing.