PNB Loan for Study Abroad: University List

Quick Summary:

Punjab National Bank (PNB) offers the PNB Udaan education loan to Indian students pursuing higher education abroad. The scheme provides need-based finance for eligible courses at recognised institutions and can cover expenses such as tuition fees, hostel charges, examination fees, books, equipment, computers, and other eligible education-related expenses.

The demand for education financing has also grown significantly. According to the Department of Financial Services' Annual Report 2025-26, outstanding education loans of Public Sector Banks increased from INR 72,726 crore as of March 31, 2021, to INR 1,16,786 crore as of March 31, 2025. 

For students planning to study abroad, the university they choose can also affect the applicable PNB Udaan interest-rate category. PNB's current rate table provides a floating rate of 6.75 - 9.85% p.a. for students admitted to its top 50 institutes where a minimum of 100% collateral security is available. 

This guide explains PNB approved colleges abroad, the PNB foreign university list, PNB Udaan education loan and PNB Udaan abroad education loan features, eligibility criteria, collateral requirements, interest rates, application process, and how to verify whether your university falls under the applicable PNB category. 

Key Features of PNB Udaan Education Loan

Eligibility Criteria for PNB Udaan Education Loan

According to PNB's current scheme information, the applicant:

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  Must be a resident Indian.
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  Must have secured admission to a higher education course at a recognised institution abroad through an entrance test or merit-based selection process after completing HSC/10+2 or equivalent.
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  Must meet the requirements applicable to the selected course and institution.
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  Must have a parent or guardian as a joint borrower, as applicable under the scheme.

Courses Covered Under PNB Udaan

PNB lists eligible courses including:

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  Graduation-level job-oriented professional and technical courses
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  Postgraduate courses such as MBA, MCA, and MS
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  CIMA – London
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  CPA – USA
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  Courses covered under applicable government subsidy schemes
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  Certain degree and diploma courses such as aeronautical, pilot training, and shipping, provided they meet the applicable recognition requirements abroad.

The PNB Udaan scheme is therefore not restricted to one particular degree level, but eligibility depends on whether the course falls within PNB's stated categories.

Understanding the Approved Colleges for PNB Bank Education Loan

Students searching for PNB approved colleges for education loan often come across lists describing universities as “listed” or “top 50” institutions. PNB's current interest-rate information confirms that it has a separate top-50 institute category for PNB Udaan, with a floating rate of 6.75 - 9.85% p.a. when a minimum of 100% collateral security is available. However, the current public PNB rate page does not publish the names of those 50 institutes.

This distinction is important. A university being part of the top-50 category does not mean that the education loan is automatically sanctioned. PNB still assesses the applicant's eligibility, loan requirement, margin, repayment capacity, documentation, and applicable security.

Therefore, students looking for PNB education loan eligible universities or PNB education loan eligible colleges should confirm the current category of their institution with PNB before relying on a preferential interest rate.

PNB Approved Colleges Abroad: Interest Rate Comparison

The interest rates above reflect PNB's currently published rates and can change when the bank revises its rate structure.

Popular Foreign Universities for Education Loan by PNB Bank

Students looking for a PNB approved university list or PNB Udaan university list often want to know which international universities are commonly considered when exploring education loan options. Some popular universities include: 

How to Take Education Loan for Abroad Studies Without Visiting a Bank | Education Loan Via GyanDhan

Application Process for PNB Bank Education Loan Abroad

You can apply for PNB Bank education loan to study abroad by following the steps below. 

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  Verify whether you are eligible for a PNB Bank education loan.
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  Check with PNB whether your chosen university falls under the applicable PNB Udaan category and loan terms. 
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  Gather the following documents - 

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  Admission letter from a recognized foreign university.
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  Academic records
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  KYC documents (Aadhaar, PAN card, passport, etc.).
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  Test scores of required exams (GRE, GMAT, IELTS, TOEFL, etc.).
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  Income proof of co-applicant (salary slips, ITR, etc.).
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  Collateral documents 

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  Visit the official website of the PNB Bank and fill out the application form.
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  Scan all the documents and upload them. Ensure that all the documents are up to date to avoid any delays in the processing. 
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  Proofread your loan application and apply for the education loan. 
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  To apply offline, visit the nearest branch of PNB Bank and submit the loan application form along with the required documents.
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  You can also apply through the “Vidya Lakshmi Portal”, a government-backed platform that is designed to help students compare and apply for education loans from multiple lenders. 
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  The bank will evaluate your profile and once you get approval, they will issue a sanction letter in your name. 
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  You can request PNB education loan disbursement as per your requirements. 

Documents Required for PNB Udaan Education Loan

The exact documentation can vary depending on the applicant, course, loan amount, and collateral offered. PNB's published requirements can include:

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  Completed loan application and photographs
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  Proof of identity, age, and address
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  Academic records and qualifying examination certificates
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  Admission letter from the foreign institution
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  Course or institution details/prospectus, where applicable
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  PAN, Aadhaar, and other KYC documents
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  Details of assets and liabilities
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  Income documents of the co-applicant/joint borrower
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  Collateral-related documents such as title documents, valuation, and non-encumbrance documents, where applicable

Students should confirm the final document checklist with PNB because additional documents may be requested during the credit and security assessment.

Sources & References

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  Punjab National Bank – PNB Udaan — Official information on the PNB Udaan scheme, including eligible students, courses, loan purpose, margin, security, moratorium, repayment, and prepayment.
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  Punjab National Bank – Current Interest Rates on Advances — Current PNB Udaan interest-rate categories, including the top-50 institute rate and rates for other institutions.
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  Punjab National Bank – Education Loan FAQs — Information on eligibility, co-obligants, margin, security, documentation, application, processing fees, and repayment.
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  Punjab National Bank – Service Charges Related to Retail Advances — Current processing and documentation charges applicable to education loans, including loans for studies abroad.
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  Department of Financial Services – Annual Report 2025-26 — Government data on education-loan growth across Public Sector Banks and the Model Educational Loan Scheme.

Key Takeaway

PNB Udaan is PNB's education loan scheme for eligible Indian students pursuing higher education abroad. The loan is need-based, with no tangible security or third-party guarantee required up to INR 7.5 lakh under the scheme, while loans above INR 7.5 lakh require tangible collateral security acceptable to PNB. The margin is nil up to INR 4 lakh and 15% above INR 4 lakh, with repayment available for up to 15 years after the applicable moratorium.

For students specifically looking for PNB approved colleges abroad, the key point is that PNB currently identifies a top-50 institute category but does not publish the current names on its public rate page. Therefore, students should verify their university's current category with PNB instead of relying on an old online PNB foreign university list.

PNB provides financial solutions to students who are aiming to study abroad, ensuring lack of finances does not become the reason to hinder your higher education dream. However, choosing the right lender and navigating the loan application process can be overwhelming. 

This is where GyanDhan comes into the picture. We help students compare loan options from 20+ lenders, understand the loan terms, and complete the documentation and application process. So far, we have helped 35,000+ students, facilitated ₹11,000+ crore in loan disbursals, and helped students explore options across 3,400+ universities. Check your loan eligibility today to secure the best financing option for your study abroad journey. 

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