[brandonmenc]

> swedish student loan

Genuinely curious how common borrowing money for university is in Europe. A lot of people here in the states are under the impression - myself included - that education is more or less free of charge over there.

[cipher_system]

Almost everyone does it, but it's for living expenses, books and such, not for tuition.

Currently, a university student borrows around $800 and gets around $300 each month. Then you are supposed to pay back what you borrowed during 25 years starting 6 months after you stopped borrowing.

It really is a great system imho.

edit: Had to check, apparently only 70% takes student loans.

[b9a2cab5]

Hah, good luck paying for living expenses in the Bay Area with that kind of money. $1100 will get you a shack built in the 1920's with 3 roommates and drug addicts at your front door.

[1cvmask]

In many parts of the world government schools are often free or close to free. But the private universities are not and most governments do not offer student loans for private schooling as there is the freeish government alternative (if you pass the university entrance exam). That’s why many of them are both harder and more prestigious than the private sector ones. Some countries have mandatory service for a couple of years for free medical schooling though.

[guitarbill]

Well, it's cheaper but not always free. And there are costs apart from tuition. You may want to study at a uni that isn't close, so you have to move/move out and rent a place. Then there's food, etc. I believe student loans sometimes are explicitly for that, so you aren't dependent on a grant from a certain uni if your parents can't cover those costs.

[chrisseaton]

Like the idea that health insurance isn’t a thing in Europe, it’s not the case everywhere.