Korea Student Aid Foundation Offers Interest-Free Loans Covering Full Tuition for Rural College Students

The Korea Student Aid Foundation (Chairman Bae Byungil) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced on July 14 that they are now accepting applications for student loans for college and graduate students from rural areas for the second semester of 2025. This initiative aims to reduce the educational expenses of agricultural and fishing households and to provide equal educational opportunities.

For this year's second semester, students can borrow the entire amount required for college or graduate school registration with zero interest. When applying, both the grace period and the repayment period can be set for up to 10 years each.

Promotional Material for Student Loans for College Students from Rural Areas

The student loan program for college and graduate students from rural areas is designed to guarantee access to higher education for the children of agricultural and fishing households by providing interest-free loans covering the full amount of tuition.

Last year, the eligibility was expanded to include students majoring in agriculture, forestry, livestock, and food-related fields in order to attract more young people to the agricultural industry and foster specialized talent. Starting from the second semester of this year, the program will further expand eligibility to include graduate students, which is expected to contribute to the long-term development of specialized professionals in agriculture and fisheries.

Eligible applicants include children (both undergraduate and graduate students) of parents who reside in rural areas or are engaged in agriculture or fisheries, individuals themselves (both undergraduate and graduate students) who are engaged in agriculture or fisheries, and undergraduate students currently enrolled in agriculture, forestry, livestock, and food-related departments at agricultural universities.

Applications for student loans can be submitted through the Korea Student Aid Foundation website or mobile app, and the application period is open until 6:00 p.m. on July 29.

To enhance convenience, starting from the second semester of this year, applications can also be submitted on weekends and public holidays. During the application period, applications may be submitted via the website or mobile app from 9:00 a.m. to midnight, regardless of the day of the week.