Agency: The Government has launched the Concessional Education Loan Scheme under the Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP) on July 23, 2025, to enable students to pursue tertiary education and skill development in Bhutan and India.
The initiative, funded by the Government of India, will be implemented by the Bank of Bhutan Limited (BoBL) over the period from July 2025 to June 2028.
The scheme offers a concessional annual interest rate of 4 percent without requiring collateral or linking eligibility to parents’ salaries, allowing students from diverse backgrounds to access financial support.
Under this scheme, students can avail up to Nu 1.5 million to cover tuition fees and living expenses. Tuition fees will be disbursed semester-wise directly to colleges or institutes by BoBL, ensuring payments are made on time for enrolled students.
“Higher education must not be a privilege reserved for the wealthy; it should be a right accessible to every Bhutanese student,” an official from the Joint Technical Working Group overseeing the ESP loan scheme said.
The scheme targets Class XII graduates below the age of 25 who wish to pursue undergraduate or diploma programmes in Bhutan, including self-funded seats in public colleges, as well as programmes in India.