What age limit and income requirements are there for an education loan?

You must be between 18 and 67 years old and have a regular, verifiable income, whether from permanent employment, part-time work or self-employment. It is aimed at working people who want to expand their knowledge, not at people with no source of income. A solid income is the best basis for good terms.

Can I also get an education loan as a self-employed person?

Yes. Self-employed individuals don't face any special hurdles, but the process requires a bit more documentation. The bank usually requires your last two to three tax returns as well as business records. The process is not more complicated, just a bit more document-heavy. More on our page about loans for self-employed individuals.

How long is the withdrawal period for an education loan?

After signing the loan agreement, you have 14 days to withdraw without giving a reason. That is your statutory right of withdrawal under Art. 16 CCA. The period runs from the signing of the contract, not from the payout.

Can I deduct the education loan from my taxes?

That depends on your canton and the type of education. Course costs for professionally relevant further training can be claimed as a special deduction in many cantons, often also part of the loan interest. We recommend asking the responsible tax office before the course starts which expenses are recognized in your situation.

How quickly do I receive the money for my education?

The application at privatkredit.ch takes about two minutes. You receive offers within 24 hours from several banks at the same time. After signing the contract, the 14-day withdrawal period runs (Art. 16 CCA), after which the amount is transferred to your account within a few business days. Two to three weeks usually pass from the first request to the payout.

Can I repay the education loan early?

Yes, at any time and without an early repayment penalty. Under Art. 17 CCA you can pay off the education loan whenever you feel like it. You only pay the interest up to the day of repayment, no more and no less.

Can I increase my education loan afterwards?

A subsequent increase is usually not possible without submitting a new application. If you find during your training that the original amount isn't enough, you can apply for a second loan. At privatkredit.ch this is non-binding and free of charge, you again receive several offers and choose the matching one.

Financing Education and Further Training

Education Loan: Invest in Your Future

How an Education Loan Works

A Loan That Fits Your Education Plan

An education loan is a consumer loan for financing education and further-training measures, whether CAS, MAS, MBA or another qualification. Unlike a scholarship or a cantonal loan, there is no lengthy application process and no asset check. You receive the amount directly in your account, promptly and without unnecessary hurdles.

Why go through a broker instead of applying directly at a bank? Because every single bank inquiry leaves traces and can burden your creditworthiness, often without you ever learning why an inquiry was rejected. We know the banks and know which profile has a chance at which provider. Through privatkredit.ch you submit one request and receive several offers at the same time, with terms from 4.9 percent effective annual interest and terms up to 84 months.

How much does the loan cost per month? Enter the loan amount and term into the loan calculator, it shows you the estimated monthly installment including interest. No registration, no obligation. The calculator does not replace a binding offer, you receive that after submitting your application.

What You Can Use the Loan For

Which Education and Further Training Do We Finance?

Academic further education: CAS, DAS or MAS at a university of applied sciences or university. These recognized qualifications usually cost between CHF 10'000 and CHF 35'000, often spread over several semesters.

Executive education and MBA: Part-time MBA programs or management courses can cost CHF 30'000 to CHF 80'000. The loan spreads the burden over 48 to 84 months, making the monthly load manageable.

Professional certificates and courses: Language courses, software training, project management certificates or industry-related courses. Costs range from CHF 2'000 to CHF 15'000.

Career change and reorientation: Changing profession and need a new qualification? Such a loan helps cover the costs of retraining, without financial bottlenecks during your studies.

Materials and living costs during training: Books, software licenses, a laptop or living costs when you complete intensive training alongside your job, that can also be co-financed.

No restricted purpose: You don't have to present a course certificate or tuition invoice. The money flows into your account, and you decide how to allocate it.

Requirements

Who Gets an Education Loan?

It is aimed at working people who want to expand their knowledge, not at people without their own income. Every bank checks these criteria:

Age between 18 and 67 years

Regular, verifiable income from permanent employment, part-time work or self-employment

Residence in Switzerland

No open debt collection proceedings

For permanent employees: the last three payslips

For self-employed individuals: tax returns and business records from recent years

To an Offer in Three Steps

How to Apply for Your Education Loan

Schritt 1

Submit request

Enter the loan amount and term into the loan calculator and start your non-binding request, in about two minutes.

Schritt 2

Submit application

You add your documents (payslips or, for self-employment, tax documents), and we check which banks fit your profile.

Schritt 3

Receive loan offer

Within 24 hours you receive offers from several banks at the same time and choose the best one for your situation.

Schritt 4

Finalize loan agreement

After signing, the 14-day withdrawal period runs (Art. 16 CCA), after which the amount is transferred to your account within a few business days.

Alternatives Compared

Scholarship, Cantonal Loan or Education Loan?

Before deciding on it, it's worth looking at the alternatives. Not all are available in your situation, but the comparison helps with the decision.

Criterion	Scholarship / Grant	Cantonal Loan	Education Loan
Repayment obligation	No (a gift)	Yes (interest-free / very cheap)	Yes (market rates 4.9-9.95%)
Asset check	Yes (strict limits)	Yes (means test)	No
Interest / costs	None	0-2%	from 4.9%
Processing time	2-4 weeks	4-8 weeks	24 hours
Payout form	Directly to school / course	Directly to school / course	To your account (flexible)
Availability	Canton-dependent only	Canton-dependent only	Everywhere in Switzerland
Age limit	Usually up to 35 years	Usually up to 40 years	18 to 67 years
Suitable for further training	Often not	Partially	Yes, always

Details on scholarships and cantonal loans vary by canton and are non-binding. Ask the responsible office whether you are eligible.

Before You Sign

What to Watch Out for With an Education Loan

Don't rule out combining with a scholarship

First check whether you are eligible for a scholarship or a cantonal loan. Many combine both options with such a loan to close the remaining gap.

Clarify tax deductibility in advance

Whether your course costs and loan interest are tax-deductible depends on the canton and tax status. Ask the tax office before the course starts, rather than relying on blanket statements.

Choose a realistic term

A shorter term often lowers the interest rate but increases the monthly installment. Choose a term you can also bear in case of a temporary income drop during your further training.

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions About Education Loans

An education loan is a consumer loan with no restricted purpose. You can use it to finance anything related to your personal or professional further training: course costs, tuition fees, CAS, MAS or MBA programs, language courses, software training, professional certificates, retraining, or even books, a laptop and living costs during your studies. The bank does not check exactly what you spend the money on, it just has to go into your account, and you decide.

Laufend aktualisierter Beitrag

Transparenz nach den publizistischen Leitlinien von privatkredit.ch

Stand: July 2026

Autor: privatkredit.ch Editorial Team, Specialist Editorial Team for Loans & Financing
Fachliche Prüfung: Redaktionsinterne Gegenprüfung durch Kreditfachleute
Zuletzt aktualisiert: July 7, 2026, Inhalte werden laufend aktualisiert
Unabhängigkeit: Unabhängige Recherche, ausschliesslich offizielle Schweizer Quellen

Quellen und Referenzen

1Federal Act on Consumer Credit (CCA/KKG). fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2002/593/de
2Central Office for Credit Information (ZEK). zek.ch

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