Eduloan: Opening Doors Across All Markets

Since 1996, Eduloan has helped over 720 000 South Africans to unlock potential by furthering their education. Eduloan is dedicated to offering a variety of loan solutions to students, parents, businesses and corporates as well as civil employees to further their education in order to unlock potential and to contribute to a brighter South Africa.

Whether you, your child or your employee is looking to complete school, graduate from college, technicon or university or if you require a solution to invest in your employees’ skills, we have a product to make education more accessible:

	Students and parents	Bursars and sponsors	Business and corporates	Civil employees	Schools and Tertiary institutions
Tuition loans for fulltime and part-time studies at school, university, collage and technicon	l	l	l	l	l
Further education opportunities to up-skill	l	l	l	l	l
A refresher course at a training facility	l	l	l	l	l
Study related equipment (including laptops and tablets)	l	l	l	l	l
Accommodation loans	l	l	l	l	l
Salary deduction	l	l	l	l	l
Fund and bursary management	l	l	l	l	l
Training fund management			l	l	l
Expense management			l	l	l
SCI fund management			l	l	l
Student attendance management	l	l	l	l	l

We have allocated over R 3, 7 billion in study loans and continue to pioneer products to allow South Africans to further their education, despite the current financial climate.

For more information and to find out how Eduloan can assist you to unlock even more potential, visit our website, contact out call centre 0860 55 55 44 or sms ‘EDU’ to 32150 and we will call you back!

Let’s Take a Look at FET Colleges as an Option to Further Your Studies

As the Matric results are released, many students will be waiting for their letter of acceptance to their preferred university, college or technicon. For many students, late acceptance and last-minute applications are a reality. The Minister of Higher Education and Training recently presented a white paper announcing plans for more opportunities for South African youth.

The facts…

South Africa currently has 25 universities, 50 FET colleges and 21 Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) that offer approximately 396 449 opportunities. The Higher Education and Training department is hoping to open a further 12 FET colleges to provide even more opportunities to students who want to choose a practical and work-ready solution. This is all part of the department’s plan to increase the number of enrollments to FET colleges from 500 000 to 2.5 million.

In the past two years, more and more students have been choosing FET colleges. FET courses are career oriented and offer students an academic as well as a practical study experience.

Right, more people are enrolling at an FET college, but why should I?

FET colleges offer a variety of industry-related courses that can help you get a job (so you can study to become something specific – like a builder, hairdresser or a mechanic). If you enjoy practical learning, FET colleges are great, as they have an offer great hands-on practical training to support your academic learning.

You can read our blog that answered six questions about FET colleges, you can contact Eduloan as soon as you have decided which FETcollege you would like to study at and one of our consultants will be able to give you all the information you require to get the financial assistance to realize your dream. For more information or to speak to one of our Eduloan consultants, visit our website www.eduloan.co.za.

Introducing The New Eduloan Website – 5 Things You Can Do Efficiently

At Eduloan we do everything we can to help you to unlock your potential and pave your way to success. In addition to our educational finance solutions, great customer service and on campus assistance with our branches on many major campuses across the country we now introduce to you the brand new Eduloan website: www.eduloan.co.za.

Developed and enhanced to give you all the information you need on one easy to use platforms, we have made a list about how this useful tool can help you unlock your potential with a simple click of a button.

Apply For A Study Loan Online

You can now apply for a study loan by either downloading an application form in a preferred language of your choice, completing it and submitting it to us or you can complete the process completely online .

Apply For A Study Tool Loan

Whether you need a loan for textbooks, a laptop or tablet, musical instrument, a scientific calculator, a stethoscope or safety equipment, we can assist you with a loan to cover all your study tools and equipment while you study. You can apply for this online or by downloading an application form from our website.

Calculate Your Installments Using Our Repayment Calculator

Find out how much your loan will cost you by using our repayment calculator tool. Just complete all the fields and the system will automatically calculate your monthly instalments for you, including all related fees. You can adjust the monthly instalment by increasing or decreasing the number of months or your loan amount to accommodate your budget.

Access Your Account Information

Do you want to keep an eye on what’s happening on your account? We have an easy access portal that allows you to view your application status, manage your Eduloan account, view your account statement and update your personal details.

View Our Exclusive Laptop and Tablet Deals

At Eduloan, we offer great laptop and tablet deals! When choosing your laptop or tablet, you will be able to select from leading brands like HP, Samsung, Lenovo, Toshiba, Dell and a whole lot more. Because we know how important the software is, your laptop comes preloaded with a Microsoft operating system and Microsoft office program for maximum performance. Many of our offerings also come with a service warranty. So, in the unlikely event that something should go wrong, simply bring it into the nearest repair centre!

Visit our new Eduloan website today and find out how we can assist you in unlocking even more potential!

Studying A B.Com – What Does It Mean And What Can You Do?

Many prospective and current students are talking about studying a B.Com. But what does that mean? Should you be studying it? What career can you follow if you study a B.Com degree? This week we take a look at the B.Com degree, answering your questions and looking at how this degree can unlock your potential!

What does B.Com stand for?

B.Com is a short term generally used for a Bachelor of Commerce degree. A B.Com generally consists of a collection of subjects that you can choose from, should you like to specialise (or major) in a certain interest field. Here is a short list of some of the specialised fields:

• B.Com in Accounting Science
• B.Com in Investment Management
• B.Com in Quantitative Management
• B.Com in Business Management
• B.Com in Economics
• B.Com in Banking
• B.Com in Law

A B.Com programme offers you the opportunity to become a public or private sector expert, equipping you with the knowledge and skills to focus on economics and business management.

What careers options are available to B.Com graduates?

Career options for B.Com graduates are plenty and not limited to only one or two career paths. Many B.Com graduates become accountants, auditors, information system officers, taxation specialists, marketing managers or customer relationship officers. Your role in the company could also vary from management to business planning, development and quality management or marketing. You can practice in the public or private sector and your skill does not have to be applied directly to banking or auditing. If you are interested in the fashion industry, you can still apply your skill to it by becoming an accountant at a retail brand for instance. 

What are the benefits of studying a B.Com degree?

There are several benefits of studying a B.Com degree. Here are just a few reasons you should consider a B.Com degree:

• Most B.Com degrees give you an opportunity to study the general degree initially before choosing your stream or major. This allows you to gage where your strengths are and what stream or major interests you most
• Career opportunities are not limited and that means that you have many opportunities as a B.Com graduate
• A B.Com degree is a great degree to prepare you to work in the public or the private sector
• As a B.Com graduate you are well equipped to work for a company or to excel as an entrepreneur

Where can I sign-up?

Entrance requirements for a B.Com degree include Matric exemption. You will have to have Mathematics as one of your Matric subjects, plus two languages (of which one should be English). It is however very important to confirm the specific entrance requirements of the B.Com degree offered at your chosen tertiary institution. B.Com degrees are generally offered at universities and colleges.

If you would like to apply to study a B.Com degree, you can contact us to find out how we can assist you with a loan to cover your tuition fees as well as a loan for your textbooks. And because we understand the importance of technology in the business and economic fields as well as how important it is for you to have access to information, we can also offer you a loan for a laptop or a tablet. Visit our website today to find out how we can assist you to unlock your potential as a B.Com graduate!

Keep Your 2014 Registration High On Your Priority List

Whether you are enrolling your child into school, just got accepted to your chosen college or received your letter of acceptance from your chosen university, you will be faced with the registration process sooner, rather than later. This week we take a look at why registration is important, no matter where you are studying:

Scholars

Scholars generally register well ahead of the academic year. If your child is attending grade 1, you might have had to pay your deposit before a deadline or you have until the start of the 2014 first school term to do so.

College students

Many colleges require you to register in the December prior to the start of your academic year.

University students

Many of these institutions will require you to pay a registration fee when you register. This often acts like a deposit for your studies and can even be a term’s school fees in advance or a percentage of your study fees.

Many people forget that they will have to cover these expenses and run into problems during the registration process… remember to confirm the registration details of your school, college or university and to make sure that you have funds available at the time of registration.

#TIP: Plan in advance. Ask the right questions and save money to ensure that you complete the registration process as quickly and efficiently as possible, so that you do not have to pay penalties for late registration, or worse, miss registration all together.

Eduloan is now open for 2014 loan applications. We have various loan options available and offer solutions that can assist you with registration fees and study fees for school, university, college or training. Contact us today to find out how we can assist you!

Year of The Artisan & Skills-Based Education: How To Become A Draughtsman

Draughtsmen and women translate the drawings and ideas of engineers, architects and scientists into detailed drawings. They prepare technical drawings and plans used by production and construction workers to build everything from manufactured products such as spacecraft or industrial machinery, to structures such as office buildings or oil and gas pipelines.           

Their drawings show the technical details of the structures that specify dimensions, materials to be used, and procedures and processes to be followed. Drafters fill in technical details, using drawings, rough sketches, specifications, codes and calculations supplied by engineers, surveyors or architects.

As a draughtsman, there are a variety of specialties that you can get into:

• Architectural drafters draw plans for all kinds of buildings.
• Civil engineering drafters draw plans for bridges, roads, irrigation and construction projects.
• Mechanical engineering drafters sketch plans for machines and engine parts.
• Electrical engineering drafters finalise plans for electrical circuits and wiring systems in buildings for example.
• Structural engineering drafters draw designs for towers and steel frames.
• Town and regional planning drafters draw maps of sewage, drinking water, steam, heating, cooling and conveyor installations, and they may also build models for projects.
• Cartographical drafters draw different types of maps such as cadastral, topographical and meteorological.
• Mining drafters draw plans of mines, including three-dimensional plans which could help for example, with the upgrading of safety standards. 

As a draughtsman, you could work at architectural firms, engineering companies, municipalities, construction companies, metal manufacturing companies, mining companies, contract draughtsman firms, various government firms or you can choose to be self-employed and to do freelance work.

If you…

• are meticulously accurate
• enjoy doing detailed work
• are able to concentrate for long periods of time
• have three-dimensional perception
• have good vision
• have good eye-hand coordination and free-hand drawing skills
• are interested in and have a flair for computer work
• have stamina (at times standing is required)

… then you could be a perfect candidate to become a draughtsman!

Draughtsmens' training consists of 18 months of academic training, available at most universities of technology, FET colleges and technicons, and 18 months of in-service training at an approved firm.

You can contact Eduloan as soon as you have decided which school or training college you would like to study at and one of our consultants will be able to give you all the information you require to get the financial assistance you need to realise your dream of becoming a draughtsman. For more information or to speak to one of our Eduloan consultants, visit our website www.eduloan.co.za.

Why Education And Experience Matter

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“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.” Mahatma Gandhi

Gandhi had many wise words, but these words align well with our topic of discussion for this week. The debate around whether education equips students with the relevant skills and expertise to function optimally in the working world, has been longstanding. This week we look at some of the key benefits of education and experience, to establish why they complement each other to ensure you are well equipped for your future career:

Your education…

• . . . ensures that you develop basic skills that you would require in the working world. Whether your teacher encourages you to share books or other learning equipment with your fellow students or teaches you the importance of time management for example.
• . . . gives you the theoretical framework for your chosen career, ensuring that you operate within legal and industry standards.
• . . . gives you the opportunity to benefit from developing skills within a controlled environment, allowing you to bounce ideas off peers and experiment with different skills that you might need in the working world.
• . . . gives your CV the “stamp of approval” and indicates to future employers that you have the required knowledge to practice in your chosen field.

Experience…

• …allows you to observe professionals who already work in your chosen industry.
• …offers you a real look into the day-to-day challenges of the job.
• …encourages you to practice your skills and get rewarded for the product or service that you offer.
• …gives you extra knowledge that you cannot learn from a textbook.

For these reasons it is very important to balance your education and your experience to get the best results and to keep on achieving more in your career. Remember that you can always continue to further your education or training, even while you are building experience and working in your chosen career!

At Eduloan, we have several loan options that you can consider – whether you are studying full-time, part-time or whether you want to further you studies with a short course, our loan offering allow you to unlock even more potential without the burden of paying off your debt after you complete your studies! Contact us today to find out how we can assist you with a study loan!