Approximately one out of every six Romanians residing in the UK have borrowed money through student loans.
** Title: Romanian Students in the UK: A Sharp Rise in Student Loan Borrowers**
It's no secret that the number of Romanian students taking out student loans in the UK has skyrocketed over the past decade. From a mere 5,000 a decade ago, the number swelled to a staggering 84,000 in the last academic year. That's about 15% of the Romanian community in the UK receiving student loans, as reported by Daily Mail via Economedia.ro.
This rise in student loan borrowers coincides with discussions surrounding vulnerabilities in the UK's student finance system, particularly across private colleges. The spotlight recently fell on the Oxford Business College (OBC) scandal that broke out in April 2025, following a government investigation revealing questionable recruitment practices and poor attendance monitoring.
There were indications that some individuals had enrolled in courses purely to secure loans, with no intention of attending classes. While explicit Romanian involvement is not detailed in the OBC case, broader reports have implicated Romanians in student loan fraud allegations in the UK.
For Romanian students repaying Plan 2 loans outside the UK, the UK government sets income-based repayment thresholds specific to each country. For instance, in 2025-26, Romanian citizens were required to start repaying loans when their annual earnings exceeded £11,390. Withheld income data resulted in a monthly charge of £154.40. These thresholds consider economic conditions using data from the World Bank Price Level Index.
The OBC scandal adds to concerns about franchised degree programs, with UK student loans for such courses reaching nearly £2 billion annually since 2021-22, representing a 58% enrollment increase through 2023-24. The surge in Romanian borrowers aligns with this trend, sparking concerns about the adequate oversight of cross-border education financing.
(Source: Chormail/Dreamstime.com)
- Amidst the rising number of Romanian students taking out student loans in the UK, there have been allegations of student loan fraud, with some suggesting Romanian involvement.
- In light of the OBC scandal and the surge in Romanian student loan borrowers, the UK government has set income-based repayment thresholds for Romanian students repaying their loans outside the UK, considering economic conditions using data from the World Bank Price Level Index.
- The Oxford Business College scandal has raised concerns about franchised degree programs, with the annual enrollment increase of such courses reaching 58% since 2021-22, reaching nearly £2 billion annually. This trend coincides with the sharp rise in Romanian student loan borrowers, leading to questions about the adequate oversight of cross-border education financing.
