Also asked as: “Is student loan haram UK?” · “Can Muslims take student loans?”
Why many scholars object
The loan balance grows with interest, which is riba. On this view, taking the loan is not permitted unless there is genuine necessity.
Why some scholars permit it
Repayments are a fixed percentage of income above a threshold, are collected through the tax system, and any balance is written off after a set number of years. Some scholars argue this makes it closer to a graduate tax than a normal interest-bearing loan, or that education is a pressing need.
What to do
Check whether a Shariah-compliant "Alternative Student Finance" product is available when you apply, look into scholarships and bursaries, and ask a scholar about your situation.
Test what you know
Take the 10-question "Halal or not?" quiz.
Related questions
Written by the Halal Check Online editorial team. Last reviewed 2026-10-06. How we write these answers · Suggest a correction