Gourav's Study Abroad Loan Success Story: Approval in 2 Weeks through Élan

Every student’s journey toward studying abroad is different; some sail through smoothly, while others face a storm of challenges before they can finally set sail. Gourav Thakur’s story is one of resilience, determination, and the right guidance at the right time. With almost 12 years of managerial experience and a strong academic record, Gourav had secured admission offers from both the University of Leeds and the University of Durham, along with generous scholarships from each. 

Ultimately, he chose the University of Leeds for its prestigious MBA program, ranked 72 globally, and for the University’s strong reputation, holding the #86 position in the QS World University Rankings 2026. He also earned an impressive scholarship worth £12,000 and scored a UKVI IELTS band 7. But despite this stellar profile, his education loan for UK was far from an easy journey.

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Challenges on the Road to Study Abroad Loan Approval

Gourav’s financial circumstances made the loan process extremely complex. Coming from a modest background, his mother ran a restaurant whose income was not formally documented. He had no high-earning relatives who could serve as strong co-applicants. Additionally, Gourav had a non-traditional education path, beginning work right after his 12th standard, which meant a significant gap in formal academics.

His mature age profile became another hurdle, with multiple lenders rejecting his application, and even international lenders turned him down. With no co-applicant and no collateral to offer, the road ahead looked uncertain.

Gourav’s Experience with Élan Overseas Education Loans

Realizing the need for professional expertise, Gourav reached out to Élan Overseas Education Loans. Our loan experts carefully studied his profile and suggested taking his uncle as a guarantor to strengthen the application. From the start, our team knew documentation would be the key challenge. 

We opted for a State Bank of India education loan, but the lender raised multiple requests for name corrections, gap justifications, and supporting affidavits. One major obstacle was the surname mismatch, as per his community’s tradition, Gourav’s surname differed from his parents’. This required a custom affidavit and even a gazette notification to resolve.

Our loan experts took complete responsibility, personally visiting the bank, directly connecting with the sanctioning officer, and proactively asking exactly what was needed to make the profile acceptable. They even prepared a gap certificate to justify his career breaks. By presenting Gourav’s excellent CIBIL score, strong academic history, and proven repayment potential, they convinced the bank of his eligibility.

Collateral-Free Education Loan Secured in Record Time

Due to Élan’s intervention, Gourav’s loan was processed in just one month, with final sanction from SBI in only two weeks. He secured a ?48 lakh collateral-free abroad education loan at a competitive interest rate, something he believes would have been impossible without expert guidance.

In his words, “If I had done this process alone, I would have definitely given up. Élan not only handled the documentation but also fought for my case with persistence.”

Gourav’s story is proof of how the right assistance can turn rejections into approvals. At Élan loans, our experts don’t just process applications; they strategically present student profiles, handle complex documentation, and bridge every gap to ensure the best possible loan outcome. If you’re facing hurdles in your study abroad loan journey, let Élan help you create your own success story.