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You have graduated from your secondary school and decided that you want to further your education in Malaysia. Now, for the elephant in the room:
How do you fund your education? Time for your PTPTN application.
Many students rely on their parents for help, and some families apply for the PTPTN loan to lessen the financial burden of higher education. But did you know these student loans are beneficial to you in the long term?
Student loans can work in your favour when you use them wisely.
PTPTN makes it easy for students to apply and even pay online, not to mention the low monthly repayment amount.
Before you learn how to apply for PTPTN, let us debunk some of the misconceptions students have about it. Read on to explore tips on managing your loan and saving on interest charges.
5 Common Misconceptions About the PTPTN Loan
I cannot afford higher education, so I should not apply for a student loan.
A PTPTN loan can help you afford higher education and improve your financial situation in the long run. Do well in class, and you can even enjoy an exemption from the repayment!
By taking a PTPTN loan for your studies, you will be able to acquire the latest skills, knowledge, and qualifications needed for an entry-level job with a higher salary after graduation.
I should not borrow money from PTPTN because it will burden my family.
PTPTN loans have an interest rate of 1%, or ujrah, a Shariah-compliant service fee. Yet, PTPTN determines your loan repayment amount and the duration of the repayment period.
On the bright side, you will have a grace period of 12 months after graduation before the first repayment amount is due. If you pay back a certain amount within a timeframe, you might even earn a discount!
You cannot negotiate with PTPTN for more time to pay them back.
If you are struggling to repay your PTPTN loan, it is perfectly acceptable to negotiate with PTPTN on your repayment duration. As long as you pay it back on time, you do not have to worry about changing your payment date.
PTPTN Malaysia recommends that
- Students who owe PTPTN less than RM10,000 complete their repayment within 5 years.
- Students owing RM10,000 to RM22,000 should repay in 10 years, and
- Those owing RM22,000 to RM50,000 should repay in 15 years.
- Students who owe more than RM50,000 can pay within 20 years.
Caution:
PTPTN loans need to be repaid, and there are multiple channels for you to do so, even online.
Students who fail to repay their loans are banned from leaving the country, blacklisted by the Central Credit Rating System, and could face legal action.
This ban means you will not be able to travel overseas for work or holidays. On top of that, banks will also be less likely to lend you money in the future for your first house or a car.
It does not matter how soon I repay my PTPTN loan.
While there is nothing wrong with repaying your loan slowly, the faster you repay your PTPTN loan, the less interest you will incur.
For example, taking 10 years to pay a PTPTN loan of RM14,000 means you will be charged RM1,400 in interest by PTPTN.
However, if you take 5 years, you will only be charged RM700, which is half the interest amount!
The PTPTN application is complicated and requires a lot of documents.
Some students choose not to apply because they feel that the PTPTN application process requires a lot of documents.
That is true to some degree since PTPTN needs to verify your household financial status before deciding whether to offer a loan to you. Therefore, having the documents ready before you apply for PTPTN means the chances of getting rejected due to incomplete information are slim.
Alternatively, you can also use a checklist to help you with the process.
How To Save On PTPTN Interest Charges?
PTPTN loans charge a 1% flat interest rate, which means you need to pay an extra 1% of your original loan amount.
This amount will multiply every year until you have completely paid off the loan.
To help you visualize, we have prepared this example below. It shows a student who borrowed RM12,000 from PTPTN, including a breakdown of their yearly and monthly repayments.
There are 2 ways that you can save on PTPTN loan interest charges.
- You can start repaying your loan immediately after graduation.
- You can do so by paying the same PTPT-stipulated amount.
By completing these steps, you will save on interest charges for a year. Some students also opt to settle the loan amount in full within the first year after graduation!
However, always remember that you should pay what you can afford and never bite off more than you can chew.
If you are unable to start repaying your loan early, do consider paying more than what PTPTN has set for you. This way, you will be able to settle your student loan earlier than scheduled.
Bonus Tip
If you obtain first-class honours for your degree, your PTPTN loan will become a “scholarship”. That means you do not have to pay back the loan at all!
Despite that, do note that the requirements to graduate with first-class honours vary from programme to programme. Before you begin applying, make sure you are aware of it and check in with your university.
To recap,
Getting a higher education in Malaysia is a huge leap of commitment. Hence, knowing what and where your resources are will give you the support you need.
Other than the PTPTN loan, Uni Enrol is another platform that gives you educational aid. Stroll along our Pathway Match to find out which one of the 300 courses fits your budget and preference.
Remember, while burning passion fuels your education, that does not mean that you must burn your savings.
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