One of the reasons why adults do not take up education and training is cost. Loans provide a way to cover these costs. But which schemes are used across Europe, and which work best?
Cedefop’s latest research paper reviews the use of loans for learning in 33 European countries and analyses the schemes in eight selected Member States: France, Hungary, the Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Finland, Sweden and the UK.
It examines types and levels of learning covered, conditions of access, repayment and governance, and applies five criteria to assess loan schemes: take-up rates, default rates and administrative costs, equity, impact and sustainability. 

The report looks also at how non-EU countries have improved their loan schemes, and makes recommendations for European policy and practice.