A Major Lender Bets On France, Opening Loan Access At 17 Top B-Schools

Prodigy Finance is making a bold play in France.

The international student lender has added 17 of the country’s top business schools to its loan platform, aiming to knock down one of the biggest barriers facing global students: how to pay for a world-class education when local banks say no.

The new partnerships include marquee names like INSEAD, HEC Paris, ESSEC, Emlyon, and EDHEC — B-schools that attract thousands of international applicants each year but offer few viable financing options for students from outside Europe. With Prodigy now in the mix, that may be about to change.

The move comes as prospective applicants look ahead to the 2025–2026 admissions cycle. With tuition and living expenses continuing to climb, funding remains one of the most daunting hurdles for international students. To sweeten the deal, Prodigy is offering a discount of up to 3% on loan costs for those who apply by the end of May — a limited-time incentive that reflects the company’s aggressive push into the French market.

A DIFFERENT APPROACH TO STUDENT LENDING

The 17 newly supported institutions are HEC Paris, INSEAD, ESSEC, ESCP, EDHEC, Emlyon, SKEMA, Grenoble Ecole de Management, NEOMA, KEDGE, Montpellier Business School, Rennes School of Business, IESEG, EM Normandie, Burgundy School of Business, Audencia, and ESDES. Each offers at least one master’s program eligible for Prodigy funding.

Founded in 2007, Prodigy Finance has disbursed more than $2.3 billion in loans to over 45,000 graduate students from more than 150 countries. Unlike traditional lenders, Prodigy evaluates applicants based on their future earning potential — not current income or credit history. The company is authorized and regulated by the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority and is funded by a mix of impact-focused and private investors seeking both social and financial returns.

Prodigy offers loans of up to $220,000, typically without requiring a co-signer or collateral. Repayment terms extend up to 20 years, and borrowers generally don’t begin repayment until six months after graduation — a grace period designed to ease the transition into the workforce.

For Indian students, Prodigy also offers co-signer loan options that come with lower interest rates starting at 8.35%. These loans can cover the full cost of attendance, including tuition and living expenses, and are designed to address the specific credit barriers many international students face.

OPENING DOORS AT FRANCE’S TOP INSTITUTIONS

France has emerged as an increasingly popular destination for international business students, thanks to its global institutions, English-language programs, and tuition that’s often lower than in the U.S. or UK. Still, access to financing has lagged, especially for non-EU students who struggle to qualify for domestic loans. Prodigy’s expansion aims to address that funding gap — and in doing so, potentially redirect more globally mobile talent toward French business schools. Its presence could give these schools a new advantage in the competition for international applicants.

Prodigy Global Chief Business Officer Sonal Kapoor says the expansion is about more than simply growing the lender’s footprint. “At Prodigy Finance, we believe education is the gateway to life-changing opportunities,” Kapoor says. “By expanding our network to include these iconic French institutions, we are investing not just in students, but in the future of global innovation and leadership.”

Application timelines vary by program, and interested students can find more information on Prodigy’s Supported Schools page.

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