16 Banks Rejected My Loan Application, But I Refused to Give Up on My Study Abroad Dream

The first time I told my father I wanted to study abroad, he laughed. It was 2018, and I had just completed my bachelor’s in Chemical Engineering. “Focus on getting a job here,” he said. For years, that dream stayed buried until one ordinary evening when destiny intervened in the most unexpected way.

The Turning Point

My father was scrolling through Facebook when an advertisement from Leverage Edu caught his eye. I still don’t know what exactly convinced him…maybe the testimonials, maybe the statistics, but that night, he walked into my room and asked, “Vishal, do you still want to go abroad?“

I hesitated. Four years had passed since I’d given up on that dream. But something told me this was my chance!

The Battle for My Future

The real struggle began with the education loan. Rejection after rejection piled up—16 banks said no. Each “declined” stamp felt like another door slamming shut. I was ready to quit when Leverage Edu’s Fly Finance team stepped in. Their persistence led me to HDFC Credila, and finally, the loan was approved.

Then came the visa. I had heard horror stories of delays and denials, but mine was approved in a single day. It felt like the universe was whispering, “This is your path.“

First Steps in a New World

Stepping onto British soil was surreal. Liverpool wasn’t what I expected; it was better. The people didn’t just tolerate outsiders; they welcomed them. On my very first day, strangers pointed me toward the best places to eat, and one conversation even led to a part-time job at Popeyes, where I now work as a head chef.

But the honeymoon phase didn’t last. Homesickness hit me three months in. I missed the noise of home, the way my mother’s cooking filled the house with spices, even the little arguments with my siblings. Here, I was alone, cooking, cleaning, studying, working, all while battling the gnawing loneliness that comes with being thousands of miles away from everything familiar.

Why Studying Abroad is Worth It

Despite the challenges, I’ve never doubted my decision. My course, MSc in Operations and Supply Chain Management at the University of Liverpool, is everything I hoped for. The professors are Nobel laureates, the curriculum is industry-aligned, and the employment rate for graduates is 94%. Every lecture confirms that I’m exactly where I need to be.

My goal? To open my own restaurant someday, combining my supply chain expertise with my passion for food. And maybe, along the way, I’ll create a platform to teach others what I’ve learned, so they don’t have to spend a fortune to chase their dreams like I did.

A Letter to My Younger Self

If I could go back and talk to the Vishal who once swallowed his dream, I’d tell him this:

“The road is harder than you imagine. You’ll face rejections, loneliness, and moments where quitting feels easier than pushing forward. But when you stand in a foreign land, independent and thriving, you’ll realize – every struggle was worth it.”

Dreaming big isn’t about certainty. It’s about taking the leap even when the ground beneath you feels shaky.

And sometimes, all it takes is one Facebook ad and a father’s change of heart to set your life on a path you never thought possible.

Disclaimer: Vishal Chaudhari is an Indian student pursuing his master’s at the University of Liverpool. This article is a firsthand account of his personal journey as a Leverage Edu alumnus. Results and experiences are unique to the individual.