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About the Norwegian State Educational Loan Fund (Lånekassen)

Objectives

The objective of the educational support from Lånekassen is

to remove inequality and to promote equal opportunities so that the pursuit of education is possible regardless of geographical conditions, age, sex and economical and social positions
to ensure that the work environment for students is satisfactory so that the students may work effectively
to ensure a steady supply of educated labour

Lånekassen was established in 1947, in the continuation of a series of welfare bills for students in higher education
in the first year, a total of NOK 3,3 million was allocated to ca. 2200 students
in the late 1950s, support was extended to pupils in upper secondary education
means testing of the parents’ economy was disbanded in the early 1970s
the 1980s saw a comprehensive decentralization of Lånekassen's organization and the growing importance of regional offices
the system of grants and loans was further developed and differentiated in the 1980s and 1990s
computer systems for mass-processing of applications were installed in the 1980s and 1990s

Lånekassen has about 820,000 customers in total
in 2007-2008, NOK 17.1 billions was allocated to about 289,600 customers
in 2007-2008, NOK 3,0 billions was allocated as grants and NOK 14 billions was given as loans
there are about 530,000 customers currently repaying their loans
in 2008, NOK 9,4 billions was repaid
the outstanding debt is about NOK 101,5 billions
in 2008, Lånekassen assessed 678,000 applications for educational support and for payment deferrals

head office is in Oslo
Lånekassen has offices in Tromsø, Trondheim, Ørsta, Bergen and Stavanger
Lånekassen spent around 316 man-labour years. About 210 of these were at the head office and 106 at the regional offices outside Oslo
the running expenses for 2008 amounted to NOK 262,4 million
66 percent of the staff have higher education
sixty-three percent of the staff are women