London, Aug. 25 -- London: Most conversations about studying abroad centre on ambition, prestige, and opportunity. What rarely gets told is who actually carries the heaviest financial risk when that dream is threatened. It is not the wealthy. It is about a student from a smaller town, from a humble background, with a family that has spent years quietly saving for a single shot at a different life.

Since 2007 Prodigy Finance has been serving international students , and nearly two decades of data tells a story that runs counter to what most people assume about those who study abroad. While students from well off families are certainly part of the picture, the overwhelming majority of students funded come from small towns and lower income ba...