Does the loan interest start from the day I start my course or from when I get the money in Ireland/Germany?

Your loan interest begins the day the funds are disbursed to you, not the day your course officially starts. Lenders count you as using their money from the moment it leaves their control, so if disbursement happens weeks or months before your course begins, interest is already ticking during that gap.

Disbursement Date Versus Course Start Date

Why This Timing Catches Students Off Guard

• If your funds are released in installments across the year, each installment starts its own interest clock separately.
• A gap between disbursement and enrollment, common with loans tied to lenders such as SUSI-style bodies in Ireland or KfW and BAfoG style bodies in Germany, still counts as interest-bearing time.
• Ask your specific lender for the exact disbursement date in writing, since that date, not your academic calendar, drives your repayment math.

My Advice

Request your disbursement schedule in writing from your lender before you sign, and time your loan drawdown as close to your actual tuition and rent payment dates as possible so you are not paying interest on money sitting idle before your course starts.