Sure, but they go through an undergrad in English or something similar before they are a PhD, for which they take the loan, then they don't earn any money (just

Sure, but they go through an undergrad in English or something similar before they are a PhD, for which they take the loan, then they don't earn any money (just enough to subsist) while the interest on their undergrad loan accrues. Or the interest may be deferred but the loan is still there.