am i eligible for a us federal loan?

Page last updated:
13 Jun 2023

In order to apply for the US Federal Loans students must meet the general eligibility criteria set out by the US Department of Education.

Please visit the Student Aid website for more information.

Please note that the criteria above does not apply to students applying for Private Loans.

Am I eligible for a loan?

In addition to the criteria set out in the link above students must also meet the following:

  • Be enrolled at least half time for the duration of the course. Students who suspend, drop below half time or withdraw must contact the US Loans administrator immediately
  • Be studying an eligible, degree bearing course
  • Make Satisfactory Academic Progress throughout the course*

*The university’s SAP Policy can be viewed on the main US Loans webpage.

The SAP Policy is applicable to all Postgraduate, Undergraduates, full time and part time students in receipt of Direct Subsidised, Direct Unsubsidised, Graduate Plus and Parent Plus loans.

 

All degree courses with the exception of:

  • Nursing

Programmes of study for which we cannot certify US Loans are:

  • Distance learning and correspondence programmes
  • Postgraduate certificate in Education (PGCE)
  • Programmes which have compulsory periods of study abroad
  • Foundation programme (unless an integral part of the degree programme)
  • Diploma and Certificate programmes

Student studying one of the above programmes or are not entitled to Federal funding may be eligible to apply for a Private Loan. More information can be found on the Global Education website.

The university does not recommend any private lenders, however as far as we are aware there is only one private lender that makes loans available to US citizens. To get more information please click on the link below for GEMS the Smart Option Loan by Sallie Mae.

For courses whether there is a compulsory Erasmus/Study Abroad then the whole course is not eligible for Federal Funding and only a Private loan can be taken out.

If a student choses to have a period of study abroad and the Institute where the course is being taught is not certified to administer the US loans programme, then the student is not eligible to taking Federal loans out for the duration of the time abroad and will only be entitled to Federal Loans to cover the period of time studied at Leeds Beckett.

If the Institution abroad is part of the Title IV US Loans Programme, the student can apply to that institute for their Federal Funding, for the time they are studying there and then to Leeds Beckett for any remaining period of study undertaken at Leeds Beckett.

 

A student who is enrolled on a programme at Leeds Beckett will not have the opportunity to complete any part of the programme with one of our overseas collaborative partners, as listed in the link below.

Programmes which involve any credited study in the United States are ineligible for Federal Student Aid.

PhD candidates that are intending to perform research in the United States should contact the US loans office for advice before making any arrangements. The basic rule is that independent research done by an individual student in the United States for not more than one year is permitted, if it is conducted during the dissertation phase of a doctoral programme under the guidance of faculty, and the research can only be performed in a facility in the United States and nowhere else outside the U.S.

For more information please see our full list of ineligible courses

Programmes which involve any credited study in the United States (US) are ineligible for Federal Student Aid.

PhD candidates that are intending to perform research in the US should contact the US Loans Office for advice before making any arrangements. The basic rule is that independent research done by an individual student in the US for less than one year is permitted, if it is conducted during the dissertation phase of a doctoral programme under the guidance of faculty, and the research can only be performed in a facility in the US and nowhere else outside the US.

All degree courses with the exception of:

  • Nursing

Programmes of study for which we cannot certify US Loans are:

  • Distance learning and correspondence programmes
  • Postgraduate certificate in Education (PGCE)
  • Programmes which have compulsory periods of study abroad
  • Foundation programme (unless an integral part of the degree programme)
  • Diploma and Certificate programmes

Student studying one of the above programmes or are not entitled to Federal funding may be eligible to apply for a Private Loan. More information can be found on the Global Education website.

The university does not recommend any private lenders, however as far as we are aware there is only one private lender that makes loans available to US citizens. To get more information please click on the link below for GEMS the Smart Option Loan by Sallie Mae.

For courses whether there is a compulsory Erasmus/Study Abroad then the whole course is not eligible for Federal Funding and only a Private loan can be taken out.

If a student choses to have a period of study abroad and the Institute where the course is being taught is not certified to administer the US loans programme, then the student is not eligible to taking Federal loans out for the duration of the time abroad and will only be entitled to Federal Loans to cover the period of time studied at Leeds Beckett.

If the Institution abroad is part of the Title IV US Loans Programme, the student can apply to that institute for their Federal Funding, for the time they are studying there and then to Leeds Beckett for any remaining period of study undertaken at Leeds Beckett.

 

A student who is enrolled on a programme at Leeds Beckett will not have the opportunity to complete any part of the programme with one of our overseas collaborative partners, as listed in the link below.

Programmes which involve any credited study in the United States are ineligible for Federal Student Aid.

PhD candidates that are intending to perform research in the United States should contact the US loans office for advice before making any arrangements. The basic rule is that independent research done by an individual student in the United States for not more than one year is permitted, if it is conducted during the dissertation phase of a doctoral programme under the guidance of faculty, and the research can only be performed in a facility in the United States and nowhere else outside the U.S.

Programmes which involve any credited study in the United States (US) are ineligible for Federal Student Aid.

PhD candidates that are intending to perform research in the US should contact the US Loans Office for advice before making any arrangements. The basic rule is that independent research done by an individual student in the US for less than one year is permitted, if it is conducted during the dissertation phase of a doctoral programme under the guidance of faculty, and the research can only be performed in a facility in the US and nowhere else outside the US.

What if I'm not eligible for Federal Loans?

If a student is ineligible for Federal Loans, students can look into whether they are eligible to apply for a private loan. Private loans can also be an option for students who enrol on programmes of study that do not qualify for Federal Funding.

Our university does not recommend any private lender. However, as far as we are aware there is only one private lender that makes loans available to US citizens. Find out more information on the Global Education Management Services website.

Code of conduct concerning loans

In order to prohibit a conflict of interest with the responsibilities of an agent with respect to private educational loans, all agents at our university with the responsibility for US loans are prohibited from:

  • Revenue-sharing arrangement with any lender
  • Receiving gifts from lender, a guarantor or a loan servicer
  • Contracting arrangement providing financial benefits from any lender
  • Directing borrowers to particular lenders or refusing or delaying loan certifications
  • Offer of funds for private loans
  • Advisory board compensation

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