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Federal Direct Loans: How to Apply and Further Information

Course Eligibility

The following courses are eligible to receive a Federal Direct Loan:

  • Bachelor’s Degree

  • Masters or PhD courses

In conjunction with details of specific types of courses that are not eligible as laid out below: 

The following courses are NOT eligible to receive a Federal Direct Loan:

  • Courses leading to a diploma or certificate

  • Medicine or medical courses

  • Nursing and Midwifery courses

  • Courses taught with partners who are not eligible to deliver US loans

  • A course offered in whole or in part by distance learning

 

 

How to Apply for a Federal Direct Loan

Please note you are required to apply for a loan each year.

Step 1. Complete your FAFSA application   

- If you meet the eligibility criteria and you wish to apply for a US Federal Loan, you will need to complete a FAFSA application.

- In order to complete your FAFSA, you will need to create a FSA ID and a password- You will need to include DMU’s Federal Direct Loan School Code G23105 on your FAFSA

Once your FAFSA is complete, a Student Aid Report (SAR) will be produced. This document will be used by the university to determine your loan eligibility. 

The eligibility criteria for US Federal Loans is set by the US Department for Education. Your eligibility for US Federal Loans is assessed based on the information provided on your FAFSA.

You must also:

  • Be enrolled (and continue to be enrolled) on a course on at least a half-time basis (50% of a full-time or more)

  • Be studying an eligible, degree-bearing course

  • Make satisfactory academic progress during your course

  • Be studying in the UK

Step 2. Apply for PLUS loan (if applicable)

- Apply for a PLUS loan

- Obtain your PLUS credit check 

- You will need to include DMU’s school code G23105 on your PLUS loan request

- If you don’t wish to apply for a PLUS loan, you can skip this step

Step 3. Complete your Master Promissory Note(s) (MPNs) for Staffords, PLUS (or both)

- A Master Promissory Note (MPN) is a legal document in which you promise to repay your loan(s) and any accrued interest and fees to the US Department of Education. The MPN will also explain the terms and conditions of your loan(s).

- Save the MPNs as pdf files to your computer

- You will need to include DMU’s school code G23105

 

Step 4. Complete Entrance Counselling

- You must complete Entrance Counselling if you are a new student.

- Save the completion certificate as a pdf file

- If you are a continuing student, and have already completed entrance counselling, you can skip this step

 

Step 5. Email your documents to us at us.funding@dmu.ac.uk

You will need to include the following:

      • PDF copy of MPN for Stafford
      • Confirmation of Entrance Counselling completion
      • The amount of loan you wish to borrow
      • Confirmation that your FAFSA has been submitted and checked for errors       

If you have also applied for a PLUS loan, you will also need to include:

      • PDF copy of MPN for PLUS (Parent or Graduate)
      • Copy of credit denial and/or approval

 

Step 6. Notification of loan availability

- Once we have checked the information you have supplied, we will contact you. 

- DMU will calculate your Cost of Attendance and let you know what loan is available to you. 

- Once we have received confirmation from you that you would like to proceed with the loan and the loan value, we will certify your loan.

- We will then post and email a loan confirmation letter for your Tier 4 visa application. Please note, you will only be able to apply for a Tier 4 student visa from UKVI, up to 90 days before the start date of your course.

- Returning students will be emailed with their loan confirmation details only.

Retaining eligibility for your Federal loan

In order to continue to receive your US loan you must:

  • Be registered (and continue to be registered) on a course on at least a half-time basis (50% of a full-time or more)
  • Be studying an eligible, degree-bearing course
  • Make satisfactory academic progress during your course
  • Be studying in the UK

 

Changing the Status of your Studies

If the status/details of your studies changes at any time (including pre-arrival at DMU), you must email us.funding@dmu.ac.uk immediately. For example, if:

  • You transfer to a different course
  • You change your mode of study (e.g. full-time to part-time, or to less than half-time)
  • You withdraw from your programme
  • You take a leave of absence from your studies

 

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us:

      • us.funding@dmu.ac.uk
      • 0116 257 7301 or 0116 257 7313
      • Or visit the Student Finance and Welfare Team in the Student Gateway.

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