Student loans

Undergraduate students

You can find information on undergraduate financial assistance on our funding for undergraduate UK and EU students page.

Postgraduate students

You can find information on postgraduate financial assistance on the Postgraduate funding page.

Part-time students

You can find information on the part-time students fee page

US student loans

Eligibility

With the exception of the MBChB Medicine, Nursing, Certificate and Diploma programmes all other full and part-time programmes are eligible for Federal Direct, Parent Plus and Graduate PLUS loans. However, we are not authorised to certify eligibility for any grants.

Off-campus students

Postgraduate research students who spend any period of off-campus study in the US are not eligible for federal loans for that period. Your entitlement will be reduced accordingly.

Application deadlines

New students can apply as soon as they returned their Acceptance and Financial Guarantee Form to the University of Aberdeen. Returning students should apply from April onwards. Early applications will ensure that your funding is in place at the start of the academic year.

Application procedure

You will need to apply for your PIN for the loan process. You will also need the University of Aberdeen school code: G09368. Complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). We will use the Student Aid Report (SAR) produced from the FAFSA to assess your eligibility, so make sure all your details are correct. As the only document we access online is your SAR, you need to email our US Loans team all of the following documents before we can assess your entitlement:

• Screenshot of Entrance Counselling
• A copy of the Master Promissory Note (MPN) for each loan you apply for
• Evidence of a positive credit check if applying for a Graduate or Parent PLUS Loan

Once you email the US Loans team a copy of your documents, we will assess your entitlement and prepare an award letter for visa purposes. You can check the status of your application on the Direct Loans website.

How much can I borrow?

Please consult the Direct Loans website for information on the loan limits.

Award letter

Once your loan entitlement is assessed, we will email you a draft award letter, containing your maximum loan amounts. You may need to use your original award letter for visa application purposes. You must let us know if you want to accept the full loan entitlement or if you would like a reduced amount, or if you address has changed, so that we can adjust your letter accordingly. The loan amount quoted on your award letter is subject to origination fees (1% on Direct Loans, 4% on PLUS Loans). This will be deducted by the US Department of Education; therefore your actual loan payment will be lower. Parent PLUS loan payments will be made directly to the student.

When do I get my loan?

• Undergraduate students
• Postgraduate students

What if I withdraw from study?

If you withdraw from study during the academic year and have collected a loan payment, the University must determine the amount of Title IV (Stafford Loans) assistance you have earned. If you withdraw from your programme before more than sixty percent of the payment period is completed, the University must repay to your lender the amount of Title IV funds that are deemed unearned. You will be responsible for reimbursing the University for the GBP equivalent of any repayment.

Please discuss your situation with the Loan Administrator before withdrawing as you will be invoiced for any funds the University returns on your behalf, with payment due within 30 days. For more detailed information, please consult our Title IV Returns Policy.

Exit counselling

The US Department of Education regulations require students to complete exit counselling once they finish their studies or stop attending their programme of study (i.e. if you graduate, withdraw, or stop attending university).

Useful information

• New Students' Website
• Information for international students