US federal loans

The William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program offers Direct Loans to eligible students and parents to help pay for the cost of a student's education after high school. The lender is the U.S. Department of Education, though you may deal with a different agency as your loan servicer.

Glasgow Caledonian University is recognised as a Foreign School by the US Department of Education and is eligible to certify loans for eligible students as an approved Title IV institution.

Foreign Schools are NOT eligible to certify Pell loans or grants.

You can now complete your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the next academic year.

School code for FAFSA applications: G33423

Glasgow Caledonian University is recognised as a Foreign School by the US Department of Education and is eligible to certify loans for eligible students as an approved Title IV institution.

Foreign Schools are NOT eligible to certify Pell loans or grants.

Loan eligibility

Your eligibility for Federal Student Aid will be assessed by the information provided on your FAFSA

For the purpose of US Financial Aid, the University of Aberdeen is classified as a 'foreign school'. This means that there are slightly different rules and areas of eligibility that you may not be used to if you have used Federal Aid before at a domestic School in the US.

We intend to continue offering US Federal Loans to our eligible on-campus students. We are also eligible to certify private US student loans if students want or need that option.

We make our main updates April-June each year for September/ January entry.

If the current administration in the US makes a decision that impacts our eligibility to disburse Federal loans, we will post the information on our US loans webpage, and notify our Federal loan students.

Loan eligibility & Loan types

Your eligibility for Federal Student Aid will be assessed by the information provided on your FAFSA

You can find additional information on all loan types available.

Glasgow Caledonian University has been approved to certify Federal Student Loans for degree programs. The University has NOT been approved to certify Federal Loans for students wishing to study:

Undergraduate Nursing programmes
Certificate or Diploma programmes
Programs with study of less than half time, online study or distance learning study
Programs with a study abroad/work placement year
- If any part of your program entails study abroad, the course you wish to study is only eligible for Federal Direct Loans if you go to a university also eligible to administer Federal Direct Loans. Please email US federal loans before applying for your loan so that we can assess your eligibility.
A postgraduate research program involving research to be undertaken in the US or a writing-up period in the US is NOT permitted. If you will be conducting research that can only be undertaken in the US, please email US federal loans before applying for your loan so that we can assess your eligibility.
Degrees studied via collaborative/partner institutions. Currently, we have one at GCU - MSc Theory of Podiatric Surgery.

Students wishing to study one of the above programs may be eligible for Private Loans.

How to apply for Federal Student Aid

If you meet the eligibility criteria, and you wish to apply for Federal Student Aid to study at Glasgow Caledonian University, there are a number of steps you must follow.

Enrolment status

You must be enrolled and continue to be enrolled at least half-time at Glasgow Caledonian University to remain eligible for Federal Student Aid. Please note that if you suspend, withdraw or drop below half-time enrolment then you then you must email US federal loans immediately.

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

To remain eligible for US federal student loans throughout your studies, a student must make satisfactory academic progress (SAP). You can also ready our Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy (SAP). to find out more information.

Consumer Disclosure Information

The University is listed in the Education (Recognised Bodies) (Scotland) Order as a recognised degree-awarding body.