William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program Student loans provided by the U.S. Department of Education to enable a student to pay for education after high school. Eligible students borrow directly from the U.S. Department of Education at participating schools. Direct Loans include the following types of federal student loans: Direct Subsidized Loans, Direct Unsubsidized Loans, Direct PLUS Loans.
Further information
Ineligible courses for Federal Loans
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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.
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
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To remain eligible for US federal student loans throughout your studies, a student must make satisfactory academic progress (SAP). The University's SAP policy applies to all undergraduate and postgraduate students taking Federal Student Aid to study at Glasgow Caledonian University.
Full details of the SAP process and the procedures to be followed if a student fails to meet SAP requirements are outlined on our Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy (SAP).
How to apply (Please note, providing we are in receipt of all the relevant documentation and you have fully completed the below steps it can take up to 2 weeks to process your loan)
Step 1 – Complete your FAFSA
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If you meet the eligibility criteria , and you wish to apply for US Federal Loans to study at Glasgow Caledonian University, you should complete a FAFSA application . You will need to create a FSA ID and password to complete your FAFSA.
If you are a continuing loan student, complete a renewal FAFSA (you will only be required to indicate any information that has changed since last year).
You can complete your FAFSA from the October before the academic year you wish to study in. If you wish to start your studies in 2024/25 academic year, you can complete your FAFSA from December 2023. It is your responsibility to ensure that you submit a complete loan application in good time to meet Glasgow Caledonian University tuition fee (and accommodation fee if relevant) payment deadlines .
You will need to include Glasgow Caledonian University School Federal Direct Loan Code G33423 on your FAFSA.
Once you have completed your FAFSA, this will produce a Student Aid Report (SAR) and this will be used by the University to determine your loan eligibility.
Step 2 – Wait to receive your Cost of Attendance
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From June onwards, the Student Funding Office at Glasgow Caledonian University will email you a Cost of Attendance notification to inform you of the amount of loan you can borrow and the types of loans you can borrow.
Step 3 – Complete Entrance Counselling
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You must complete Entrance Counselling if you have not previously completed Entrance Counselling for the type of loan you wish to borrow. If you have previously completed Entrance Counselling for the type of federal student loan you wish to borrow whilst at GCU, you may bypass this step.
Use the University school code G33423
Step 4 – Complete your Master Promissory Note(s) (MPNs)
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Undergraduates: Complete an MPN for the Subsidised and Unsubsidised loans, and, if applicable, your parent should complete a separate MPN for the Parent PLUS loan.
Graduates: Complete one MPN for the Unsubsidised loan and one for the Grad PLUS loan.
MPNs are completed on StudentLoans.gov . Use the University school code G33423.
As we are a foreign school, new MPNs must be completed for each year of study.
Once approved by the system we will be able to view MPNs, so you do not need to send us copies.
Step 5 – Apply for the PLUS Loan (if applicable) to create a Credit Check
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If you are intending to apply for a PLUS loan, or your parent will be applying for a Parent PLUS loan, you, or the parent, will need to complete the Apply for a PLUS Loan section. This should automatically trigger a Credit Check. Once approved by the system we will be able to view the Credit Check , so you do not need to send us a copy.
Use the University school code G33423 on your PLUS loan request.
Step 6 - Credit Check (Grad Plus Loans and Parent Plus)
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If you are eligible and it is your intention to borrow a Grad Plus Loan, this type of loan is credit based.
Complete the Grad Plus application online. This has an option for the Credit Check. Our code is G33423 To obtain a Grad Plus Loan the Credit Check decision must be “Accepted” You do not have to send evidence of this as we can verify acceptance here.
Step 7 – Email us
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Once you have completed steps one to four, please email us at US federal loans to let us know you are awaiting a Cost of Attendance from GCU.
We also advise that you open a UK bank account so that you can receive your funds without any delay.
Step 8 – Return forms to Student Funding Office
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Once you have received your Cost of Attendance, please confirm the types and amounts of loans you would like to borrow by completing the Financial Aid Offer Request, along with your typed Bank Details form and return all information by email to US federal loans .
Step 9 – Loan origination
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If steps one to seven have been successfully completed, the University will originate your loan on the US systems. We are not able to certify your US loans on the US Systems until early July. You will receive a notification letter from us outlining the amount of loan you will receive, your disbursement dates, and the period/academic year your loan relates to. The wording and format of this letter has been agreed with UK Visas and Immigration as acceptable proof of funding for visa applications.
This loan notification letter will be emailed to you. The UK visa authorities may require you to submit the original documentation - they will not usually accept copies.
For information on visa support and advice, contact the Visa Team .
To be eligible for Federal Direct Loans, you must:
Be a US citizen or eligible non-citizen with a valid Social Security number Be a student enrolled or accepted for enrolment in an eligible course at an eligible institution and have a high school diploma. Note that Students studying for a Diploma or Certificate course at Glasgow Caledonian University or for Distance Learning Courses at any Foreign School are not eligible for Federal Loans. Be enrolled at least half-time for the period for which the loan is originated Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) annually Not be convicted of possessing or selling illegal drugs while receiving financial aid Not be in default on an educational loan and must not owe a repayment on an adjusted federal grant Comply with the University's satisfactory academic progress policy.
Private Loans
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The private loan available to students at foreign schools is the Smart Loan from Sallie Mae and you can also look at Juno who will negotiate deals on student finance.
