UAL is participating in the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program which is available to US students enrolled at least half-time on an eligible program.
Most UAL undergraduate and postgraduate programs are eligible for US Direct Loans, however, there is a small number of courses that do not qualify for federal loan funding. UAL courses ineligible for US Direct Loans.
Which federal loans can I apply for?
Direct Subsidised Loans
- Available to undergraduate students.
- Subsidised and unsubsidised loan amounts are fixed depending on the year of study.
- Interest is paid by the US Department of Education while the student studies.
Direct Unsubsidised Loans
- Available to undergraduate and graduate students.
- Subsidised and unsubsidised loan amounts are fixed depending on the year of study.
- Interest charged while in school.
Direct PLUS Loans
- Available to parents of dependent undergraduate students.
- Available to graduate/professional students
- The maximum amount is set by UAL Cost of Attendance
- Interest charged while in school.
Federal Student Loan fees and interest charges
- US Department of Education charges origination fees for all Direct Loans. Your financial aid offer provides the net loan amounts you will receive after the origination fees have been deducted.
- You're responsible for repaying the entire amount you borrowed, and not just the net amount you received.
- Students are advised to consider applying for federal loans first before taking a private loan.
- Compare US federal and private loans and learn about loan interest rates or origination fees.
Am I eligible?
Successful US Federal Direct Loan applicants must meet the following eligibility criteria:
- Must be a US citizen or an eligible non-citizen. Information on how to qualify as an eligible non-citizen can be found on the US federal student aid website.
- Enrolled at least half-time on an eligible course, check UAL ineligible course list.
- Enrolled as a regular student (online, distance learning and Short Courses are not eligible for US Federal Loans).
- Have a valid Social Security number.
- Male students are required to be registered with the selective service.
- Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (Satisfactory Academic Progress (PDF 65KB) (SAP).
- Not in default on any student loans (federal and private) or owe any federal student grant money.
- Use their federal student aid only for educational purposes.
- Courses with internships, work placements, compulsory years abroad or research that takes place in the US are not eligible for US Federal Loans.
- Study Abroad students studying at UAL as part of their course at another university, are not eligible to receive federal student aid through UAL and need to apply through their ‘home’ institution.
Some programs that do not qualify for the US Federal Loans may still qualify for a private loan, find more information on US private loans page.
How much can I borrow?
There is a limit on the total amount of Subsidised and Unsubsidised Loans a student can receive each academic year and over the lifetime of their study.
Subsidised and Unsubsidised annual aggregate limits
Dependent Undergraduates (under age of 24) | Subsidised | Unsubsidised | Total |
Foundation Diploma/Higher Education Certificate/BA/BSc year 1 | $3,500 | $2,000 | $5,500 |
| BA/BSc year 2 | $4,500 | $2,000 | $6,500 |
| Graduate Diploma BA/BSc/ year 3+ | $5,500 | $2,000 | $7,500 |
| Independent Undergraduates (over age of 24) | Subsidised | Unsubsidised | Total |
| Foundation Diploma/Higher Education Certificate/ BA/BSc year 1 | $3,500 | $6,000 | $9,500 |
| BA/BSc year 2 | $4,500 | $6,000 | $10,500 |
| Graduate Diploma/BA/BSc/year 3+ | $5,500 | $7,000 | $12,500 |
| Postgraduate and Research Students | Subsidised | Unsubsidised | Total |
| PG.Dip/MA/MSc/PhD | $0 | $20,500 | $20,500 |
Subsidised and Unsubsidised lifetime aggregate limits
| Level of study | Lifetime aggregate limit |
| Undergraduate dependent | $31,000 (no more than $23,000 of this can be in Subsidised Loans) |
| Undergraduate independent | $57,500 (no more than $23,000 of this can be in Subsidised Loans) |
| Graduate/professional | $138,500 (no more than $65,500 of this can be in Subsidised Loans, includes undergraduate study) |
If the total loan amount you receive over the course of your education reaches the aggregate loan limit, you are not eligible to receive additional loans. However, if you repay some of your loans to bring your outstanding loan debt below the aggregate loan limit, you could then borrow again, up to the amount of your remaining eligibility under the aggregate loan limit.
Study in the United States
- From 1 July 2021, students enrolled at UAL are eligible to complete up to 25 per cent of the program at an eligible institution in the United States.
- A Direct Loan borrower is permitted to perform research in the United States for not more than one academic year if the research is conducted during the dissertation phase of a doctoral program.
- If your course includes a period of study in the United States, you must notify the Student Funding Service: uscanadaloans@arts.ac.uk. Please note, that failure to do so may result in losing the eligibility for the Direct Loan funding, for the remainder of your course.
CARES Act 2020
Under the CARES Act 2020, the U.S. Department of Education permits any part of an otherwise eligible program at a foreign institution to be offered via distance education if the applicable government authorities in the country in which the foreign institution is located have declared a public health emergency, major disaster or emergency, or national emergency related to COVID-19. Currently, the permission is extended till 30 June 2022 or the payment period after the payment period during which the local governmental emergency end.
Consumer Information
US Department of Education requires that institutions that give US federal aid, provide the following Consumer Information.
When will I receive my loan payment?
- *Your first US loan payment will be made at the start of the term, with the condition you have fully enrolled on the course. Loan payment dates are outlined in your financial aid offer.*
- We will deduct equal tuition fee instalments from each of your loan payments.
- *If you have made any tuition fee payments yourself, and have sufficient loan funds to cover your tuition fees in full, you will be able to apply for a refund using your UAL Portal.
- *After the tuition fee is deducted, any remaining funds will be paid to you within 14 calendar days, from the dates specified on your financial aid offer.
- If tuition fees have not been paid in full, prior to the start of the course, the fees will be divided into equal payments and deducted from each loan disbursement, prior to refunding the remaining balance to the student.
- Loan payments will be made to your UK bank account; you can find more information on how to open a UK bank account.
- If you are an undergraduate dependent student in receipt of the parent PLUS loan, we will contact your parent to seek their permission to disburse the PLUS loan funds to you.
- *If your loans do not cover your tuition fees in full, you are liable to cover any shortfalls in line with UAL’s fees policy.
- The Department of Education pays your loans in USD. When the funds arrive in the UK they are converted to GBP using the exchange rate available on the day of conversion. Please note, the exchange rates fluctuate daily and are out of the University’s control.
*The disbursement arrangements are a requirement of the US Government’s Deficit Reduction Act 2005 (HEA 428G(e)), effective 1 July 2006, and must be strictly followed.
Do I have to pay a tuition fee deposit?
- From 2020-21 the University no longer requires students in receipt of direct or indirect funding from the UK Government or other Governments (including loans) to make a fee deposit.
- Students who are being sponsored by an official financial sponsor as defined by UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) may request a deposit waiver by sending financial aid offer when they accept their offer, to admissions@arts.ac.uk. The student must quote their UAL ID in all correspondence.
How to plan my finances?
- Students are advised to have funds available to cover their living expenses for the first few weeks of their course, after arriving in the UK.
- Any costs incurred prior to the start of the course such as flights, visas, tuition housing deposits, and others, in the first instance, will have to be funded from personal funds.