US federal aid

Eligible students are able to apply for US federal aid through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). However, if you are studying at a university outside of the USA, such as at St Andrews, you are only eligible for US federal loans (this is borrowing which must be repaid). You will not be eligible for other US-based financial aid such as federal and state grants and scholarships (for example, Pell Grants or Perkins loans).

US federal aid is not the only option available to students. The University is also authorised to certify applications for alternative education ('private') loans. You should also look into the international scholarships offered by the University, Academic Schools and units, and external funders (the deadline for most of these is in March).

Sections on this page:

Direct Loan Program

The University of St Andrews participates in the William D. Ford Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program administered by the United States Department of Education. Eligible students who attend St Andrews may borrow through the Direct Loan Program.

Types of direct loans

Direct subsidised loans are available to undergraduate students with financial need. The US Department of Education pays the interest on direct subsidised loans during certain periods.
Direct unsubsidised loans are available to undergraduate and postgraduate students, but there is no requirement to demonstrate financial need. You are responsible for paying the interest on direct unsubsidised loans during all periods.
Direct PLUS loans are available to postgraduate students and parents of dependent undergraduate students. The maximum PLUS loan amount you can receive is the cost of attendance (determined by the university) minus any other financial aid received.

Find out more about direct loans on the US Department of Education’s Federal Student Aid site.

Eligibility

See basic eligibility criteria for federal aid.

The University is only able to certify federal loans for students on our standard, degree-granting courses. We cannot certify federal loans for:

Certificate, Diploma, or Foundation programmes
Distance education
Joint degree programmes (for example, BA International Honours)
Graduate Medical School programmes (for example, Scottish Graduate Entry Medicine (ScotGEM) MBChB)

In accordance with the Eligible program requirements 34 CFR 668.8, please also note:

Programmes studied in part at another UK or overseas (excluding institutions in the United States) higher education institution that is not authorised to provide Federal Student Aid are only eligible for Federal Student Aid if the proportion of study at the other institution is 25% of the overall course duration or less.
Programmes which involve study in the United States are only eligible for Federal Student Aid if 25% or less of the program is taught in the US, and the institution in the US is an eligible institution.

If you have any questions about your eligibility, please email usloan@st-andrews.ac.uk.

Apply for a direct loan

To apply for a direct loan through the Direct Loan Program, you must complete the following steps below.

You first need to complete the US Department of Education's Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA). Once you have completed and signed the FAFSA, it will generate a Student Aid Report, which is essential for the University of St Andrews to progress your loan application.

You must include the University of St Andrews on your FAFSA by entering or searching 'University of Saint Andrews' school code: G08461.

You must complete the FAFSA for every year you study at St Andrews.

Help filling out the FAFSA

Filling out the FAFSA can be a straightforward process. Review what to expect when filling out the FAFSA.

Prefer a mobile app? FAFSA forms are now on the myStudentAid app, available on the App Store (iOS) or on Google Play (Android).

The FAFSA process graphic walks through the process of preparing for, completing and submitting a FAFSA form. It also includes information on what happens after the form is submitted.
After you have received an offer from St Andrews, the US loan team will review your Student Aid Report to check your eligibility and send you further instructions and some guidance.
- Before June - the US loan team will provide an estimate of the loan amounts you may be eligible to apply for.
- After May – the cost of attendance will be updated, and the loan team will confirm the maximum loan amounts you will be eligible to apply for to the US Department of Education.
With the large volume of applicants to St Andrews, it may be some time before the US loan team can contact you. For a quicker reply, or if you are making an application during term time, please email usloan@st-andrews.ac.uk to let them know you have completed your FAFSA and that you have already reviewed and corrected any comments on your Student Aid Report from the US Department of Education.
Once the US loan team has reviewed your Student Aid Report, they will email you (using the University's secure student online messaging system) to confirm the maximum loan values you are eligible to apply for to the US Department of Education.

You should reply to this message to confirm the loan types and amounts you are requesting in US dollars.

You must then make sure the following steps have all been completed.
Only for those starting a new programme of study at St Andrews

All students beginning a new programme of study at St Andrews must complete a loan counselling session before your loan can be certified and disbursed. This only needs to be completed in the first year of your new programme.

If you have previously completed entrance counselling for another institution or programme, you must complete a new session for St Andrews (G08461).

You will also be required to complete exit counselling shortly before you complete your studies.

Federal Student Aid also has Financial Awareness Counselling. Whilst this is not compulsory, you may find it useful when planning your borrowing and spending.
The Master Promissory Note (MPN) is a legal document in which you promise to repay your loans and any accrued interest and fees to the US Department of Education. It also explains the terms and conditions of your loans.

MPNs and PLUS applications must be completed in each new year of study.

Subsidized and unsubsidized loans
- Undergraduate students must sign an MPN for subsidized and unsubsidized loans.
- Postgraduate students must sign an MPN for unsubsidized loans.
PLUS loans
- Postgraduate students must sign a separate MPN for PLUS loans and make a Graduate/Professional Direct PLUS Loan Application.
- Parents of dependent undergraduate students must sign an MPN for Parent PLUS Loans and make a Parent Direct PLUS Loan Application.
The University will start to certify loans in July. Once your loans have been certified, the US loan team will send you a loan notification document which confirms the net loan amounts the University will receive and the dates the funds are expected to reach the University’s bank account.
Starting in August, Student Registry will contact students inviting them to begin the online part of matriculation.

All US loan students should confirm they are receiving US loans on the Fees and Funding section:
1. Select 'Tuition Fees - Confirm Payment/Sponsor/Funding'.
2. Select 'Begin'.
3. Select 'PAYMENT OPTIONS/CONFIRMATION (including US Loans)'.
4. Select 'I am applying or have already applied for a US Direct/Private Loan'.
If you are also paying your residence fees with direct loans, repeat the above steps on the Pay Your Accommodation Fees - Confirm Payment/Funding section.

These elements of your matriculation will show as completed after a few days if your loans are expected to cover the full cost. If the loans do not cover the full cost, you will need to confirm your payment plan for the difference to usloan@st-andrews.ac.uk before the elements will show as 'completed'.
The University will receive all loan funds in equal instalments in September and January (and May for postgraduate students). The exchanged GBP will show on your financial statement the same day. You can view your financial statement through MySaint.

The University will apply the loan funds to your tuition fees, room and board, and other school charges. If any additional loan funds remain, they will be returned to you within 14 calendar days after the credit balance occurred (or after the first day of class if the balance occurred on or before the first day of class). In order to receive surplus funds, you must enter your UK bank details in MySaint.

If your loan does not cover your full fees, you must pay the remainder immediately. You can pay any shortfall through MySaint or by making an online payment.

See information on opening a bank account in the UK.

Sometimes there can be delays completing matriculation or opening a bank account. Please ensure you have enough funds to cover your first month's expenses prior to receiving any surplus loan funds. This is especially important for those students in private accommodation.

Academic progress

Students receiving US federal aid are responsible for maintaining satisfactory academic progress to ensure they graduate on time and to abide by all ordinances and regulations of the University.

The US Department of Education uses the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policy to determine whether an otherwise eligible student is making satisfactory academic progress in their educational programme and if they are entitled to receive Title IV funds (US Financial Aid).

The University of St Andrews is required to measure SAP in accordance with the US Department of Education regulation to ensure that a student is adhering to the University's Policy on Early Academic Intervention (for undergraduate and taught postgraduate students) and the Length of Study Policy (for research postgraduate students).

Measurements

SAP is measured by qualitative (grade-based) and quantitative (time and pace) standards.

Qualitative

Students must maintain the academic standing necessary to remain at the University of St Andrews. Academic staff will conduct a review at the end of each academic session to determine the student’s successful progress toward obtaining a degree by comparing cumulative grade average to credit hours earned.

To remain enrolled in the programme or to continue receiving aid, a student must satisfy the requirements in the Senate Regulations for academic progression. To graduate, a student must satisfy the requirements for the degree award and, where relevant, classification.

Quantitative

Students are expected to be in attendance at St Andrews. Credit requirements and degree durations are specified in the Senate Regulations above, detailing degree programmes of study.

Students may not receive aid once they have taken more than 150% of the normal duration of the programme to complete their studies. This applies to both undergraduate and graduate students. Periods of interruption will not count towards this calculation. If a student has attended part of the programme below full time, then this calculation will be based on the full-time equivalent of their studies (for example, 2 years at 50% will count as 1 year full-time study).

Withdrawal from study

In accordance with the federal code of regulation 34 CFR 668.22, when a student who receives Title IV funding withdraws or takes a leave of absence, the University of St Andrews must determine the withdrawal date and use a federally mandated calculation to determine the amount of loans that the student earned. The University may contact the Department of Education with the details and information of any unspent loan funds. Unspent loan funds are the amount that you are not entitled to retain due to your withdrawal from study, and the University must repay this amount to the US Department of Education. The University Return of title IV funds (r2t4) policy is applied alongside the University’s Refund Procedure for students. Please also see the Title IV leave of absence policy for Postgraduate Research students (PDF).

Visa information

Students from the USA who are studying for a full degree must have a Student visa to come and study in the UK. Find out more information about Student visa.

The US is a low-risk country, so you will typically only need to submit the following documents with your visa application:

passport
one extra photograph that meets the UKVI photo rules
ATAS certificate, if applicable

However, you may be asked to provide a full range of documents as part of the application process. If you are asked to provide financial documents, the US loan team at St Andrews will provide you with a Loan Notification document once you have completed all the process steps and your loans have been certified by St Andrews.

US federal aid

Direct Loan Program

Types of direct loans

Eligibility

Apply for a direct loan

1. Complete the Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA)

2. Let the US loan team know you have completed your FAFSA

3. Reply to the US loan team's eligibility message

4. Complete entrance counselling

5. Complete your Master Promissory Note and PLUS Loan Application

6. Confirm your loans in online matriculation

7. The University will receive funds on your behalf