U.S. Student Loans for Study in the UK

Stafford Direct Title IV Loans

We want students and their families to understand all the intricacies of Financial Aid for U.S. students and how the process works at the University of Bath. Our Financial Aid Office is located within the Funding Advice Team in Student Services and we are committed to helping you meet that challenge of funding your university experience.

Planning to meet the costs of attending university is an investment in the future, and you may have many choices in financing this investment, including grants, scholarships, part time work, and loans. Any U.S. student who applies for admission to the University of Bath may apply for student loans, either through the U.S. Federal loan program (Title IV) or through a private lender. Students should be studying at least half-time or more to that which is equivalent to a full time course.

Students studying Distance Learning programmes at Foreign Schools are not eligible to apply for US Federal Loans.

Research or Study in the USA is not allowed

From 1st November 2010, students are not eligible for Title IV aid for any (non vacation) time spent in the USA. The only exception is 12 months as the 'writing up' stage of a PhD course. Extract from Federal Register Vol.75, No.210.

Under paragraph (1)(ii)(C), a foreign institution cannot permit students who receive Title IV, HEA program funds to enrol in any course offered by the foreign institution in the United States, including research, work, internship, externship, or special studies with the United States, except that independent research done by an individual student in the United States for not more than one academic year is permitted, if it is conducted during the dissertation phase of a doctoral program under the guidance of faculty, and the research can only be performed in a facility in the United States.

If at any point in time you are uncertain about a term or phrase and want further clarification, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

There are a limited amount of scholarships offered to students; however students are encouraged to investigate all their options. Non-University based or private scholarships are offered by a large number of organisations. Students are encouraged to go online at www.finaid.org, collegeboard.com, or other scholarship websites and view the options that may be available to them.

Students may borrow up to the Cost of Attendance and no more. The Cost of Attendance Spreadsheet is set by the University (June 2013). It may be adjusted by the student to reflect their specific needs but keeping within the parameters set by the University. The spread sheet will give warnings if too much loan is requested.

Two types of loans are available to students: Federal Stafford Loans now called Title IV Loans, and private loans.

Note: in accordance with US regulations we are required to submit data in relation to your federal loans for reporting purposes to bodies such as NSLDS.

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