US loans personal data reporting requirements

In accordance with US regulations, we are required to submit and report personal data about you and your studies in relation to your federal loans to the US Department of Education and any existing loan servicers you may have who contacts us for information about you.

We will normally report your attendance, contact details and any changes to these to the US Department of Education via the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) or via any paper forms that loan servicers may send to us. This is so they are aware that you are in studies e.g. full time or at least half time or less than half time and final details once you have graduated or left studies.

If you are not planning to take out any Title IV loans but want to have your student status reported via NSLDS so that any existing loan repayments can be deferred, as appropriate, then please contact us.

How we report your student status

Statuses explained

• if you are in full time studies you will be reported as 'full time' (F)
• if you are studying part time you will be reported as 'half time' (H)
• if you are studying part time that is less than half time attendance, or by distance learning you will be reported as 'less than half time' (L)
• When you receive your degree award you will be reported as 'graduated' (G)
• If you subsequently withdraw from studies then you will be reported as 'withdrawn' (W)
• If you are an undergraduate student at the end of your final year of studies, you will be reported as 'less than half time' (L). When your graduation has been confirmed, your status will be changed to 'graduated' (G)
• If you are a postgraduate master's student, you will be reported as 'less than half time' (L) at the end of the academic year. When your graduation has been confirmed, your status will be changed to 'graduated' (G)
• If you are a postgraduate research student, you will be reported as 'less than half time' (L) at the end of your academic studies or once you have submitted your thesis (as the majority of the academic activity that leads to your degree will have been completed), whichever is the earliest. When your graduation has been confirmed, your status will be changed to 'graduated' (G)
• For PhD students if you need to suspend your studies for less than 180 days you will be reported as 'approved leave of absence' (A). If it is more than 180 days, you will be reported as 'withdrawn' (W). For all other students you will be reported as (W) if you suspend studies for any period of time.

These statuses are only for NSLDS reporting purposes and do not affect any Bath specific enrolment regulations.

How your status affects loan payments or deferment requests

US regulations do not allow Federal loan funds to be disbursed if your mode of attendance is reported as 'less than half time', 'withdrawn' or 'graduated'. If you have already received a payment for that term, then we will have to recalculate your loan entitlement. This may result in an overpayment and loan funds may have to be returned to the US Department of Education. Please refer to our guidance on returning Title IV Direct Loan funds for more information.

You won't be eligible for any more loan deferment requests. You should refer to your loan repayment terms so you are aware of when repayments will become due.