Applying

Loan eligibility

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 programme at an eligible institution and have a high school diploma*
  • 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
  • if male and age of 18 - 25, must be registered for Selective Service
  • 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

*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.

Bachelor of Nursing and Bachelor of Medicine Degrees

Our Agreement with the US Dept of Education to participate in the Direct Loans programme does not include the Bachelor of Nursing degree or the MBchB degree. Private education loans are still open to students on these programmes but not Federal loans.

Study in the UK - How to apply

1. Submit a FAFSA. You will need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. You should apply online at www.fafsa.ed.gov: 

  • You will need a FAFSA ID in order to complete your application
  • instructions can be found on the weblink https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/fafsa/filling-out/fsaid
  • Our school code is G33423
  • You will be issued with a Student Aid Report (SAR). Please review this to ensure that you have made any corrections necessary
  • GCU are not advised when you complete your FAFSA so please email the US Federal Loans mailbox to confirm that your SAR is complete. We will download your SAR, provide details of how much you can borrow and guidelines on what to do next.

Continuing students need to complete a renewal FAFSA every year, using the same PIN from previous years. If you have forgotten your PIN you can obtain this at www.PIN.ed.gov.

2. Complete a Master Promissory Note (MPN). You must complete a new Direct Loan Master Promissory Note. The MPN is the legal document through which you promise to repay your Direct Loans and any accrued interest and fees to the Department. It also explains the terms and conditions of your loans. Although you may have previously signed an MPN to receive Direct Loans, these MPNs cannot be used to make Direct Loans at Glasgow Caledonian University. Please note that outside the US, a Master Promissory Note is required annually.

  • To complete the MPN, please visit www.studentloans.gov
  • You require a FAFSA ID. This is the same number as used for your FAFSA
  • Complete an MPN for each type of loan you are borrowing (Stafford/ Plus)
  • Our code is G33423
  • You can print the MPN document and keep it for your records

3. Complete Loan Entrance Counselling. All students applying for Direct Loans through Glasgow Caledonian University for the first time will be required to complete Entrance Counselling.

  • To complete Entrance Counselling, please visit www.studentloans.gov
  • Complete counselling for each type of loan you are borrowing (Stafford/ Plus)
  • Our code is G33423
  • You do not have to send evidence of this as we can verify completion here.

4. Credit Check (Grad Plus Loans & Parent plus). 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 on www.studentloans.gov 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.

Private Loans

The only private loan currently available to students at foreign schools is the Smart Loan from Sallie Mae.

To apply:

www.salliemae.com