Discover the range of financial help available to students, including funded scholarships, bursaries, tuition fee reductions and loyalty rewards.
How to apply
William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program
Student loans provided by the U.S. Department of Education to enable a student to pay for education after high school. Eligible students borrow directly from the U.S. Department of Education at participating schools. Direct Loans include the following types of federal student loans: Direct Subsidized Loans, Direct Unsubsidized Loans, Direct PLUS Loans.
Your eligibility for Federal Student Aid will be assessed by the information provided on your FAFSA
You must be enrolled and continue to be enrolled at least half-time at Glasgow Caledonian University to remain eligible for Federal Student Aid. Please note that if you suspend, withdraw or drop below half-time enrolment then you must email US federal loans immediately.
To remain eligible for US federal student loans throughout your studies, a student must make satisfactory academic progress (SAP) see details below. You can also ready our Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy (SAP). to find out more information.
The exact details for federal loan types available in the 2026/27 academic year will be added here when confirmed. The information below is provisional and based on the information we have been provided so far.
Before completing a federal loan application, you will need to determine whether you are a dependent or an independent student and this will establish which loan types and amounts you are eligible to borrow. Definitions on how to determine this can be found on the Federal Student Aid website, but if your circumstances are unusual and you need advice, please email usfederalloansadmin@gcu.ac.uk
Loan Information
Direct Subsidized loan and Direct Unsubsidized loan
Parent PLUS loan
Who is eligible
Most US citizens (or eligible non-citizens) on eligible undergraduate programmes.*
Available to dependent and independent students who demonstrate financial need.
Parents (biological, adoptive, or in some cases, step-parent) of dependent undergraduate students on eligible programmes. Both the parent and the student must be eligible for federal student aid. A credit check is required.
Maximum federal loan amount per year
Year 1
Dependent Undergraduate: $5,500 - no more than $3,500 can be Subsidized.
Independent Undergraduate: $9,500 - no more than $3,500 can be Subsidized.
Year 2
Dependent Undergraduate: $6,500 - no more than $4,500 can be Subsidized.
Independent Undergraduate: $10,500 - no more than $4,500 can be Subsidized.
Year 3 and up
Dependent Undergraduate: $7,500 - no more than $5,500 can be Subsidized.
Independent Undergraduate: $12,500 - no more than $5,500 can be Subsidized.
For dependent undergraduate students only. Total amount remaining after all other funding has been deducted from the Cost of Attendance.
Maximum of $20,000 per student per year.
Aggregate loan limit (how much you can borrow over your lifetime)
Dependent Undergraduate: $31,000 - no more than $23,000 Subsidized loans.
Independent Undergraduate:$57,500 - no more than $23,000 Subsidized loans.
$65,000 lifetime limit per dependent student.
Origination and Default Fee
1.057% for loans first disbursed on or after 1 October 2020 and before 1 October 2025.**
Awaiting confirmation
Interest Rate
6.53% for loans first disbursed on or after 1 July 2025 and prior to 1 July 2026.**
Awaiting confirmation
Financial Aid Packages will also include information relating to private loan options for any shortfall between the cost of attendance and federal loan eligibility. Students and/or parent will need to determine private loan eligibility via lenders directly.
*Some programmes are not eligible for federal loans. More information is available in the Eligibility section (new window).
**Origination fees, default fees and interest rates are subject to change, the rates for 2025-26 are as shown at the time of publication. For the latest information on interest rates and fees, please see the Federal Student Aid website.
The exact details for federal loan types available in the 2026/27 academic year will be added here when confirmed. The information below is provisional and based on the information we have been provided so far.
Loan types for graduate students
Loan Information
Direct Graduate Unsubsidized Loan
Direct Graduate PLUS Loan
Who is Eligible
Most US citizens (or eligible non-citizens) on eligible graduate programmes.*
No longer available.
Maximum federal loan amount per year
$20,500
n/a
Aggregate loan limit (how much you can borrow over your lifetime)
$100,000 - from our current understanding this is separate to the UG limit
n/a
Origination and Default Fee
1.057% for loans first disbursed on or after 1 October 2020 and before 1 October 2025.**
n/a
Interest Rate
8.08% for loans first disbursed on or after 1 July 2025 and prior to 1 July 2026.**
n/a
Financial Aid Packages will also include information relating to private loan options for any shortfall between the cost of attendance and federal loan eligibility. Students (with or without a co-signer) will need to determine private loan eligibility via lenders directly.
**Origination fees, default fees and interest rates are subject to change, the rates for 2025-26 are as shown at the time of publication. For the latest information on interest rates and fees, please see the Federal Student Aid website.
Application steps to start the loan process
(Please note, providing we are in receipt of all the relevant documentation and you have fully completed the below steps it can take up to two weeks to process your loan)
