How to apply
There are some key differences to the process of applying for Direct Loans to fund your study at a Foreign Institution compared to applying for funding at an American institution.
Outlined below is the process for applying for Direct Loans for study at the University of York. If your course is longer than one year, you will need to follow this process for every year of your course.
FAFSA applications for 2024/25 are now open. You should complete your FAFSA as early as possible, as this will determine your loan eligibility.
To access your online FAFSA form, please visit the Federal Student Aid webpage.
Please ensure you record the University of York as your place of study and include our School Code which is G06700 or 00670000, depending on the form you are filling in.
Once you have completed your FAFSA application, we will receive a copy of your Institutional Student Information Record (ISIR) after approximately 3 working days. Once in receipt of your ISIR we will be able to start the process of calculating your loan package.
For any additional information and help with your FAFSA application, please visit the Student Aid website (studentaid.ed.gov).
On receipt of your ISIR we will contact you to confirm we have received it and are in the process of calculating your cost of attendance. When we contact you, we will also ask if you have any other additional funding from scholarships, other financial aid or sponsorships (including from the University of York), as well as requesting supporting documents if relevant.
Once your loan package has been calculated based on your personal circumstances, we will notify you of the maximum you are eligible to apply for. You will need to confirm back to us how much you would like to borrow before we can process your loan. We may also ask you to provide the documentation outlined below (depending on the type and amount of loan you wish to borrow).
Subsidised or Unsubsidised Loans:
Evidence of any additional funding from scholarships, other financial aid or sponsorships (including from the University of York) which states the amount of funding you will receive.
Sign your Master Promissory Note(s)
The Master Promissory Note (MPN) is a legal document in which you commit to repay your loan(s) and any accrued interest and fees.
All Direct Loan applicants must sign a MPN with the US Department of Education. You will need to:
- sign a Subsidised/Unsubsidised MPN for your Subsidised and/or Unsubsidised Loans
- ask your parent(s) to sign a Parent PLUS MPN if you are taking out a Parent Plus Loan (undergraduate students only)
- sign a Graduate PLUS MPN if you wish to take out a Graduate PLUS loan.
Complete Loan Entrance Counselling online
It's a legal requirement to complete entrance counselling if you take out a Direct Loan. This isn't anything to worry about, it's just a process to make sure you understand the terms and conditions of your loan.
You must complete entrance counselling for each academic year that you request a loan to study with us. You can do this on the US Department of Education website.
Complete a credit check for your Graduate PLUS Loan/Parent PLUS
If you want to take out a Graduate PLUS Loan you must complete a credit check via the US Department of Education. Credit checks are valid for 180 days. If you completed a credit check before April 2024, you will need to complete another one.
We aim to process your Direct Loan application within three weeks of receipt of all the relevant documentation.
Once the US Department of Education has approved your loan(s), we will email your Direct Loan confirmation letter to you.
UK Visas and Immigration will accept your Direct Loan confirmation letter as proof of funding for visa applications.
You should not book your appointment for your student visa until you have received your official confirmation letter. Unless you have proof of sufficient funds from other sources, you will need to have received your letter before booking an appointment.