Financial Aid Eligibility Requirements
Students receiving US Federal Aid are governed by stringent US Department of Education regulations.
Borrowing is intended for on-campus study only.
Students require to be enrolled or accepted for enrolment in an eligible programme at UWS on either a full-time or at least half-time basis.
Also, students who partake in an internship or externship will still be eligible for funds provided that the placement carries credit hours towards your degree.
Ineligible Study options
Most programs of study at the University - including Bachelors, Masters and PhD programs - do qualify for funding, but there are exceptions. You cannot receive U.S. government loans if you attend any of the following named degrees:
- BSc & MSc Adult Nursing
- MSc Advanced Clinical Practitioner
- BSc & MSc Mental Health Nursing
- BSc & MSc Midwifery
- BSc (Hons) Nursing Studies
- MSc Nursing
In fact, UWS may not provide funding for any medical related programme at BSc or MSc regardless of title or award.
In addition, you cannot receive U.S. government loans if you attend any of the following named degrees which are offered in partnership with University of Angers, France:
- MSc Project Management
- MSc Project Management (International)
- MSc Quality Management
- MSc Quality Management (International)
Further, you cannot receive U.S. government loans if you attend any qualification of the following types:
- Non-Degree and Distance Learning versions of Programmes, including the MBA and Career-Long Professional Learning (MEd, MSc and Postgraduate Certificate) options for Teachers
- All UWS degree programmes that are delivered in partnership through external organisations (including our local college partners in Scotland: South Lanarkshire College, New College Lanarkshire, Ayrshire College, and University of Angers, France)
- All Diploma Programmes (either undergraduate or postgraduate level)
- All Certificate Programmes (either undergraduate or postgraduate level)
You should also be aware that in order to receive financial assistance, mature students must possess a secondary school credential, or equivalent.
Finally, in most cases, you will not be eligible for financial assistance where your programme of study includes a period of study in the US.
Students wishing to arrange funding for ineligible programmes or for ineligible periods of study have the option of arranging a Private Alternative Loan (see the US Loans - Types webpage).
General eligibility conditions
To receive aid, including Federal Direct Stafford and PLUS Loans, a student must meet the following eligibility requirements:
- Must be a student enrolled or accepted for enrolment in an eligible programme at an eligible institution (see above for the list of ineligible programmes of study)
- Must have a high school diploma
- Must be enrolled at least half-time for the period for which the loan is originated (PhD students who have submitted their thesis for examination do not meet this requirement)
- Must comply with the University's satisfactory academic progress policy
- Must not be convicted of possessing or selling illegal drugs while receiving financial Aid
- Must be a US citizen or eligible non-citizen with a valid Social Security number
- Must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year
- If male and age 18 - 25, must be registered for Selective Service
- Must not be in default on an educational loan and must not owe a repayment on an adjusted federal grant
Study Abroad
If your degree programme involves study outwith UWS through a formal arrangement with another institution, then the following conditions must be satisfied in order to remain eligible for Federal Aid:
- your study abroad institution must also be a participating and approved Federal Aid (Title IV) School
- your study abroad institution must not be in the USA
- your study abroad period must account for no more than 25% of your programme
Please refer to the Federal Student Aid website to find out if which international schools participate in the Federal Student Financial Assistance programmes:
Participating International Schools
For all other periods of study outwith UWS including work based placements, periods of independent research and writing up, you are advised to check your eligibility for Federal Aid with the University's FSA Funding team. Please note that this is not an automatic entitlement, even if academic approval has been granted, and there are strict criteria to satisfy. Please provide FSA Funding Team FSA-Funding@uws.ac.uk with the following details:
- the dates of your study abroad period or work-based placement
- the location of your study abroad period or work-based placement, including details of any institution to which you will be attached,
- the academic reason for your study abroad period or work-based placement
- the name of the UWS supervisor with whom you will be in regular contact during your study abroad period or work-based placement
- confirmation of all of the above details from your principal supervisor in writing
The UWS FSA Funding Team will check your eligibility and inform you whether you are entitled to receive Federal Aid during your study abroad.
Notes
In general, periods of study in the USA are not eligible for Federal loans (Masters students and Undergraduate students may not complete ANY portion of their programme of study in the USA). However there is one specific exception for PhD students:
Specific restriction on independent research/writing up in the USA for PhD students
Please note that any period(s) of independent research or writing up in the USA for PhD students must be essential for academic reasons and are limited to a maximum total period of 12 months, beyond which eligibility for Federal Aid will no longer apply.
Part-time study
If you are studying part time at UWS this may affect your entitlement for Federal Aid. Periods of study on a less than half-time basis are ineligible for Federal Aid.
Visiting Students
Students offered admission for either one semester or one academic year as a visiting student should apply for Federal Aid through their home school in the US.
More Information & How to Apply
There is a lot of information regarding US federal loans and The following links will take you to the relevant webpages for more information and further links to external sites.
Last updated: 29/04/2020