Direct loans from the US Government

US citizens may be eligible to apply for loans to study at postgraduate level.

There are two types of loans available for postgraduate study:

  • Direct Unsubsidized Loans
  • Direct PLUS Loans (Graduate or Parent PLUS)

Federal loans offer a fixed interest rate for the loan's duration and include income-based repayment plans.

Disclaimer

We provide links to third-party funders' websites for information purposes only. Third-party funders are not affiliated with or endorsed by the University, and have their own terms and conditions of contract.

You should always review any funder terms and conditions carefully and seek independent advice before signing any contract, or entering into any contractual arrangement.

Federal Student Aid Estimator

The Federal Student Aid Estimator estimates how much federal student aid you may be eligible to receive. 

Federal Student Aid Estimator

Eligibility requirements

US Federal Aid is governed by US Department of Education regulations. Federal loans are for on-campus study only.

To be eligible for a federal loan, you must meet eligibility criteria set by Federal Student Aid.

Basic student eligibility criteria on the Federal Student Aid website

Programmes not eligible for federal loans

  • All Online Learning programmes
  • All PhD by Distance programmes
  • Part-time intermittent programmes (invoiced at course level/ICL)
  • All Diploma programmes
  • All Certificate programmes

Application process

You must apply to your programme at the University of Edinburgh before you apply for a federal loan.

Follow the checklist of tasks you need to complete as part of your application for a federal loan:

Part-time study

Studying part-time at the University of Edinburgh may affect your eligibility for Federal Aid.

If you change from full-time to part-time study, this could also impact your visa status.

If you're not eligible for a US government loan

If you're not eligible to receive a federal loan from the US Government, you may be able to fund your studies through other sources.

Funding your studies

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