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US Federal and Private Loans

Find out where to find more information about entry requirements and Financial Aid for American students.

Find out more about Financial Aid for American students.

⚠️Please contact usloans@herts.ac.uk if you are interested in any funding options outlined below.

US Federal Loans 

The University of Hertfordshire will accept applicants using US Federal Student Aid starting academic year 2025/26. All eligibility information can be found in the Consumer Information  If you wish to apply for Federal Student Aid, please follow the process below once you have had an offer from our admissions department. 

  1. To receive student financial aid the first step is to complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). You can apply online from the FAFSA website. To sign your FAFSA online you'll need an FSA ID and information and a link to creating an FSA ID is on the FAFSA website. The University of Hertfordshire school code (OPE) is G10525.
  2. Once your FAFSA has been completed and processed you'll be sent a Student Aid Report (SAR). Please check your name, social security number, date of birth and all other information to make sure that it is accurate. If you intend to use Federal Student Aid as a form of funding, you must contact usloans@herts.ac.uk prior to the start of the academic year.
  3. Students taking a Federal Direct Loan are required to sign a Master Promissory Note (MPN). The MPN is a legal document through which you promise to repay your Direct Loan. You will need to complete a new MPN for each academic year that you take out a Direct Loan. You can complete a Direct Loan MPN online at the StudentLoans.gov website. You will need your FSA ID. Please ensure you are completing it for a correct direct loan. If you are unsure of your direct loan type, please contact usloans@herts.ac.uk. 
  4. Please send just one e-mail to usloans@herts.ac.uk which includes all the required attachments listed below: 
  • Entrance counselling, this needs to include both Direct Loan and Direct PLUS Loan if taking both types of loan. This is required even if already completed at another University. It is not required by current students if they have already completed the relevant entrance counselling for our office. 
  • Copy of confirmation of offer/conditional offer letter (if received). This is not required for current students who have previously taken a Federal Loan. 
  • Copy of your passport photo page. 

Once your loan has been approved you will be sent a loan award letter. This must be taken to your visa interview when applying for a student visa. Please contact usloans@herts.ac.uk so we can confirm your eligibility. 

General guidance and information for Student Federal Aid:

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US Private Loans: 

Financial aid is also available from private lenders. Before applying for a private loan, students are encouraged to apply for the maximum amount they are eligible for in direct loans. 

We currently accept the following private loans:

All private loans originated by the University of Hertfordshire will be disbursed in one instalment. Please note, outstanding institutional charges will be deducted from your private loan automatically at the time of disbursement by US Loans Officer. Confirmation of outstanding fees will be taken from Student Account Management prior to disbursement.  Once your disbursement has been processed, you will receive Notice of Disbursement from Convera with a summary of your disbursement.

If you wish to apply for a private loan, please follow the process below once you have had an offer from our admissions department. 

  1. To receive student private loan, apply through the Sallie Mae or Earnest website.  
  2.  Email copy of the following to usloans@herts.ac.uk so we can confirm your loan.  
  • Copy of your passport photo page. 
  • Evidence of your loan application 

⚠️Private Loan Master Promissory Note (if applicable) and Disbursement

The actual GBP sterling you receive will vary as it is dependent upon the exchange rate from USD $ to GBP £ at the time of disbursement. Under normal circumstances the funds will be physically transferred to the University's bank account via Western Union Business Solutions in the first instance. From there the funds will be converted into sterling and your tuition fees and/or accommodation fees will be deducted as instructed by Student Account Management. The remaining credit will then be refunded to you via Convera, where you will be prompted to update your bank details via a secure link. Before we can disburse anything to you, you need to open a UK bank Account. Please note that it can take up to 10 days to open a UK bank account. 

Failure to provide bank details when prompted will result in WUBS issuing a cheque which will be sent to the University for holding.  Please note it is your responsibility to provide bank details for disbursement once requested via Convera portal.

You will receive an email when your disbursement is available. When you receive this email, you may contact us to reduce or cancel the disbursement. 

WARNING - if you don't warn us in advance not to draw down your disbursement, then you will be responsible for all interest charges and for its repayment. 

When we initiate disbursement, if there is anything which prevents us from making payment to you, we will immediately contact you by email and tell you what to do. Make sure that the email address the University of Hertfordshire has for you is current. Once registered, you can amend your contact details on StudyNet. 

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact usloans@herts.ac.uk. 

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Disbursement and Term Dates 2025/26

Undergraduate Disbursements

Academic Year/Loan Period: September 2025 - May 2026

First Semester

First Disbursement - October 2025

Second Semester

Second Disbursement - February 2026

Postgradute Disbursements

Academic Year/Loan Period: September 2025 - September 2026

First Semester

First Disbursement -  October 2025

Second Semester

Second Disbursement - February 2026

Third Semester

Third Disbursement - May 2026

For further information, see the University of Hertfordshire US Loans Process

Visit our USA students page to find out:

  • Entry Requirements
  • How to apply for Financial Aid
  • Our representative in the USA

If you have any queries regarding US loans, please contact us on usloans@herts.ac.uk

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Contact Us

Student Funding and Financial Support

Student Finance

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Offering guidance and support to our Student Loans Company (SLC) funded students.
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Offering financial support to students, such as the Hardship Fund, Blackbullion and Money Management Workshops
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