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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.

The University of Hertfordshire currently accepts applicants using private loan providers for their studies and will accept Federal Student Aid for the academic year 2023/24.

US Federal Loans: 

The University of Hertfordshire will accepts applicants using US Federal Student Aid starting academic year 2023/24. 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. We will send you an email confirming receipt of your FAFSA once it arrives with our office which can take up to a week after you have submitted it online. This email will also contain information on the other steps that need to be taken to complete your loan application with us.
  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.
  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. 
  • The University of Hertfordshire US Loan Eligibility Questionnaire. Please open our online form with one of the following browsers: IE version 11, Chrome, Firefox or Safari. Please also see guidance notes (PDF - 0.41 Mb) for completing the online form. 
  • 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:

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 only accept Sallie Mae private loans. 

All private loans originated by the University of Hertfordshire will be disbursed in one instalment. You will have the opportunity to instruct the University how you would like the loan to be apportioned against your tuition and/or accommodation fees.  

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 website.  
  1. 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 
  • Sallie Mae Promissory Note (if applicable) 

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 requested by yourself. The remaining credit will then be refunded to you via Western Union Business Solutions, 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.  

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. 

Disbursement and Term Dates 2023/24

Undergraduate

Academic Year/Loan Period: 25th September 2023 - 10th May 2024

First Semester

25th September 2023 - 19th January 2024 - 15 weeks counting from Tuesday to Tuesday

First Disbursement - 2nd October 2023

Second Semester

22nd January 2024 - 10th May 2024 - 15 weeks counting from Tuesday to Tuesday after Easter Break

Second Disbursement - 2nd February 2024

Graduate

Academic Year/Loan Period: 25th September 2023 - 6th September 2024

First Semester

25th September 2023 - 19th January 2024 - 15 weeks counting from Tuesday to Tuesday

First Disbursement - 2nd October 2023

Second Semester

22nd January 2024 - 10th May 2024 - 15 weeks counting from Tuesday to Tuesday after Easter Break

Second Disbursement - 2nd February 2024

Third Semester

13th May 2024 - 6th September 2024 - 17 weeks

Third Disbursement - 23rd May 2024

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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Student Funding and Financial Support

Student Finance

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