Loan application

The University of Kent participates in the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program.

The University is authorised to process US Direct loans for students who are:

1. Citizens or permanent residents of the United States (US) and who have a valid US social security number. 
2. Studying for Bachelor's degrees, First Professional degrees, Masters degrees and Doctoral degrees.
3. Studying at the University of Kent's Canterbury and Medway and campuses.
   

However, there are some exceptions.  The following students are not eligible to borrow US Direct loans:

• Students whose programme includes study or research for any length of time in the United States. However, there is a narrow exception for independent research carried out by PhD students – please email foreignloans@kent.ac.uk for details.  
• Students whose programme includes study or research for any length of time at the University of Kent’s Paris centre.
• Students who have a study period abroad at an institution which is not certified to receive US Federal Direct funds unless the period abroad is part of an existing University of Kent study abroad programme.  To ensure that you select an eligible institution, please contact us at foreignloans@kent.ac.uk. 
• Students who are registered on the International Foundation Programme.
• Students who are registered on an External / Distance Learning programme of study.

These students may be eligible to borrow a US Private loan. For information, see the "Sources of Funding" tab.

Please note that when a student has completed their FAFSA, the US Department of Education only notifies schools located within the United States.  The University of Kent is not notified when a student has completed their FAFSA.

Set out below the steps you take to make an application to borrow US Federal loan/s to support your studies at the University of Kent in the 2023-24 academic year.  

1. Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for 2023-24

The University of Kent uses the information from your FAFSA to assist in determining your eligibility for Direct Loans.

Complete the FAFSA electronically at Roles | FAFSA Application | Federal Student Aid.

• The University of Kent school code is G08665.
• To complete the FAFSA electronically, you must have a Federal Student Aid ID (FSA ID).  To apply for an FSA ID if you do not already have one, or for customer service regarding a previously assigned FSA ID, visit the following Federal Student Aid web page: FAFSA® Application | Federal Student Aid

When you have completed your FAFSA, the US Department of Education will use the information to produce a Student Aid Report (SAR).  They will send you a copy of your SAR which you should keep for your records.  You do not need to send us a copy of your FAFSA or your SAR.

We then access your SAR to check your eligibility for Direct loans, including the following:

• you are a US citizen or a permanent resident of the US
• your dependency status
• you are within the borrowing limits for Direct loans

2. Confirm in writing (email) how much, in total US Dollars, you wish to borrow for the 2023-24 academic year

The University of Kent can authorise students to borrow US Direct loans up to the total cost of Attendance for their course.  

Your Direct loans can be a combination of:

• Direct Subsidized Loan 
• Direct Unsubsidized Loan 
• Direct PLUS Parent Loan or Private Loan

The amount of Direct loan money that undergraduate students are permitted to borrow is determined by whether they are classed as 'Dependent' or 'Independent' and their year of study.

Details of your cost of attendance are set out in your Cost of Attendance e-mail.

3. To borrow a Direct Loan: Complete a Direct Loan Master Promissory Note (MPN)

The Direct MPN is the legal document through which you promise to repay your Direct Loans and any accrued interest and fees to the US Department of Education. It also explains the terms and conditions of your loans.  You complete a new Direct MPN for each academic year that you borrow Direct Loans at the University of Kent.

You complete the Direct MPN electronically via the StudentLoans.gov web site:

• Go to Federal Student Aid
• Log into the Undergraduate MPN section
• Complete the Direct MPN

4. To borrow a Direct PLUS Parent Loan

If you do not wish to borrow a Direct PLUS Parent loan, skip this step and go to step 5.

If you wish to borrow a Direct PLUS Parent loan, your parent completes (a) and (b) below.

(a) Complete a Direct PLUS Master Promissory Note (MPN)

The Direct MPN is the legal document through which your parent promises to repay the Direct PLUS Parent Loan and any accrued interest and fees to the US Department of Education. It also explains the terms and conditions of the loan.  Your parent completes a new Direct PLUS MPN for each academic year that they borrow a Direct PLUS Parent loan at the University of Kent.

Your parent completes the Direct PLUS MPN electronically via the StudentLoans.gov web site:

• Go to Federal Student Aid
• Select the "Graduate/Professional Students" tab
• Select the link to "Complete Loan Agreement for a PLUS Loan (MPN)"
• Complete the Direct PLUS MPN

(b) Complete a Direct PLUS Credit Check

Your parent must also apply for a Direct PLUS loan credit check. The credit check is one of the steps completed during the application process for the Direct PLUS MPN on the PLUS Loan Application | Federal Student Aid website.

5. Complete Direct Loan Entrance Counseling

You complete Direct Loan Entrance Counseling electronically via: Entrance Counseling | Federal Student Aid. Work through the Entrance Counseling for Direct loans.

To complete Direct Loan Entrance Counseling electronically, you must have a Federal Student Aid ID (FSA ID).  To apply for an FSA ID if you do not already have one, or for customer service regarding a previously assigned FSA ID, visit the Federal Student Aid website.

6. Your application

Ensure that you have made an application to study at the University of Kent, on at least a part-time basis, and that you have received an offer of a place from Kent

7. Email us to confirm completion of the following documentation and information

• Confirmation of the amount in US Dollars you wish to borrow     
• Email confirmation from you that you have completed your Entrance Counseling
• E-mail confirmation from you that you have completed an MPN for each time of loan you wish to borrow.    
• If your parent is borrowing a Direct PLUS Parent loan:
  • E-mailed confirmation from you that your parent has completed PLUS Master Promissory Note (MPN). We may required their SSN to access the MPN.
  • Email confirmation from you that your parent has completed the Direct PLUS Credit Check
• If you require a letter for Visa purposes, please confirm this in your e-mail.
  

Set out below the steps you take to make an application to borrow US Federal loan/s to support your studies at the University of Kent in the 2023-24 academic year.

1. Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for 2023-24

The University of Kent uses the information from your FAFSA to assist in determining your eligibility for Direct Loans.

Complete the FAFSA electronically at Roles | FAFSA Application | Federal Student Aid.

• The University of Kent school code is G08665.
• To complete the FAFSA electronically, you must have a Federal Student Aid ID (FSA ID).  To apply for an FSA ID if you do not already have one, or for customer service regarding a previously assigned FSA ID, visit the following Federal Student Aid web page: FAFSA® Application | Federal Student Aid

When you have completed your FAFSA, the US Department of Education will use the information to produce a Student Aid Report (SAR).  They will send you a copy of your SAR which you should keep for your records.  You do not need to send us a copy of your FAFSA or your SAR.

We then access your SAR to check your eligibility for Direct loans, including the following:

• you are a US citizen or a permanent resident of the US
• your dependency status
• you are within the borrowing limits for Direct loans

2. Confirm in writing (email) how much, in total US Dollars, you wish to borrow for the 2023-24 academic year

The University of Kent can authorise students to borrow US Direct loans up to the total cost of Attendance for their course.  

Your Direct loans can be a combination of: 

• Direct Unsubsidized Loan (Up to $20,500)
• Direct PLUS Parent Loan or Private Loan (Up to the total of the remaining Cost of Attendance)

Details of your cost of attendance are set out in your Cost of Attendance e-mail.

3. To borrow a Direct Loan: Complete a Direct Loan Master Promissory Note (MPN)

The Direct MPN is the legal document through which you promise to repay your Direct loan and any accrued interest and fees to the US Department of Education. It also explains the terms and conditions of the loan.  You complete a new Direct MPN for each academic year that you borrow a Direct Loan at the University of Kent.

You complete the Direct MPN electronically via the StudentLoans.gov web site:

• Go to Completing a Master Promissory Note | Federal Student Aid
• Select the "Graduate/Professional Student" tab
• Select the link to "Complete Loan Agreement for a Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loan (MPN)"
• Complete the Direct MPN

4. To borrow a Direct PLUS Loan: Complete a Direct PLUS Master Promissory Note (MPN) and a PLUS Credit Check

If you do not wish to borrow a Direct PLUS loan, skip this step and go to step 5.

The Direct PLUS MPN is the legal document through which you promise to repay your Direct PLUS Loan and any accrued interest and fees to the US Department of Education. It also explains the terms and conditions of your loan.  You complete a new Direct PLUS MPN for each academic year that you borrow a Direct PLUS loan at the University of Kent.

You complete the Direct PLUS MPN electronically via the StudentLoans.gov web site:

• Go to https://studentaid.gov/app/launchMpn.action
• Select the "Graduate/Professional Students" tab
• Select the link to "Complete Loan Agreement for a PLUS Loan (MPN)"
• Complete the Direct PLUS MPN

You must also apply for a Direct PLUS credit check.  The credit check is one of the steps you complete during the application process for your Direct PLUS MPN on the StudentLoans.gov web site PLUS Loan Application | Federal Student Aid.

5. Complete Direct Loan Entrance Counseling

You will need to complete Entrance Counseling for each type of loan you borrow (e.g. Direct Loan and Direct PLUS Loan). The Counseling can be combined if you require both types of loans.

You complete Direct Loan Entrance Counseling electronically at Entrance Counseling | Federal Student Aid. Work through the Entrance Counseling for each type of loan you are borrowing (i.e. Direct Loan and Direct PLUS Loan).

To complete Direct Loan Entrance Counseling electronically, you must have a Federal Student Aid ID (FSA ID).  To apply for an FSA ID if you do not already have one, or for customer service regarding a previously assigned FSA ID, visit the following Federal Student Aid web page:  https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/fafsa/filling-out/fsaid

6. Your application

Ensure that you have accepted an unconditional offer to study at the University of Kent, on at least a part-time basis, and that you have received an offer of a place from Kent.

7. Email us to confirm completion of the following documentation and information

• Confirmation of the amount in US Dollars you wish to borrow     
• Email confirmation from you that you have completed your Entrance Counseling
• E-mail confirmation from you that you have completed an MPN for each time of loan you wish to borrow.    
• If you are borrowing a Direct PLUS loan:
  
  • Email confirmation from you that you have completed your Direct PLUS credit check
• If you require a letter for Visa purposes, please confirm this in your e-mail.

We will then confirm your Cost of Attendance and email you with further instructions.

From late May 2024 the University will start processing US Direct loans for the 2024-25 academic year. 

From October 2023 you can complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for 2024-25.

From May 2024 you can complete your Master Promissory Note/s and Entrance Counseling.

The University of Kent uses the information from your FAFSA to assist in determining your eligibility for Direct Loans.

Complete the FAFSA electronically at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa/.

• The University of Kent school code is G08665.
• To complete the FAFSA electronically, you must have a Federal Student Aid ID (FSA ID).  To apply for an FSA ID if you do not already have one, or for customer service regarding a previously assigned FSA ID, visit the following Federal Student Aid web page: https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/fafsa/filling-out/fsaid

When you have completed your FAFSA, the US Department of Education will use the information to produce a Student Aid Report (SAR).  They will send you a copy of your SAR which you should keep for your records.  You do not need to send us a copy of your FAFSA or your SAR.

We then access your SAR to check your eligibility for Direct loans, including the following:

• you are a US citizen or a permanent resident of the US
• your dependency status
• you are within the borrowing limits for Direct loans

The cost of attendance for the 2024-25 academic year will be published on this web page once it is available.