Direct loans

This page provides information for applying for a direct loan from the US Department of Education. You must notify us each academic year of your intentions as your application will not automatically be processed for subsequent years of study.

Significant reforms to Federal student aid

Following the passing of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act in July 2025, there will be significant reforms to Federal Student Aid which come into effect for students beginning their studies after 1st July 2026.

Further information on the impact of these changes can be found on the studentaid.gov website

Students who are already enrolled and receiving federal loans during the 2025/26 academic year may continue to access funding under the previous regulations for up to three years, or for the remainder of their programme, which ever is sooner provided they maintain uninterrupted enrolment. These will also be referred to as a 'legacy student' under the changes. 

Loan Types

Direct Stafford Subsidised loan eligible undergraduate students with a demonstrated financial need

Direct Stafford Unsubsidised loan are available to undergraduate and postgraduate students but not based on financial need. Interest is charged during all period

Undergraduate - Parent PLUS - the Parent PLUS loan is credit-based for Parents of dependant undergraduate students who wish to take out loans in their names to help with their children's education. For students starting their programme on 1 July 2026 or after, Parent PLUS loans will be capped at $20,000 per student per year, with a $65,000 lifetime limit per dependent student.

Direct Graduate PLUS loan will no longer be available to new borrowers or those on new programmes. They will be available to continuing students, who have already taken out a Direct Graduate PLUS loan for up to three years, or remainder of their programme, whichever is sooner.

We are awaiting further clarification on the criteria of the Direct Graduate PLUS loan following the signing of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act

How to Apply

Step 1. Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is used to gather information about your and your family's financial situation and is used to determine if you and/or your family can pay for your education. This is used to determine whether you have a financial need.

  • Complete the FAFSA form online at www.fafsa.ed.gov
  • The University of Liverpool's US Department of Education Federal University / School code
    • Federal School Code: G09249
    • OPE-ID: 009249-00

After completing your FAFSA form, you will receive a FAFSA Submissions Summary (FSS)(formerly Student Aid Report (SAR). This document lists the information you and your family have provided and tells you what (SAI) Student Aid Index figure is for the year you are applying.

You can check the status of your form immediately by logging into www.fafsa.ed.gov using your FSA ID username and password.

Step 2. Email us at usloans@liverpool.ac.uk

The University does not receive any electronic notification that you have applied for Federal Aid/Completed your FAFSA. Therefore, we need you to advise us so we can calculate your Cost of Attendance and advise you on the amount of loan you are eligible for.

Step 3. Cost of Attendance (CoA)

From June onwards US Loans will issue you with the Cost of Attendance calculator which provides you with a guide to your loan eligibility and the maximum amounts you may be able to borrow. You cannot exceed the maximum permitted Cost of Attendance.

Step 4. Return signed Award Notification Letter

You need to sign and agree or amend the Award Notification Letter to allow us to originate your Loans.

Step 5. Complete the Master Promissory Note (MPN)

Once you know how much you want to borrow you need to complete the relevant MPN:

Please note as a Foreign School we require you to complete a new MPN for each year of your studies to continue to receive Federal Aid.

Step 6. Complete Entrance counselling

New students

Federal law requires all new students to complete entrance counselling at the appropriate grade level (Undergraduate or Postgraduate) for the appropriate loans (Direct Stafford loan, and/or Direct PLUS loan) prior to any loan origination. Loan counselling will inform you of your rights and obligations. If you do not complete entrance counselling we will not be able to originate your loan(s).

To complete the entrance counselling visit 

Continuing students

If you are continuing into a further year of study on the same programme at the University then you do not need to complete entrance counselling again.

Step 7. Return forms to US Loans

Once you have completed the steps above then you must provide us, by email, the following documents:

Please email your completed application pack to usloans@liverpool.ac.uk and enter the subject line as:

  • US Loan for Award Year YYYY-YY (Surname, Forename) 
    eg US Loan for Award Year 2026-27 (Smith, John).

What next?

After you have submitted your notification to the University, we will verify the information you have provided. Your tuition fees can be confirmed by the Student Fees and Funding Office or should be on your offer letter.

If any information is incomplete or incorrect then this will almost certainly delay the origination of your loans.

You will be notified of any adjustments to your loan eligibility and the amounts which will be originated by the University.

Once the University is satisfied with your eligibility and loan entitlement your loans will be originated. Please note this will not be until July prior to the start of the Academic Year.

Information about how, and when, funds arrive is available on the receiving funds page.

The University is required to supply the details of any loans originated for eligible students, and the details of the enrolment of those students, to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS).

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