US Student Finance

Direct Loans are made available to eligible students attending the university at least half time, at a programme approved for Federal Student Aid. The US Department of Education is the lender, and you receive the loan money through your university. Subsidized and unsubsidized loans are federal student loans for eligible students to help cover the cost of higher education at an approved university. The U.S. Department of Education offers eligible students at participating schools Direct Subsidized Loans and Direct Unsubsidized Loans. (Some people refer to these loans as Stafford Loans or Direct Stafford Loans.)

Direct Subsidized Loans are available to undergraduate students with financial need. The U.S. Department of Education pays the interest on a Direct Subsidized Loan. Direct Unsubsidized Loans are available to undergraduate and graduate students; there is no requirement to demonstrate financial need. The student is responsible for paying the interest on a Direct Unsubsidized Loan during all periods. If you choose not to pay the interest while you are in school and during grace and deferment periods, your interest will accrue (accumulate) and be capitalized (that is, your interest will be added to the principal amount of your loan).

There are limits on the amount in subsidized and unsubsidized loans that a student may be eligible to receive each academic year (annual loan limits) and the total amounts that a student may borrow for undergraduate and graduate study (aggregate loan limits). More information on this can be found at the website of the US Department of Education. Direct Unsubsidized Loans cannot exceed USD 20 500 per academic year. The limit for Direct Subsidized Loans varies on the year of study.

The U.S. Department of Education also makes Direct PLUS Loans to eligible borrowers through schools participating in the Direct Loan Program. PLUS loans can help pay for education expenses not covered by other financial aid.

To receive a Direct PLUS Loan, a student must be a graduate or professional student enrolled at least half-time at an eligible school in a program leading to a graduate or professional degree or certificate, or be the parent (biological, adoptive, or in some cases, stepparent) of a dependent undergraduate student enrolled at least half-time at an eligible school.

The student/parent borrower must not have an adverse credit history, and must meet the general eligibility requirements for federal student aid. If you are borrowing on behalf of your child, your child must also meet these requirements. A credit check will be performed during the application process. If you have an adverse credit history, you may still receive a Direct PLUS Loan through one of these two options.

Each school must determine a Cost of Attendance (CoA) for its university. During the academic year, a student is not allowed to receive a total amount of student aid (including scholarships, federal student loans, private student loans, and Federal Work-Study) that exceeds that student's Cost of Attendance. The Cost of Attendance includes the student's tuition and fees as charged by the school, as well as allowances for books, supplies, and living expenses such as rent, food, utilities, transportation, and an allowance for miscellaneous personal expenses.

In certain cases, a student may incur allowable education expenses that are either greater than the amounts included in the standard budget or else not included at all. In these cases and at its discretion, the school's financial aid office may allow students to request an adjustment based on their documented actual expenses. Students may submit Cost of Attendance budget increase requests for several reasons. It could be computer purchase, child care expenses for dependent children, medical, dental or vision expenses not covered by insurance. It can also include airfare (if needed to travel to an out-of-town internship or similar), transportation expenses (if a student must live out of town) and special books, course fees, or supplies that exceed the amount included in the CoA.

Note that the school's financial aid office may limit the amount of a student's increase for any reason, and must decline an increase if it is determined that the cost was not incurred during the current period of enrolment or if it is not an allowable education-related expense. Expenses such as consumer bills (ie: cell phone, car payment, insurance, utilities, etc.), pet or hobby expenses are for example not covered.

Uppsala University calculates the cost of attendance for students for each academic year, converted into USD. Living costs are assessed according to a national average for room rental, board (food and utilities costs), course books and stationery, travel, and personal costs. Information on the cost of attendance for each particular year of study is sent to all students interested in Direct Loans.

Loans are disbursed twice per academic year, at the start of each semester. In accordance with Federal Student Aid regulations students will be reminded that the disbursement is due at least 14 days before the disbursement date and will be given an opportunity to cancel or reduce disbursements. Loans are disbursed in SEK, to the student’s Swedish bank account or onto a prepaid debit card. A disbursement letter will be provided at the time of disbursement, detailing the loan and currency exchange rate.

Students have a right to cancel all or part of their Federal Student Aid within 30 days of receipt of notification of the loans being originated. Students have the right to cancel all future disbursements at any point within the academic year prior to the relevant future disbursement dates. In accordance with Federal Student Aid regulations students will be reminded that the disbursement is due at least 14 days before the disbursement date and will be given an opportunity to cancel or reduce disbursements. Where a disbursement date has already passed the College will not be able to reduce the amount disbursed however the student can return unrequired funds to the US Department of Education within 120 days of the disbursement date without incurring interest or other fees; students are solely responsible for doing so and should contact their Direct Loan Servicing Centre for guidance on how to return the unrequired funds.

When it comes to repaying your federal student loan, there’s a lot to consider. Understanding the details of repayment can save you time and money. Find out when repayment starts, how to make your payment, repayment plan options, what to do if you have trouble making payments, and more at the Department of Education's website on Loan Repayment.

Exit Counselling is required when you graduate, leave school, or drop below half-time enrolment. Exit Counselling provides important information to prepare you to repay your federal student loan(s). Exit counselling is available at studentaid.gov.

Per federal regulations set forth by The Higher Education Act of 1965 (amended in 2008), educational institutions are required to disclose specific consumer information about the school and the availability of student financial aid to prospective and continuing students.