US Student Loans

Each year, students must complete a new FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid).

If you are a continuing student, complete a renewal FAFSA (you will only be required to indicate any information that has changed since last year).

Complete the FAFSA electronically on the Federal Student Aid website .

The University of Aberdeen School Code is G09368 (this code may also appear as 009368).

When you have submitted your FAFSA, this will produce a Student Aid Report (SAR) and this information will be used by the University to determine your loan eligibility.

Tips for FAFSA Completion

• Students commencing a new postgraduate taught programme of study at the University of Aberdeen are advised to select "1st Yr. College Graduate/ Professional" as the Grade level in their FAFSA application even if they have previously studied at postgraduate taught level. This includes those that are commencing study on the LLB Accelerated programme.
• Students commencing a postgraduate research programme at the University of Aberdeen are advised to select "Continuing Graduate/ Professional or Beyond" as the Grade level in their FAFSA application.
• If you are including your driver's licence information on your FAFSA application, please ensure you complete both Driver's Licence Number and Driver's Licence State.

The US Department of Education requires first-time borrowers of the Federal Direct loan to complete a loan entrance counselling session before loans can be originated and funds disbursed.

This counselling session provides you with information that will help you understand your rights and responsibilities as a loan borrower, as well as other tools to assist you with managing your loans.

Complete Direct Loan entrance counselling electronically via the StudentLoans.gov website. You will need your FSA ID to complete entrance counselling. This is the same FSA ID you used to complete your FAFSA.

You need to complete entrance counselling for each type of loan you borrow:

• Undergraduate Students: Complete entrance counselling for Direct Subsidized and Direct Unsubsidized Loans
• Graduate Students: Complete entrance counselling for Direct Unsubsidized and Direct PLUS Loans

Parents are not required to complete entrance counselling for a Direct Parent PLUS Loan.

The University of Aberdeen School Code is G09368 (this code may also appear as 009368).

All students taking out a Federal Direct loan outside the US (and your parent for a Parent PLUS loan) are required to complete a Master Promissory Note (MPN) annually before loans can be originated and funds disbursed.

You must complete a Direct Loan Master Promissory Note (MPN) (Loan agreement) for each type of loan that you wish to borrow. The MPN is a 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 loan and your rights and responsibilities as a borrower.

You can complete a Direct Loan MPN electronically via the StudentLoans.gov website.

Quick Notes:

• You will need your FSA ID to complete the MPN. This is the same FSA ID you used to complete your FAFSA. Make sure to list the school code for the University of Aberdeen (G09368)
• You must do separate MPNs for PLUS and Sub/Unsub loans.
• For PLUS loans, a US postal address is needed to trigger the required credit check. An overseas address will automatically result in the credit check being pended. This can delay your funding.
• Save your completed MPNs as a PDF files for your own records.

MPNs to Complete

• Undergraduate and Graduate Students: Complete Loan Agreement for a Subsidized / Unsubsidized Loan (MPN)
• Graduate Students: Complete Loan Agreement for a PLUS Loan (MPN)*
• Parent Borrowers (parents of dependent undergraduate students): Complete Loan Agreement for a PLUS Loan (MPN)

*It is common for students to borrow their full entitlement through the Subsidized/Unsubsidized loans and then top up their borrowing with the PLUS loan, so if you intend to use both of these loans, remember to complete both MPNs.

If you apply for a Grad PLUS loan, or your parent is applying for a Parent PLUS loan, you, or the parent, will need to complete the "Apply for a PLUS loan" section on the StudentAid Website (links below). This will automatically trigger a Credit Check when you use a US postal address. The credit check approval will be confirmed in a PLUS correspondence letter (via email) which you may be asked to send to us.

You will need to complete the online application for a Direct PLUS Loan via the StudentLoans.gov website:

• Graduate Students: Apply for a grad PLUS Loan
• Parents (of dependent undergraduate students): Apply for a parent PLUS Loan

You must also complete a Direct PLUS Loan Master Promissory Note (MPN) to receive a Direct PLUS Loan. You will have an opportunity to complete the MPN after you complete your Direct PLUS Loan application.

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:

1. Obtain an endorser who does not have an adverse credit history. (An endorser is someone who does not have an adverse credit history and who agrees to repay the Direct PLUS Loan if you do not repay it).
2. Documenting to the satisfaction of the US Department of Education that there are extenuating circumstances relating to your adverse credit history.

With options 1 or 2, you (for Grad Plus) or your parent (for Parent Plus) must also complete PLUS credit counselling via the StudentLoans.gov website:

• Complete PLUS Credit Counselling

Please note that if you are a graduate student required to complete the PLUS credit counselling, you must complete this counselling in addition to the Direct PLUS Loan entrance counselling.

The credit check is tied in to the PLUS application process and will show as a document called PLUS correspondence. Please look at an example of the document we need to see. All documents will be saved as pdfs in your MyLoan Documents tab on your FSA portal.

If you are using an Endorser, please send us the Endorser MPN. This can be sent securely to usaloans@abdn.ac.uk using https://zendto.abdn.ac.uk/

Direct Parent PLUS Credit Balance Refund

It is the University's normal policy to refund directly to the student any credit balance created by the Direct Parent PLUS Loan, after tuition, university accommodation and any other charges (not including the food card) have been deducted.

If you wish for any excess funds to be refunded to you, the Parent, you must specify this on the Financial Aid Package. We will email a link requesting your bank details a few weeks before the start of the academic year.

Read the Cost of Attendance section so you are aware of the maximum amount of loans that you may be eligible for and the items that we have included in the Cost of Attendance. We will include information specific to your situation within your Financial Aid Package.

If your degree programme includes fieldwork that is payable by the student, please email usaloans@abdn.ac.uk with details of the course and fieldtrip details. We will liaise with the School Office for the cost of the fieldtrip to include within your cost of attendance. We will provide you with an updated Financial Aid Package.

Please let us know as soon as possible as it can take 3-4 weeks for additional funding requests to be processed.

If you have submitted your FAFSA, applied to the University of Aberdeen, and received a conditional or unconditional offer, we will carry out a provisional loan assessment approximately 3 months before your start date.

When the assessment is prepared, we will email you with your Financial Aid Package. This will contain the following information:

• The maximum loan entitlement that you may be eligible for
• The approximate dates of when disbursements will be made
• Terms and Conditions of the loan(s)
• Cost of Attendance information

If you have not heard from us by the 15 July (September / October starts), please email usaloans@abdn.ac.uk and provide your Applicant/Student ID number for the University of Aberdeen.

If you are not eligible for Federal Loans based on your programme of study, we will not send you a Financial Aid Package but will email you to advise that you are not eligible. You can find out information relating to Private Student Loans here and Cost of Attendance information for Private Loans here.

The Terms and Conditions included with your Financial Aid Package are also available here.

If you wish to accept your Financial Aid Package, please submit the following in a single email to usaloans@abdn.ac.uk.

• Your signed Funding Notification Offer with any requested amendments (part of your Financial Aid Package)
• Confirmation that you have completed and received confirmation of the below required documents.
• Copy of award letter (evidence) for any financial assistance. For example: grant, bursary, scholarship, studentship, or stipend (PDF)

All students taking Sub and/or Unsub loans need to complete

• Direct Subsidized / Unsubsidized Loan Entrance Counselling (new applicant or studying a new programme)
• Electronically signed and dated Master Promissory Note (MPN) (Loan Agreement) for Direct Subsidized / Unsubsidized Loan

Additional documents / steps to complete for Direct PLUS (Grad / Parent) Loan (if applying for this type of loan):

• Electronically signed and dated Master Promissory Note (MPN) (Loan Agreement) for Direct PLUS Loan
• Complete the Parent / Grad PLUS Loan application and associated Credit Check. This is separate to the MPN.
• Direct PLUS (Grad) Loan Entrance Counselling (not required for Parent PLUS)
• Electronically signed and dated Endorsers Addendum (if applicable). If using an endorser, please securely forward the Endorser MPN to usaloans@abdn.ac.uk using https://zendto.abdn.ac.uk/

Please include your Applicant ID number or Student ID number in the email.

We can access your StudentAid documents electronically so there is no need for you to send them to us unless we are unable to see the confirmation. Your Student Aid Report (based on the information provided in your FAFSA) is used to assess your eligibility so it is important that you review it to ensure you have made any corrections that are necessary and if studying at postgraduate level, be sure you have classified yourself correctly (see Tips for FAFSA Completion within Application Step 1).

Continuing students should follow the same processes above but are not required to complete the Entrance Counselling component.

We cannot confirm your loan eligibility until you have received and accepted a firm offer of admission for your programme of study and received your Student ID number. If your offer of admission is still at the conditional stage or if you haven't sent your acceptance and financial guarantee form, you can still return your acceptance of the Financial Aid package and complete your loan documents. We will hold them on file until you have completed the admissions process.

If you have any questions about the admissions process contact our undergraduate or postgraduate admissions team for further information.

• pgadmissions@abdn.ac.uk
• ugadmissions@abdn.ac.uk

Applicants who have applied for or have been certified for a US Federal Student Loan should indicate in their Financial Guarantee form that they are self-funded.

When you completed the Finance section on CAS Shield. Please log in to your CAS Shield account, go to Information Check and then Finance. Scroll down to Deposits and then click on Add Deposit. Please select 'No - Deposit not required' in the meantime, so your application can be reviewed by an Admissions Officer. If anything further is required, the Admissions Officer will contact you via CAS Shield.

If your full fees are being covered by a US Federal Student Aid, then you are not required to pay a Deposit. More information on deposits can be found on our website Deposits | Study Here | The University of Aberdeen (abdn.ac.uk)

If all steps have been successfully completed, you have accepted your offer of a place at the University of Aberdeen and received your student ID number, we will finalise your loan application and will be emailed a signed Loan Confirmation letter. This will include a confirmation of your loan values and estimated disbursement dates.

The wording and format of this letter has been agreed with UK Visas and Immigration as acceptable proof of funding for visa applications.

If you have changed your programme of study, received additional funding (i.e. Scholarship, bursary or discount) or if there is an update to your Student Aid Report, please notify us asap as we will need to reassess your eligibility before we can provide your signed Loan Confirmation letter.

**This letter will not be available until after you have received your student ID number.**

The law governing Federal Student Aid (FSA) programs is based on the premise that the family is the first source of the student's support. The law provides several criteria that indicate whether a student is considered independent of their parents when determining eligibility for financial aid. The criteria are indicated on the FAFSA and can be found at studentaid.gov.

If you are a dependent student, you are required to provide parent information on the FAFSA. Federal regulations specifically prohibit schools from processing a dependency override for any of the following reasons:

• Parents refuse to contribute to the student's education.
• Parents are unwilling to provide information on the application.
• Parents do not claim the student as a dependent for income tax purposes.
• Student demonstrates total self-sufficiency.

If you have an unusual circumstance, you may qualify for a dependency override. A dependency override permits an aid administrator to make an adjustment to your dependency status, if you are unable to contact a parent or if contacting your parent poses a risk to you.

An unusual circumstance can include situations such as:

• Parental abandonment, estrangement, abuse or neglect;
• Parental incarceration;
• Human trafficking;
• Legally granted refugee or asylum status.

Students whose parents refuse to support them and will not provide information for the student's FAFSA, but are not included in the circumstances above, are not eligible for a dependency override; however, the student may be eligible to receive dependent level Direct Unsubsidized loans. For example, a dependent 2nd year undergraduate could receive up to $6,500 as a Direct Unsubsidized loan. To determine if this is an option, please email usaloans@abdn.ac.uk with details of your situation.

If you do have any of the unusual circumstances mentioned above, please email usaloans@abdn.ac.uk providing details of your situation (including the timeline of events, current living arrangements and how you support yourself) and documentation that supports your requests such as one of the following options:

• Legal documentation (i.e., police/incident reports, court orders, Child Protective Service (CPS) documentation, proof of incarceration or institutionalization, death certificate, asylum, or refugee status, etc.)
• At least two (2) statements by professional third parties that confirm the relationship with your parents. Professional third parties can include clergy, counsellor, teacher, lawyer, etc. A personal acquaintance or family member is not considered a professional third party.
• A written statement from an attorney, guardian ad litem, a court-appointed special advocate (or similar), or a representative of a TRIO or GEAR UP program that confirms the circumstances and the person's relationship to the student.
• A documented determination of independence made by a financial aid administrator at another institution in the same or a prior award year.
• Utility bills, health insurance, or other documents that demonstrate a separation from parents or legal guardians.
• A written statement, which confirms the unusual circumstances with a State, county, or Tribal welfare agency, an independent living case worker who supports current and former foster youth with the transition to adulthood; or a public or private agency, facility, or program servicing the victims of abuse, neglect, assault, or violence.

NOTE: If you are unable to obtain any of the above items, please clearly address the circumstances in your personal statement as to why there is no supporting documentation.

If your unusual circumstances dependency override is approved, you will be eligible for a full independent level Direct Subsidized & Unsubsidized loans (in accordance with aggregate loan limits).

Special Circumstances - Changes to FAFSA

When you submit the FAFSA, you are required to enter income information from two years prior to the current year. If your family's financial situation has changed in a subsequent completed tax year, you may be eligible for additional financial aid through a special circumstance evaluation.

Examples of these circumstances may include the following:

• Your parent listed on the FAFSA lost their job;
• There was a death to a parent or spouse;
• Your family's income decreased;
• Your family had high out of pocket medical expenses;

If you are in one of the situations below, completing this process most likely will not result in an increase in your financial aid eligibility:

• If you are an undergraduate student already receiving maximum Direct Subsidized loans for your dependency status and year of study.
• If you are in a graduate program, including the LLB accelerated program, and you are receiving the maximum loan amount you are eligible for, this review would not increase your loan amount or eligibility.

Please email usaloans@abdn.ac.uk with details of the change you are requesting along with proof of the change to financial status or personal circumstances.

Special Circumstance - Update to Cost of Attendance Budget

On a case-by-case basis, your cost of attendance may be adjusted to account for a special circumstance. An increase to your cost of attendance increases the amount of loans you may be eligible for through either Parent/ Grad PLUS Direct Loans or Private loans. This review does not increase the amount of Direct Subsidized/ Unsubsidized loans you will be eligible for.

Special circumstances considered for a cost of attendance adjustment may include:

• Tuition expenses at a nursery;
• Medical expenses not covered by the NHS;
• Child or dependent care expenses;
• Disability or learning difference of the student.

Please email usaloans@abdn.ac.uk with details of the circumstances you are requesting additional funds for and details of the additional costs.

If your parent is not eligible to borrow a Parent PLUS loan, you may be eligible to borrow what is referred to as an “Additional Unsubsidized Loans” in the amount up to the maximum annual limit for independent students (e.g. $4,000 for a 1st year undergraduate with remaining federal loan eligibility).

If your parent receives a declined credit check from their Parent PLUS loan application and is unable to use an Endorser, please email usaloans@abdn.ac.uk to advise us that you wish to be considered for the Additional Unsubsidized Loans as an independent student. Once you are changed to an Independent student for these additional loans, you cannot be reassessed at a later date as a dependent student.

Students can borrow amounts equal to the Cost of Attendance (CoA). The CoA consists of 2 elements:

• Tuition Fees
• Living Expenses

It can be difficult to know how much to borrow when you haven't experienced the cost of living in the city you will be studying in for the next year. We cannot tell you how much to borrow, but we can reassure you that you do have options to change your loan amount at any time over the academic year.

Our cost of attendance is set at a generous level. As well as tuition and accommodation fees, it covers the cost of two return flights, origination fees (for Federal Loans), IT devices and allows a little extra for any clubs, societies, hobbies, trips etc.

You do not have to accept the maximum loan which is detailed on your financial aid package. You can live comfortably in Aberdeen on less money, and you can specify the loan amount that you think will best meet your needs.

If you are still unsure, you do have options to increase or decrease your loan at any stage over the next year.

Undergraduate (BSc, MA, BMus) and Postgraduate Research (PhD, MRes) have their loans paid in two instalments across the year. Postgraduate Taught (MSc, MLitt, MPhil) have their loans paid in three instalments across the year.

The below example is for a PG Taught student.

• The maximum loan entitlement is $47,000 but you request to borrow only $36,000.
• The loan will be paid in three instalments of $12,000. Institutional charges will be paid in three instalments to coincide with your loan payments and the excess payment from each of those instalments will be refunded to you for living expenses.
• If you find that you did not need the full $12,000 payment for the first term, you can ask us to reduce your loan instalments for the 2nd and/or 3rd disbursements.
• If you find that the $12,000 payment in the first term did not meet your expenses, you can ask us to increase your loan instalments for the 2nd and/or 3rd disbursements (up to the maximum loan of $47,000 detailed on the financial aid package).

Your financial aid package will have a different loan amount, but this gives an idea of the flexibility you have regarding making changes as the year progresses.

The same principle is applied for loans that are paid in two instalments for Undergraduate and Postgraduate Research students.

Most undergraduate programmes are 35 weeks in length. If your programme is longer than this (i.e. PGDE, MBChB), we will amend your Cost of Attendance Living Expenses accordingly.

Postgraduate Taught and Research students are assessed 12 months at a time. Extensions or programmes taking more than 12 months, but less than 24 months will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Items included

• Rent / Housing
  • Your contract may be longer than your programme length. If so, you will need to cover any extra through funds outwith your loans.
  • If you want to look for a flatmate, our Student Association does have a facility to help https://www.ausa.org.uk/advice/findaflatmate/
  • University Accommodation options can be found here
  • You can also search the internet for private student accommodation or leasing agents.
• Utilities
  • This includes gas, electricity and internet.
  • Some accommodation may include this within your rent.
  • The figure that we use is based on average figures for a 2 bedroom flat when shared with another person (50/50 split).
  • You may be able to change your energy and/ or internet provider to get a better price.
    • There are websites you can search for better prices such as Uswitch
• Food
  • This is an average weekly shop for a single adult.
  • Nearby supermarkets include Lidl, Aldi, Tesco, Asda & Morrisons.
  • Convenience supermarkets can be more expensive than larger stores.
  • The University does offer a weekly food card for students wanting to eat mainly at university outlets on campus.
• Travel Expenses
  • This is the approximate cost of a First Bus Weekly Student Pass. You can download the FirstBus app to purchase this.
  • First Bus is the main bus provider around Aberdeen.
  • Stagecoach buses are available within the city but are mainly used for trips to surrounding local areas.
  • The cost of a student railcard cannot be included in your cost of attendance but if you wish to explore more of Scotland you can purchase a student railcard on the Scotrail website.
• Personal Costs - this can include (but is not limited to) the following -
  • Toiletries
  • Socialising
  • Gym Membership
  • Sports Club / Society Membership
  • Clothing
  • Reading (not university related)
  • Music apps
• Books / Computer Equipment / Printing
  • University books
    • The University library will have most books for your courses in either physical or electronic formats.
    • Blackwells Bookstore on campus also provides a student discount.
  • Laptop
    • Funds for this are spread across your studies.
    • If additional software is required for disabilities or learning differences, please let us know and we can liaise with the Student Support team.
  • Printing
    • You can top up your student ID card to print on campus.
• Return Flights
  • The figure that we have used is the average cost of a flight from Aberdeen to various locations in the US when booked 2-3 months in advance.
  • We include funds for 2 return flights.
• Visa
  • We will include the cost of your visa as part of your cost of attendance within your 1st year of study.
• Healthcare surcharge
  • We will include the cost of the healthcare surcharge within your 1st year of study for the duration of your studies.
  • PhD students often request an extension to complete their thesis. As such, we include the cost for 4 years instead of 3 years.
• Origination Fees
  • We will include an approximate value based on your situation. Actual origination fees will vary. Origination fees for 2024/2025 are available here once determined by the US Department of Education.
  • This is only available to students taking Federal Direct Loans.
  • If you are not taking PLUS loans or are taking private loans, the value you are eligible for your origination fees will be amended as required.
  • You need to ensure that you keep these in mind when deciding the amount you wish to borrow.
• Conversion rate
  • As the values for your cost of attendance are calculated in GBP, we need to convert the values to USD.
  • The Exchange rate is 1.2911 at the time of compiling these tables.
  • Regulations allow us to set a theoretical exchange rate to convert GBP to USD values to allow for volatility in the exchange rate as the year progresses.
  • The exchange rate that we have used for the 2024/2025 academic year is 1.35
    • £1 = $1.35
    • $1 = £0.74
  • The actual exchange rate is determined by Convera on the day that your loans are released by the US Treasury.

You will receive a statement from noreply@convera.com when your funds are disbursed. The email will detail the net value released, the exchange rate, the funds paid towards your institutional charges, and the funds transferred to you for living expenses.

If you have any questions relating to your statement, please email usaloans@abdn.ac.uk

• Undergraduate 1st year taking Federal Loans - Dependent
• Undergraduate 1st year taking Federal Loans - Independent
• Undergraduate 1st Year taking Private Loans only
• Undergraduate 2nd Year taking Federal Loans - Dependent
• Undergraduate 2nd Year taking Federal Loans - Independent
• Undergraduate 2nd Year taking Private Loans only
• Undergraduate 3rd/ 4th/ 5th year taking Federal Loans - Dependent
• Undergraduate 3rd/ 4th/ 5th year taking Federal Loans - Independent
• Undergraduate 3rd/ 4th/ 5th year taking Private Loans Only
• LLB Accelerated - 1st year
• LLB Accelerated - 2nd year
• PGDE - Private Loans Only
• Postgraduate Taught (1 year full-time) & Postgraduate Research (1 year - i.e. MRes)
• Postgraduate Taught (part-time) 1st year
• Postgraduate Taught (part-time) 2nd year
• Postgraduate Research 1st year (i.e. PhD)
• Postgraduate Research 2nd year and above (i.e. PhD)

Extensions are assessed on a pro-rata basis depending on the number of months that you have been approved for.

Student borrowers are now required to “actively accept” the terms of their loan approval before their school will be notified that school certification is required. The lender's terms for how to “accept” the loan terms can be found on the private loan approval disclosure form that they will provide to the borrower.

Borrowers and/or cosigners have the right to cancel or rescind a loan offer within 3 business days after receipt of Final Disclosure. During this time, the lender cannot disburse loan funds. This cancellation period cannot be waived for funds to disburse more quickly. This may cause a delay in the disbursement of loan funds to your student account. Be sure to apply several weeks before funding is needed.

Keep in mind when calculating how much to borrow that the gross amount of the loan may be reduced by fees charged by the lender. For loan types other than Parent PLUS or Grad PLUS, if your loan is in "anticipated" status (not yet disbursed) on your bill, the amount indicated is the gross amount. Therefore, the amount you owe may be higher than what is reflected on your bill.

The US Loans Office suggests that you fully research the loan and lender that best suits your needs. It is a good idea to compare the benefits and costs of several supplemental loans before you apply, as the loan terms can vary. Also, remember that it is always in the best interest of students and parents to explore federal student and parent loan options before applying for private loan products.

The following are some questions that you may want to ask your lender or consider when choosing a lender/loan option:

• Do you charge any fees for disbursement, repayment, or deferments?
• Are the fees deducted from the loan disbursements or added to the total loan amount?
• Are in-school payments required?
• What is the interest rate?
• Is the interest rate variable or fixed?
• When is interest capitalized?
• Do you offer flexible repayment options?
• Can I request a deferment or forbearance after I leave school and enter repayment?
• Do you offer interest rate reductions for auto-debit payments?
• How much experience do your customer service representatives have?
• Can I talk to a person, not an automated system? How long is the wait time typically?
• Can I email an account representative if needed?
• Is there an online application process and instant approval?
• Do you have online account access?
• How long have you been lending loans?
• Do you have a history of selling loans?
• What are my options for loan consolidation?

Register with https://www.va.gov/education/ to determine your eligibility for benefits and to check if your programme of study is on the VA approved list for the University of Aberdeen.

If the programme is showing on VA systems as approved, follow the guidance for in the How to use your VA benefits at the University of Aberdeen section.

It is important that you contact us as soon as your Certificate of Eligibility letter is sent out, as the VA will not inform the University of Aberdeen. In addition, to receive VA funding for studying overseas, the course you are applying for needs to be approved by the VA. The list of programmes already approved at the University of Aberdeen can be found in the Current Approved Programmes section below.

It is important to note that while some programmes may have similar names and/or content, each specific programme must be individually approved.

Please note that if studying a degree that lasts multiple years, you'll need to confirm before each year of study that you want to continue using your VA benefit entitlement.

Undergraduate

Postgraduate Taught

• MSc Archaeology
• MSc Archaeology of the North
• MSc Bioarchaeological Science
• MBA (Business Administration)
• MLitt Creative Writing
• MSc Geographical Information Systems
• MSc Geophysics
• MSc Human Nutrition
• LLB Accelerated
• LLM General Law
• LLM Human Rights & Criminal Justice
• MSc Immunology
• MSc Osteoarchaeology
• MSc Peace and Conflict Studies
• MSc Strategic Studies & International Law
• MLitt Viking and Medieval Nordic Studies
• DPLP Diploma in Professional Legal Practice (Chapter 31 only)

Postgraduate Research

• MRes Social Anthropology (1 year)
• PhD Archaeology
• PhD Divinity

If your programme of study is not listed on the VA website as approved, we can request approval provided that you hold an offer to study at UoA. You must contact us at usaloans@abdn.ac.uk as early as possible to ask us to proceed with the programme approval process.

The VA advise that their approval process is taking up to 12 months for new programmes to be added to their approved list. We strongly advise that you do not start your programme of study until the VA has granted approval.

Without formal VA programme approval, you will become liable for tuition fee payment at the start of your studies. The delay in processing new programme approvals is not restricted to the University of Aberdeen - all Foreign Schools are experiencing the same delays and difficulties.

You can use private or Federal loans to pay your tuition if your programme is not approved on time. Any additional funds paid to your tuition fees can be refunded to you when your VA benefits are received by the University of Aberdeen.

Step 1 - Check your eligibility for VA funding.

Step 2 - Submit your application on the VA Website. If your application is approved, the VA will send you a Certificate of Eligibility letter.

Step 3 - Check whether the programme you plan to study is listed in our Currently Approved Programmes above. If not, please see the guidance in What do to if the programme you want to study is not listed above? section.

Step 4 - Ensure that your programme of study is 100% based in Aberdeen and does not include any off-campus periods for placements/study abroad or online elements. If you are unsure please email usaloans@abdn.ac.uk and we can liaise with the relevant teams.

Step 5 - Securely submit your Certificate of Eligibility (issued by VA) via https://zendto.abdn.ac.uk/ to usaloans@abdn.ac.uk . Include your SSN and UoA applicant/student ID number in the message.

Step 6 - If your programme is approved by the VA and you have completed the UoA registration process, we will submit a Certification of Enrolment using VA systems. It is important to note that Certifications can take several weeks to process through the VA at peak times.

Please note that if studying a degree that lasts multiple years, you'll need to confirm before each year of study that you want to continue using your VA benefit entitlement.

You must notify usaloans@abdn.ac.uk if you make any changes to your study pattern, programme of study or attendance.

Once your attendance at the University of Aberdeen has been confirmed at the start of the academic year, we will submit an enrolment certificate to the VA.

The VA does not provide a timeframe of when students will receive their funding once the enrolment certificate has been submitted. Due to data protection laws, the VA will never share your funding details with the University of Aberdeen. As such, we will not be able to assist you if you have specific queries about your funding.

If you have any questions about the payment of your benefits, you will need to contact the VA directly.

The VA can only pay your personal maintenance benefits into a US bank account. It will be your responsibility to transfer them to a UK bank account so that you can access them while at the University of Aberdeen.

If you receive financial support for tuition, your tuition payments will be made directly to the University of Aberdeen by the VA. They will convert the GBP amount into USD using the rate provided by Convera at the time the funds are received.

You will be regarded as personally responsible for tuition fee payment and your tuition fee charge invoiced to you directly. The VA will pay tuition fees directly to the University after the Certificate of Enrolment has been processed:-

• Payment released in 2 instalments for Undergraduate and PhD students
• Payment released in 3 instalments for Postgraduate Taught students

There is a maximum dollar value that the VA will pay for tuition and after conversion to £GBP, the value that they pay may not cover the full cost of your tuition charges. In all cases, where there is a shortfall it is your responsibility to pay the outstanding balance. You can track the payments through https://www.abdn.ac.uk/epayments/

The GI Bill Comparison Tool can help you estimate how much you could receive. To find out exactly what you are entitled to, please contact the VA directly.

Chapter 33 benefits may include financial support for tuition, fees, books, supplies, and housing.

The VA sets a maximum value for the tuition fee contribution each year. The rate is capped at $28,937.09 for the 2024/25 year. Further information about benefits can be found here https://www.va.gov/education/benefit-rates/post-9-11-gi-bill-rates/future-rates/

Chapter 35 benefits are a monthly payment made directly to the dependent (spouse or child) of a US Veteran. They do not cover tuition fees.

The links below provide an overview of the University of Aberdeen's general admissions policies.

• Undergraduate
• Postgraduate Taught
• Postgraduate Research

To receive Federal Direct and PLUS Loans, you must have a high school diploma or equivalent. Entry requirements can be found on the Study Here pages for each degree programme.

The terms of the relationship between you and the University of Aberdeen are set out in the University of Aberdeen Student Terms and Conditions.

This page also lists the key documents you will need and directs you to the policy documents.

• student terms and conditions

Tuition fee rates

We offer a mix of on-campus and off-campus accommodation, and also with our Partners.

• Information on the types of accommodation and costs

Students receiving US Federal Aid are governed by stringent US Department of Education regulations. Only campus-based students studying on a full-time or at least half-time basis are eligible to apply. The following programmes are NOT eligible to receive Federal Direct Loans.

• Certificate and Diploma Programmes
• Online or Distance Learning Programmes
• Programmes with study of less than half-time
• Medicine/Dentistry Programmes
• Foundation Year Programmes
• Programmes undertaken through the Interactive Design Institute (IDI)
• Programmes undertaken at Qatar Campus
• Programmes undertaken at the South China Normal University (SCNU) Campus
• Programmes undertaken at Shandong Normal University (SDNU) Campus
• Visiting and Exchange students. You are required to apply for Financial Aid through your home institution.
• All degree programmes that are joint, double or dual with other partner institutions.

Degree programmes which involve study out with the University of Aberdeen through a formal arrangement (Written Agreement) with another institution must satisfy the following conditions to remain eligible for Federal Aid:-

• For study located outside of the USA, the institution does not have to be approved to participate in the Federal Aid (Title IV) Programme
• For study located in the USA, the institution must be a participating and approved Federal Aid (Title IV) School
• The study abroad period must account for no more than 25% of the total length of the programme of study
• Agreement that the Host institution will sign the Consortium / Contractual Agreement with the University of Aberdeen.

Information on our existing Partnership and Consortium agreements can be found here:

• Where can I go?

Please email usaloans@abdn.ac.uk before applying for your loan so that we can assess your eligibility

In compliance with the Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) of 2008, the following Code of Conduct was written in respect to the Title IV Stafford Loan program. Financial Aid employees are held to the following standards:

• Prohibited from conflicts of interest in respect to loans.
• Prohibited from revenue sharing arrangements with any lender.
• Prohibited from the soliciting or acceptance of gifts from a lender, guarantor, or servicer. Gifts include a "gratuity, favour, discount, entertainment, hospitality, loan, or any other item having a monetary value of more than a de minimis amount, including services, transportation, lodging, and meals. A gift does not include the following:
  • Standard materials, activities, or programs related to a loan being provided.
  • Food, refreshments, training, or informational materials provided as part of a training session conducted by the lender for the institution to improve services.
  • Favourable terms, conditions, or borrower benefits provided to a student employed by the institution if comparable terms are provided to all students of the institution.
  • Entrance and Exit Counselling services provided to borrowers as long as a covered institution's staff is in control of the counselling and the counselling does not promote one specific lender.
  • Philanthropic contributions to an institution unrelated to education loans.
  • State education grants, scholarships, or financial aid funds.
• Prohibited from receipt of any fees, payments, or any other financial benefits for consulting services by anyone with responsibilities in respect to education loans.
• Prohibited from assigning first-time borrower's loans to a particular lender and not delaying certification of any loan regardless of the lender or guaranty agency the borrower selects.
• Prohibited from accepting any funds to be used for private education loans in exchange for the institution providing concessions to the private lender.

In general, University of Aberdeen Financial Aid employees hold themselves to the following standards:

• Refrain from taking any action for their personal benefit.
• Refrain from taking any action they believe is contrary to law, regulation, or the best interests of the students and parents they serve.
• Ensure that the information they provide is accurate, unbiased, and does not reflect any preference arising from actual or potential personal gain.
• Be objective in making decisions and advising their institution regarding relationships with any entity involved in any aspect of student financial aid.
• Refrain from soliciting or accepting anything of other than nominal value from any entity (other than an institution of higher education or a governmental entity such as the U.S. Department of Education) involved in the making, holding, consolidating, or processing of any student loans, including anything of value (including reimbursement of expenses) for serving on an advisory body or part of a training activity of or sponsored by any such entity.
• Disclose of their institution, in such manner as their institution may prescribe, any involvement with or interest in any entity involved in any aspect of student financial aid.

All University of Aberdeen employees are held to very high standards to provide the best service to our students and their families.

The Federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) does not apply within the UK. However, the UK has similar legislation designed to protect personal data called the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and Data Protection Act 2018. The University of Aberdeen's Data Protection policies, available here, fulfil our requirements under the GDPR.

The UK Government's Data Protection Act is summarised here. The UK Government's guide to GDPR can be found here.

The University of Aberdeen will confirm ongoing attendance and academic achievement with the US Department of Education as required by Federal Student Aid regulations. By applying for, and accepting Federal Student Aid, students are acknowledging and consenting to this sharing of data. Further information about who your data may/can be shared with can be found within your Master Promissory Notes(s) (MPN(s)) that you completed and signed to obtain Federal Aid.

Information Security Policy

The University of Aberdeen has a robust information security policy which is reviewed at least once a year based on ongoing monitoring and reporting. The policy covers information which belongs to The University of Aberdeen as well as information which does not necessarily belong to The University of Aberdeen, but for which The University of Aberdeen can be made responsible. This includes all staff and student data, financial data, all the data which contributes to the administration of The University of Aberdeen, as well as information which has been passed to The University of Aberdeen by others.

This policy covers all the University of Aberdeen's information, irrespective of how it is stored and communicated.

Legal and Compliance

The Code of Practice on Student Discipline (Academic) and the Code of Practice on Student Discipline (Non-Academic) set out the procedures to be followed in the case of disciplinary offences by students.

Disciplinary offences are defined in academic and non-academic terms. Academic offences include, for instance, cheating in an assessment or at an examination, while non-academic offences include, for instance, damaging University property.

In addition to the electronic version, you can also access the Code in hard copy on request from undergraduate@abdn.ac.uk

Information on the University's Appeals and Complaints Procedures, through which students may formalise their concerns about aspects of their academic experience or complain when they feel that standards of non-academic service have fallen short of that which they expected.

• https://www.abdn.ac.uk/students/academic-life/appeals-complaints-3380.php

Students are expected to meet the requirements for progression:

• General Regulations
• Undergraduate students - Supplementary Regulations
• Postgraduate students - Supplementary Regulations
• Programme Specifications
• Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy

The U.S. Department of Education requires institutions of higher education to establish minimum standards of satisfactory academic progress for students receiving Federal aid. Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) means the student is proceeding positively toward fulfilling degree requirements. SAP includes two standards: qualitative and quantitative. Students must meet both standards to continue receiving financial aid.

Aberdeen City Council Website - Information about travel to and around Aberdeen

Exploring Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire is easy by foot, by road or by rail. https://www.visitabdn.com/plan-your-trip/getting-around/

Visit Scotland Website - Information about travel to and around Aberdeen including places to visit

Information regarding registration with a General Practitioner and Dentist along with guidance on how to stay safe in Aberdeen.

Information regarding the various support and guidance for a variety of different academic, non-academic or wellbeing issues during your time at University can be found here.

The University of Aberdeen welcomes disabled students and has dedicated Disability Advisers to offer support.

• Advice and Assistance

If you require additional funds to support your disability, please email usaloans@abdn.ac.uk to discuss.

• The Institution's Student Alcohol and Drugs Misuse Policy

Drug-related offences will be subject to a non-academic misconduct investigation as outlined in our Code of Practice on Student Discipline (Non-Academic).

The University of Aberdeen sets the Living Expenses budget that is used for Federal and US private student loan assessments. All costs are based on limitations to the amounts and other criteria outlined in Federal Regulations. Cost of attendance is the University's estimate of a student's educational expense for the period of enrolment. The University may not certify more financial aid than a student's cost of attendance budget unless under professional judgment of special circumstances.

The Living expenses budget includes the following items. More detailed information can be found here - https://www.abdn.ac.uk/students/finance/us-federal-direct-loans.html#panel2228

• Rent / Housing
• Utilities (Gas / Electric / Internet)
• Food
• Local Travel Expenses
• Personal Costs (detailed information is available on the CoA link)
• Books / Computer Equipment / Printing
• 2 Return Flights
• Visa (1st year students only) - if an extension is required, please email usaloans@abdn.ac.uk to discuss.
• Healthcare surcharge (1st year students only for the duration of the programme)
• Approximate Origination Fees (Federal Loans only)
• Childcare or nursery cost (awarded on a case-by-case basis)

Other information related to living costs in Aberdeen

Information about required and recommended textbooks and materials will be made available to you by your academic school.

Information on the University's completion and transfer-out rates is available from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA). Due to the very low non-continuation rate, the University is unable to supply a breakdown of completion or transfer-out rates by gender, ethnicity or recipients of need-based Subsidised loans, as this may reveal personally identifiable information about an individual student, which would break the Data Protection Act.

For the latest rates please refer to the links below. In tables where information is available at an institutional level, you will find data for the University of Aberdeen in the Total Scotland section.

• Higher Education Statistics Agency
• HESA Non-Continuation Rates

We want to ensure that our students stay safe by following some simple steps and taking basic precautions.

• Safety Advice

The University of Aberdeen is committed to a comprehensive Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy for all its staff and students.

University of Aberdeen policies, procedures, plans and guidelines can be found here:

https://www.abdn.ac.uk/staffnet/governance/policies-proceedures-plans-and-guidlines-399.php

The UK does not have an 'intercollegiate athlete programme' in the same way as US schools. Sports information can be found here:

https://www.abdn.ac.uk/students/student-life/student-faqs-3731.php#panel3744

All first-time borrowers of the Direct Loan program, new students or students changing study path are required to undertake entrance counselling where students are advised about:

• how the master promissory note works,
• the importance of repaying the loan,
• the consequences of default, and
• sample monthly repayment amounts

A copy of the Entrance Counselling is retained in the student file.

The University is responsible for monitoring borrowers who are at risk of non-progression or withdrawing and counselling students according to circumstances with a view to retaining those students.

All Federal Direct Loan students are directed to the mandatory Foreign Schools Consumer Information. Academic progress and enrolment status are held on the central student record system which is accessible by all relevant offices across campus including the office that disburses funds and authorises payments. Up-to-date contact information for both the student and next of kin is obtained from students at enrolment.

Graduating and withdrawing students are advised that they must undertake Exit Counselling as a condition of borrowing Federal Direct Loans. All students are directed to:

• https://studentaid.gov/exit-counseling/

Students must confirm to the US Loan Administrator that they have completed exit counselling and a copy is retained in the student file.

As a condition of our eligibility to certify Direct Loans, we are required to submit accurate enrolment updates to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) at regular intervals throughout the year.

Defaulted loan data is monitored to identify defaulting borrowers and to analyse reasons the reasons for defaulting. We use this information to improve default prevention and management practices and initiatives. Internal data includes key information such as school attended, program of study, demographics, grades, etc. The Loan Record Detail Report (LRDR) is reviewed to determine if there are common characteristics among defaulters.

We make use of the recommended tools listed below to ensure data accuracy and use effective loan counselling and default prevention management techniques to aid students and the University.

FSA Assessments for Default Prevention and Management

• https://fsapartners.ed.gov/financial-aid-delivery/default-prevention-and-management

• Students and Counsellors
• The Student Guide and NSLDS for Students
• How much will it cost?
• How will I pay for it?
• Will I make enough money in my chosen occupation to repay the student loans I receive?
• Repaying Your Student Loans
• Ombudsman Office
• Ensuring Student Loan Repayment Best Practices for Schools
• FSA Assessments for Schools
• Jump Start Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy

• NSLDS Enrolment Reporting Guide, formerly SSCR User's Guide
• NSLDS Date Entered Repayment Report, School Repayment Information Loan Detail Report, and Enrolment Reporting Summary Report
• NSLDS Reports, requesting and formatting questions Reports Tab
• Cohort Default Rate Guide for challenges, adjustments, and appeals information

• FSA Assessments
• Ensuring Student Loan Repayment Best Practices
• NSLDS Reports and Exit Counselling Loan Exit Counselling Completion Report - EXTC01
• NSLDS Reports, requesting and formatting questions Reports Tab
• Late Stage Delinquency Assistance (LSDA) Guide
• Direct Loan Schools can access via COD website
• Default Prevention Strategies

or contact your Loan Servicer

• Information for Financial Aid Professionals (IFAP) Knowledge Library with publications, training, tools, references, laws, etc.
• The Office of Federal Student Aid
• The Student Guide
• National Student Loan Data System