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US federal government loans

Eligible students from the United States can apply for US federal government loans to help pay for study at UQ.

UQ is accredited by the United States Department of Education to administer US federal government loans to eligible US students and parents through the William D. Ford Direct Loan Program.

For information about the available loans and limits, see the US Federal Student Aid website or email financialaid@uq.edu.au.

Eligibility

To be eligible for a US federal government loan, you must meet one of the following requirements:

  • have a high school diploma or a General Education Development (GED) Certificate,
  • pass an Ability-To-Benefit (ATB) test approved by the US Department of Education,
  • meet other standards your state establishes that the Department approves,
  • have completed high school education in a homeschool setting recognised under US state law, or
  • have satisfactorily completed 6 credit hours or the equivalent coursework toward a degree or certificate.

You also need to meet all of the following:

  • be enrolled for at least half-time of a full-time study load in an eligible degree program (bachelors, masters by coursework or research, MPhil or PhD),
  • be enrolled internally at UQ (distance, external or online courses don't qualify),
  • agree to and maintain satisfactory academic progress,
  • be a US citizen or eligible non-US citizen,
  • not be in default on any education loan or owe a refund on an education grant,
  • pass a credit check as required by the US Department of Education (for PLUS loans), and
  • submit all documentation required by UQ to verify your eligibility and determine your financial need.

How to apply

To request a loan, you must follow the steps below each academic year. If you're a new student, you'll need to complete these steps before starting study at UQ.

To ensure you receive your loan on the first day of semester, you must submit your application during the opening and closing dates below:

  • Semester 1: 1 August – 31 October
  • Semester 2: 1 May – 30 June.

Step 1: Complete the US Department of Education's requirements

Apply for a loan by completing the US Department of Education application requirements.

On your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form, ensure that you list The University of Queensland (school code: G10692).

For future reference, make sure you keep a copy of your Student Aid Report (SAR).

As UQ is a foreign school, we will not be sent a copy of the FAFSA. Because of this, you'll also need to complete UQ's requirements.

Step 2: Complete UQ's requirements

To complete UQ's requirements:

  1. Download and complete the US loan request form (PDF, 306.95 KB).
  2. Email your completed form to financialaid@uq.edu.au.

Step 3: Review your application

We'll assess your application and may ask you to provide additional information. This can take up to 10 working days.

When our assessment is complete, we'll send you a UQ financial aid award letter. Review the information in your letter to make sure everything is correct.

See an example financial aid award letter (PDF, 460.61 KB)

Step 4: Complete the bank deposit form

If you're satisfied with your loan award letter, complete a bank deposit form:

Email completed forms to financialaid@uq.edu.au.

For information about selecting a bank account, see our frequently asked questions.

You'll receive loan funds on the first day of classes, so if you're a new UQ student, you won't be able to use the loan to pay for your acceptance or tuition fee deposits.

Frequently asked questions

Find answers to common questions about US federal government loans: