Hartpury University is approved to support eligible US students through recognised US Federal Loan funding routes. This guide explains the loan types available, how eligibility works, how much you may be able to borrow, and how to apply.
US Federal Loans can be used towards tuition fees, accommodation and living costs, in line with US Department of Education regulations.
Hartpury FAFSA School Code: 042795
Hartpury University is approved to certify the following US Federal Loans for eligible degree-level programmes:
- Direct Subsidised Loans (undergraduate only)
- Direct Unsubsidised Loans (undergraduate and postgraduate)
- Graduate PLUS Loans (postgraduate students needing additional funding)
- Parent PLUS Loans (parents of dependent undergraduate students needing additional funding)
When should I apply for a US Federal Loan?
You should only begin your US Federal Loan application once you have received an offer to study at Hartpury University. US Federal Loans are awarded on an academic year-by-year basis. This means you are applying for funding for one year only, even if your course is longer than one year.
If your programme is more than one year in duration, you will need to reapply each academic year to continue receiving funding.
You can apply during the academic year; however, you must allow sufficient time for the full processing and disbursement stages to take place before the end of the academic year.
If you are applying for a September 2026 course at Hartpury University, you must also meet the US Department of Education’s FAFSA submission deadline of 30 June 2027.
Please see below for our frequently asked questions and step-by-step application guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
US Federal Direct Loans are provided by the US Department of Education to help eligible US students fund the cost of higher education. These loans can be used towards education-related costs such as tuition fees, accommodation and living expenses.
Hartpury University can certify:
- Direct Subsidised Loans
- Direct Unsubsidised Loans
To be eligible for US Federal Direct Loans, you must:
- Be a US citizen or eligible national
- Be studying an eligible, degree-bearing programme
- Meet eligibility criteria set by the US Department of Education
- Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
Eligibility rules are set by the US Government and may change.
Before applying, we recommend checking the most up-to-date eligibility requirements on the Federal Student Aid website.
Direct Subsidised Loans
Who can apply: Undergraduate students only
Based on: Financial need
With a Subsidised Loan:
- The US Government pays the interest while you are studying
- Interest is also covered during approved deferment periods
- Interest is covered during the six-month grace period after you leave university
This means your loan does not accrue interest while you are enrolled.
Direct Unsubsidised Loans
Who can apply: Undergraduate and postgraduate students
Based on: Not financial need
With an Unsubsidised Loan:
- Interest begins accruing from the date the loan is paid
- You may pay the interest while studying, or
- Allow the interest to accrue and be added to your loan balance
The amount you can borrow through US Federal Direct Loans depends on whether you are classed as a dependent or independent student. Your answers to personal questions on the FAFSA determine your status.
Before applying, we recommend checking the most up-to-date definition on the Federal Student Aid website to confirm how you are classified.
Independent student status
If you are classed as an independent student, you will only report your own financial information when completing the FAFSA (and your spouse’s details if you are married).
For federal aid purposes, you are considered an independent student if one or more of the following apply:
- You are 24 years old or older by 31 December of the award year
- You were an orphan, a ward of the court, or a dependent of the court after turning 13
- You are a veteran of the United States Armed Forces
- You will be studying on a master’s or doctoral programme at the start of the award year
- You are married on the date you submit the FAFSA
- You have at least one child who receives more than half of their financial support from you
- You support a dependent (other than a spouse or child) who lives with you and receives more than half of their support from you through 30 June of the award year
- You are currently serving on active duty in the US Armed Forces for purposes other than training
- You are homeless or at risk of homelessness
Please note: Postgraduate students are typically classed as independent students for federal aid purposes, allowing access to unsubsidised loans but not subsidised loans.
Dependent student status
If you are classed as a dependent student, you will need to provide both your own information and your parents’ financial details when completing the FAFSA.
Being classed as dependent does not mean your parents are required to contribute financially. This status is used solely to calculate your maximum eligibility for federal student aid.
You are considered a dependent student if you do not meet the criteria above for an independent student, unless a financial aid administrator determines that special circumstances apply and approves a dependency override.
Please note: Your final loan amount is also limited by your Cost of Attendance (CoA), which is explained further in this guide. US Federal regulations do not allow your total loans and other financial aid to exceed this amount.
Dependent Student
| Total | Subsidized | Unsubsidized | |
| Year 1 | $5,500.00 | $3,500.00 | $2,000.00 |
| Year 2 | $6,500.00 | $4,500.00 | $2,000.00 |
| Year 3 | $7,500.00 | $5,500.00 | $2,000.00 |
| Total | $31,000.00 | $23,000.00 | $8,000.00 |
Independent Student
| Total | Subsidized | Unsubsidized | |
| Year 1 | $9,500.00 | $3,500.00 | $6,000.00 |
| Year 2 | $10,500.00 | $4,500.00 | $6,000.00 |
| Year 3 | $12,500.00 | $5,500.00 | $7,000.00 |
| Total | $57,500.00 | $23,000.00 | $34,500.00 |
Postgraduate students: Postgraduate students can borrow $20,500 per year in a Direct Unsubsidized loan.
If you need to borrow more than the amount available through US Federal Direct Loans, you may be able to apply for a PLUS Loan.
PLUS Loans are additional US Federal Loans that can be used to help cover remaining eligible costs, up to your Cost of Attendance (CoA). They have extra eligibility requirements and are subject to a credit check.
Parent PLUS Loans are available to the parents of dependent undergraduate students. The parent is the borrower, and the loan is taken out in the parent’s name.
Parent PLUS Loans may be used to cover the remaining eligible costs, up to the student’s Cost of Attendance (minus any other financial aid).
Please note:
- Parent borrowers may be expected to begin repayment once the loan is fully disbursed
- Parents may request a deferment while the student is enrolled at least half-time and for six months after the student completes or leaves their course
In addition to meeting standard Federal Student Aid requirements, Parent PLUS Loans also require:
- A credit check (for the parent borrower), and
- Completion of the Parent PLUS loan request steps on studentaid.gov
Parent PLUS Loan Eligibility
To be eligible for a Direct PLUS Loan for parents, you must be a biological or adoptive parent (or in some cases a stepparent), not have an adverse credit history, and meet the general eligibility requirements for federal student aid (which the child must meet as well).
Before applying, we recommend checking the most up-to-date eligibility requirements on the Federal Student Aid website:
Graduate PLUS Loans are available to eligible postgraduate students who need additional funding beyond their Direct Unsubsidised Loan.
In most cases, students should apply for their Direct Unsubsidised Loan first, before requesting a Graduate PLUS Loan.
In addition to meeting standard Federal Student Aid requirements, Graduate PLUS Loans also require:
- A credit check, and
- Completion of the Graduate PLUS loan request steps on studentaid.gov
Please note:
- You do not need to make payments while enrolled
- Interest will still accrue during this period
- You can choose to pay the interest while studying or allow it to be added to your loan balance
Graduate PLUS Loan Eligibility
To be eligible for a Graduate PLUS Loan, you must:
- Be a graduate or professional student enrolled at an eligible school in a programme leading to a graduate degree
- Not have an adverse credit history (unless you meet certain additional eligibility requirements); and
- Meet the general eligibility for federal student aid
Eligibility rules are set by the US Government and may change.
Before applying, we recommend checking the most up-to-date eligibility requirements on the Federal Student Aid website:
Your Cost of Attendance (CoA) will be issued in USD ($) and will include an exchange rate shown for reference.
The actual amount you receive in GBP (£) will depend on the exchange rate applied on the date the loan funds are disbursed.
Please note:
- Exchange rates may fluctuate between the time your CoA is issued and when funds are released
- Hartpury University has no control over the exchange rate used at disbursement
- The GBP amount received may therefore differ slightly from the estimated GBP value shown on your CoA
Your Cost of Attendance may include travel costs; however Hartpury University is not permitted to release loan funds before the start of the academic year. For this reason, you should not rely on your first loan disbursement to cover travel to the UK or other upfront costs.
Loan funds are normally released after enrolment, with the first disbursement typically taking place in October, followed by further disbursements across the academic year in line with term start dates.
We recommend ensuring you have sufficient personal funds available to cover initial living expenses at the start of the academic year.
As part of the US Federal Direct Loan process, the US Department of Education requires all borrowers to complete two key steps: Entrance Counselling and a Master Promissory Note (MPN).
You don’t need to complete these until after your FAFSA, but it’s helpful to understand what they are before starting your application.
Entrance Counselling
Entrance Counselling is an online session that explains:
- How US Federal Student Loans work
- Your rights and responsibilities as a borrower
- How interest and repayment operate
- What happens after you finish or leave your course
If you are a first-time borrower, Entrance Counselling must be completed before your loan can be paid.
Students on one-year or final-year programmes will also be required to complete Exit Counselling, which focuses on repayment after study.
Master Promissory Note (MPN)
The Master Promissory Note (MPN) is a legal agreement between you and the US Department of Education. By completing it, you agree to:
- The terms and conditions of your loan
- Repay the loan amount borrowed, plus any interest
- Meet your responsibilities as a federal loan borrower
Because Hartpury University is a foreign institution, students are usually required to complete a new MPN for each academic year.
Please note that you must complete and submit an additional MPN for a Parent PLUS or Graduate PLUS loan if you are also applying for a FAFSA. In this instance, two MPN's will be required.
Full instructions and links for completing both steps are provided in the Ready to apply section below.
How do I apply?
Once you've decided you want to make a loan application for a Hartpury University course, you simply need to follow the next steps.
Complete your FAFSA application and ensure you list Hartpury University as your chosen school.
FAFSA: https://studentaid.gov/apply-for-aid/fafsa
School code: 042795
Completing your FAFSA will produce a FAFSA Submission Summary, which Hartpury University will use to determine your loan eligibility
Returning student? You should complete a renewal FAFSA. You will only need to indicate any information that has changed since last year.
Complete the additional federal loan requirements online via: https://studentaid.gov/
These are:
Entrance Counselling
If you are a first-time borrower of US Federal Aid, you must complete Entrance Counselling online via: https://studentaid.gov/counseling-selection
If you have completed entrance counselling in a previous year of study for a specific loan type at any institution, you do not need to complete this if you can email us a copy via us.loans@hartpury.ac.uk
Master Promissory Note (MPN)
Complete and eSign the Master Promissory Note (MPN) for the loan(s) you are applying for.
MPN: https://studentaid.gov/mpn/
Please ensure you select the correct MPN:
- Undergraduate loans (Subsidised/Unsubsidised)
- Postgraduate loans (Unsubsidised / Graduate PLUS, if applicable)
If you are applying for a Parent PLUS or Graduate PLUS Loan, a separate and additional MPN for this loan type must be completed.
As a foreign institution, new MPNs are required each academic year.
Once approved by the system, we will be able to view your MPN, so you do not need to send us copies of this unless requested.
We are not notified when you have completed this paperwork. Please email us to confirm - us.loans@hartpury.ac.uk
If you (or your parent) intend to apply for a Graduate PLUS Loan or Parent PLUS Loan, you will also need to submit a PLUS Loan Request on studentaid.gov.
- Graduate PLUS Loan Request – https://studentaid.gov/plus-app/grad/landing
- Parent PLUS Loan Request - https://studentaid.gov/plus-app/parent/landing
Some applicants may also be asked by the US Department of Education to complete PLUS Loan Counselling.
Submitting a PLUS Loan Request will automatically trigger a credit check. You do not need to send Hartpury a copy of the credit check, as we will be able to view the outcome once it has been approved on the federal system.
Please note that you must complete and submit an additional MPN for a Parent PLUS or Graduate PLUS loan.
Hartpury University is not automatically notified when you complete the Step 1 (FAFSA), Step 2 (additional paperwork), or Step 3 (PLUS Loan), so it is important that you contact us once those steps are complete.
Please email the Student Finance team to confirm you have completed your application and would like to begin the loan assessment process: us.loans@hartpury.ac.uk
Hartpury will ask for the following details to confirm your course and assess your loan:
- Full legal name
- Social Security Number (SSN)
- Date of birth
- Home address (State + ZIP code)
- Contact phone numbers
- Course name and level of study
- Dependency status (Dependent / Independent)
- Planned accommodation during your studies
- Confirmation that you have completed:
- Entrance Counselling
- Master Promissory Note (MPN)
Please email us to confirm you have submitted your additional paperwork. At this point we will be able to see your application on the federal loan system and we can send you your Cost of Attendance (CoA). Your Cost of Attendance is an estimate of your education-related costs for the academic year and confirms:
- The types of loans you may be eligible for
- The maximum total amount you may borrow for that academic year
If any of your personal details, course details, or loan plans change after submitting the registration form, please notify us as soon as possible by email so we can keep your loan record accurate.
Once your loan has been assessed and approved, funds are released to Hartpury University as part of the federal disbursement process.
Loan funds are normally released after enrolment and are paid in 3 instalments across the academic year, shortly after the relevant term start dates. Please see below for more information on the term start dates.
How and when will I receive my funding?
Loan funds are normally released by Hartpury University after you have enrolled and registered. Disbursements are typically made in 3 instalments across the academic year shortly after the relevant term start dates below.
Therefore you will need sufficient personal funds available to cover your initial living expenses at the start of the academic year until you receive your payment.
Please note that processing times can vary, particularly during peak periods, so you should ensure you have enough personal funds available to cover initial living costs at the start of the academic year.
Hartpury’s term dates are used to calculate both your loan payment period and disbursement timings.
Term dates (2026-27)
Undergraduate and Postgraduate Students follow the same term dates for the purposes of disbursement:
|
Term |
Start date |
End date |
|
Term 1 |
21 September 2026 |
18 December 2026 |
|
Term 2 |
04 January 2027 |
19 March 2027 |
|
Term 3 |
12 April 2027 |
18 June 2027 |
How are tuition and accommodation fees paid?
When your loan funds are received, Hartpury University will apply them in the following order:
- Tuition fees will be deducted and applied to your student account
- If you are staying in Hartpury University accommodation, accommodation fees will also be deducted
- Any remaining funds will be released to you to support living costs and other study-related expenses
If I apply for a loan, do I need to pay a tuition deposit to Hartpury University?
If you have applied for a loan, you may not be required to pay an upfront deposit for your CAS. Please email us to confirm.
How do I manage my repayments?
It is important that you understand your rights and responsibilities when borrowing US Federal Loans. We recommend that you fully research responsible borrowing and repayment before requesting federal loan funding.
The Federal Student Aid website includes a repayment estimator, which can help you understand what your monthly repayments could look like after you finish your studies: https://studentaid.gov/loan-simulator
Please note that Entrance Counselling and Exit Counselling are conditions of your federal loan agreement:
- Entrance Counselling should be completed before you start your course (if you are a first-time borrower)
- Exit Counselling is completed when you are coming to the end of your studies
Counselling provides guidance on repayment, interest, and money management, helping you make the necessary arrangements before and during repayment.
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