US Loans for American Students

To receive Federal Student Aid, including Direct and PLUS Loans, for studies at UCLan a student must meet the following eligibility requirements:

• Must be a US citizen, or eligible non-citizen.
• Must be a student enrolled, or accepted for enrolment, on an eligible programme at UCLan.
• Must have a high school diploma or equivalent
• Must be enrolled at least half-time for the period for which the loan is originated
• Must comply with UCLan's Satisfactory Academic Progress policy
• Must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year
• Must not be in default on an educational loan and must not owe a repayment on an adjusted federal grant
• Must complete UCLan’s Cost of Attendance calculator

You cannot receive US Government loans if you attend any of the following:

• Any Distance Learning Programmes
• Any Diploma Programmes
• Any Certificate Programmes
• In most cases where your programme includes a period of study in the US
• Study Abroad with a school that is not approved for Title IV (Federal) Aid

The following UCLan programmes are ineligible for US government loans:

• Medical Programmes
• Clinical Programmes
• Nursing Programmes
• Veterinary Programmes
• Degree Apprenticeship Programmes
• CPD and Short Course Programmes

Online courses

UCLan offers a number of online courses, however, Title IV Aid is not eligible for online, or distance learning courses. Students in receipt of Title IV Aid at UCLan are required to study on Preston Main Campus.

Some on campus programmes at UCLan offer partial online teaching. Please contact UCLan’s US Loans Office for further information on eligibility of partial online teaching.

If you do want to study in the non-eligible areas or programmes, you will need to look at your financial plan carefully. There are private non-governmental loans, for US citizens that could fund these programmes.

As a foreign school UCLan is eligible to originate loan applications for Federal Direct Loans and PLUS loans.

Full information on these loans can be found at the Federal Student Aid webpage

Federal Direct Subsidised Loan

A Federal Direct Subsidised loan is awarded on the basis of financial need. The U.S. government pays interest on a Subsidised loan while you are enrolled at university at least half-time and during deferment periods. Direct Subsidised loans for undergraduate students will have an interest rate of 2.75% (from 1st July 2020).

Federal Direct Unsubsidised Loan

A Federal Direct Unsubsidised loan is awarded regardless of need. The interest rate for Federal Direct Unsubsidised loans is fixed at 2.75% (from 1st July 2020) for undergraduate borrowers and 4.30% (from 1st July 2020) for graduate borrowers.

You are not required to pay the interest on this loan while at university, but we recommend that you do. You will be charged interest starting at disbursement until it is paid in full. If the interest accumulates, it will be added to the principal amount of the loan and increase the amount to be repaid.

Fees

A fee of 1.059% will be deducted from the gross amount of the loan you borrow, so you may wish to take this into consideration when determining the amount you need to borrow. Any Subsidised or Unsubsidised loans originated with a first disbursement date on or after 1st October 2020 will have a revised fee of 1.057%.

Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan

Parents of dependent undergraduate students can borrow a Federal Direct Parent PLUS loan to help pay for educational expenses at the university.

Parents can borrow up to the total Estimated Cost of Attendance minus all other sources of financial aid the student receives.

Parent PLUS loans are the financial responsibility of the parents and not the student.

A Parent PLUS loan borrower must meet the same citizenship and residency requirements as the student. The parent must not owe a refund on a Federal Student Financial Aid Grant or be in default on a Federal Student Loan.

A credit check is conducted when your parent begins the loan application process. Undergraduates whose parents do not qualify for a PLUS loan can borrow additional Federal Direct Unsubsidised loan funds.

The interest rate is fixed at 5.30% (from 1st July 2020) and repayment begins within 60 days after your loan is fully disbursed and lasts ten years.

Fees

Origination fees for Direct Parent PLUS loans are set at 4.236% but this fee is changed to 4.228% for any loans originated with a first disbursement date on or after 1st October 2020.

Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan

The Federal Direct Graduate PLUS loan is a Federal loan that graduate students with good credit histories may borrow to help pay their educational expenses.

A graduate student may borrow up to the total Cost of Attendance less all other financial aid received by the student.

They also must have applied for their annual loan maximum eligibility under the Federal Unsubsidised Direct Loan Programme before applying for a Graduate/Professional PLUS loan.

The interest rate is fixed at 5.30% (from 1st July 2020) and repayment begins within 60 days after your loan is fully disbursed and lasts ten years.

Fees

Origination fees for Direct Parent PLUS loans are set at 4.236% but this fee is changed to 4.228% for any loans originated with a first disbursement date on or after 1st October 2020.

Repayment begins on the date of the last disbursement of the loan and the first payment is due within 60 days after the date the loan is fully disbursed. A Graduate PLUS borrower may receive a deferment while still enrolled on at least a half-time basis at an eligible school. Upon dropping to less than half-time enrolment status, the borrower is not entitled to a grace period on PLUS loans.

The amount in Federal Direct loan funds that you are eligible to borrow each academic year is limited by the following factors:

• Your study level
• Whether you are a Dependent or an Independent student
• Your financial need
• Your Cost of Attendance

You cannot borrow more than your financial need or the cost of attendance.

The following annual and aggregate loan limits apply to Federal Direct Loans:

Undergraduate dependent students

Undergraduate independent students

Postgraduate students

Direct Loan Aggregate Loan limits

Federal Direct Subsidised and Unsubsidised loans are available to eligible students who complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on the Web. This Federal student aid is made available through the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Programme to help pay for educational expenses.

For undergraduate students Direct Subsidised or Direct Unsubsidised Loans, or a combination of both loans, are based on your financial need.

The information you report on your FAFSA is used to determine your Expected Family Contribution (EFC), which is a calculated formula that allows the University to determine your financial need. To determine your financial need, your EFC is subtracted from your Cost of Attendance (COA) for need based awards. UCLan will also deduct any other aid paid to you or on your behalf for educational expenses. This is referred to as Estimated Financial Assistance (EFA).

Each academic year, UCLan establishes standard student budgets that use Cost of Attendance (COA) estimates for awarding financial aid funds.

The budgets reflect typical student expenses and consist of two basic components:

• Direct educational costs such as tuition, fees, books and supplies
• Indirect (maintenance) costs such as accommodation, board, travel, miscellaneous personal expenses
• Your living expenses reflect living costs for students in the United Kingdom during the academic year (September to June)

While your costs may vary depending on where you stay, we expect your costs of attendance to be roughly in line with our estimates. If you believe that the costs relating to your education are significantly higher than those we have estimated, you may contact UCLan’s US Loans Office to review these costs.

1. Complete your FAFSA
   The first step in applying for a US Federal Direct Loan is to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form. The Federal School Code for UCLan is G35153. To apply electronically, you must have an FSA ID.
   Start the application process.

2. Student Aid Report is generated
   Once your FAFSA is completed and processed, it will generate a Student Aid Report (SAR). This is used by UCLan to determine your eligibility for a loan as stipulated by the U.S. Department of Education.

3. Complete your Master Promissory Note 
   Complete the applicable Master Promissory Notes (MPN). The MPN is a legal document in which you promise to repay your loans and any accrued interest and fees to the US Department of Education. It also explains the terms and conditions of your loans.
   
   The MPN is a binding legal document that you must sign when you get a Federal Student Loan. It lists the terms and conditions under which you agree to repay the loan and explains your rights and responsibilities as a borrower. It is important to read and save your MPN because you’ll need to refer to it later when you begin repaying your loan or at other times when you need information about provisions of the loan, such as deferments or forbearances.
   
   Complete MPN

4. Complete your entrance counselling
   Except for parent Direct PLUS Loan borrowers, if you have not previously received a loan, you must complete entrance counselling before UCLan can make the first disbursement of your loan. This helps you to understand your responsibilities regarding your loan. You will be able to complete your Entrance Counselling online.
   Complete entrance counselling

5. Completing cost of attendance
   Once you have submitted your FAFSA and completed the relevant MPN(s) and Entrance Counselling, you will need to complete UCLan’s Cost of Attendance form in order to finalise your loan eligibility. Email UCLan’s US Loans office to request the Cost of Attendance form. The Cost of Attendance form will need to be returned to UCLan’s US Loans office, along with a copy of your MPN(s) and Entrance Counselling.

6. Award letter is sent to you
   Following receipt of your Cost of Attendance form and relevant documentation, UCLan will complete the process to secure your Federal Student Aid. Once UCLan has received confirmation of approved Aid, we will issue you with an award letter advising of the amount you are due to receive, including instalment amounts and dates.

According to US regulations, UCLan is required to disburse your loan funds in multiple instalments that coincide with scheduled semester start dates. If your loan period is based on enrolment for three semesters, you will receive three disbursements, one at the start of each semester.

If you have not already paid your tuition fee once UCLan has received the amount of the disbursement from the US Federal Government, this will be deducted before any surplus is forwarded to you.

Loans cannot be disbursed until the term has officially started.

Students must be enrolled in order to receive each disbursement.

Entrance Counselling

Before your loan application can be completed, you must complete Entrance Counselling. This ensures that you understand the terms and conditions of your loan and your rights and responsibilities.

Exit Counselling

Before you withdraw, graduate, or drop below half-time attendance (regardless if you plan to transfer to another school), regulations require that you complete an Exit Counselling session for your Direct Subsidised and Unsubsidised Loans. The counselling session provides information about how to manage your student loans.

Overview

UCLan is required by US Federal Law (34CFR 668.34) to define and enforce standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) for students who wish to access Title IV Federal Student Aid. These guidelines have been established to encourage students to progress and successfully complete the academic programme for which aid is received.

Although UCLan has an institutional policy for standard academic achievement, the SAP policy relates specifically to US students in receipt of Title IV funding. It should be noted that UCLan’s standards for all enrolled students on the same course are the same regardless of the student’s source of funding.

View: UCLan’s general policies and regulations, including Academic Regulations. 

Students receiving US Federal Loans must demonstrate satisfactory academic progress throughout the loan period in order to receive all of the instalments of their loans for that period and in order to continue receiving loans in subsequent loan periods, where applicable.

This definition of SAP may be different from other University policies and is not a replacement for UCLan’s Academic Regulations. Furthermore, satisfactory academic progression to retain Title IV Direct Loans is entirely separate from the academic requirements to remain on a programme of study and does not guarantee the outcome of a programme.

Students who receive Title IV Federal Student Aid will be evaluated at the end of each semester. This evaluation process will consider your progress under the following criteria:

Qualitative (grade-based) measurement

Quantitative (time-based) measurement

To receive Title IV Federal Student Aid, you must meet minimum standards for both the above-mentioned components while simultaneously adhering to academic progress rules and UK Immigration legislation. Quantitative and Qualitative are both measured cumulatively.

Qualitative (grade-based)

Students in receipt of Direct Loans must always remain in good academic standing and maintain a GPA equivalent of at least 2.0. Any remedial work will be factored into the Qualitative measurement.

For programmes greater than 2 academic years, the school must check the qualitative measurement at the end of the second academic year.

Quantitative (time-based)

The maximum timeframe for completion of a degree programme may not exceed 150% of the published length of a programme as measured in credit hours. Periods when a student does not receive funds will be included in the maximum timeframe.

Students must complete their course at a pace which ensures that they will graduate within the maximum timeframe. Pace is calculated by dividing the total number of credits successfully completed by the number attempted.

For example:

Please note that while a student may maintain their eligibility for US Direct Loans, institutional academic progress rules and student visa restrictions may impact on your ability to continue within the programme. Conversely, a student may lose eligibility for US Direct Loans, and still meet institution requirements for continued enrolment.

Change in enrolment

Typically, all periods of enrolment contribute when assessing progress, even periods when the student did not receive Federal Student Aid, however there are some exceptions and special cases as listed below:

Withdrawals and incomplete courses

If a student withdraws from their course, or is discharged from the programme, they must reapply if they wish to return to study at UCLan. If UCLan accepts a new application to study, any credit gained due to prior study at UCLan would count against the applicable Maximum Time Frame. Likewise, the student would return at the same level of eligibility status regarding the Qualitative standards. For example, if they left on a Financial Aid Warning, they would return at the same warning level.

Change in programme

If a student were to change programmes, the work completed in the previous programme would count towards their Maximum Time Frame and their grades would also be considered as continuing towards their Qualitative grade measurement.

Course repetitions

All attempted credits and courses count towards the Maximum Time Frame and grades will be calculated as part of Qualitative grade measurement.

Transfer credits

Credits transferred in from another university will not count towards the Maximum Time Frame at UCLan. The grades may be considered for the Qualitative measurement if the prior university’s grade system is equivalent to the UK system.

Process of obtaining Satisfactory Academic Progress reports - Notification Procedure/SAP statements

Prior to a loan disbursement of any Federal Student Aid, SAP will be confirmed by UCLan’s US Loans Office utilising the student administration systems which records student’s academic progress, giving assurance that SAP is being maintained based on an assessment of student progress and achievement in line with qualitative and maximum timeframe measures.

These results will be obtained prior to the disbursement of loan monies at each semester in the academic year to determine whether students are meeting progression requirements that will determine whether the pace of study remains within the specified parameters.

In instances where satisfactory academic progress has not been made, options for continuing their studies will be presented to students in writing.

Financial Aid Warning

Where satisfactory academic progress has not been met at the end of a semester, the student will be placed on 'Financial Aid Warning’ for the period of the next academic semester and will continue to be eligible to receive funding for that period only.

Maintaining eligibility for the Federal Student Aid requires that students on a Financial Aid Warning complete that period of their academic study at a level that would bring their overall standing in line with Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements.

The US Loans Office will communicate the Financial Aid Warning in writing and inform
the student of the need to bring grades in line with the SAP requirements.

If satisfactory progress has not been achieved at the end of the Financial Aid Warning period,
a student's loan eligibility will be terminated.

UCLan does not have the right to waive the satisfactory academic progress requirement for any student.

It is possible for students to receive more than one warning period during an academic year, however, students cannot be placed on a Financial Aid Warning period consecutively.

Appeals against a decision to suspend Financial Aid and Financial Probation

Financial Aid probation is the status assigned by UCLan to a student who fails to make satisfactory academic progress and who has appealed and has eligibility for Aid reinstated.

Appealing a Financial Aid decision

Students who subsequently lose eligibility for Federal Student Aid because they have failed to maintain SAP may appeal the SAP decision if one or more of the following circumstances exist:

• Death of an immediate family member (parent, spouse, sibling, dependent child)
• An extended illness which has resulted in an absence from academic activities for at least fifteen days
• The extended illness of an immediate family member that places hardship on the student
• Mitigating circumstances as accepted by Financial Aid Appeal Committee

Within 10 days of receiving the Financial Aid Decision, students wishing to appeal must have submitted their appeal in writing to UCLan’s US Loans Office, detailing the reason(s) for failing to meet the SAP requirements and/or why there should be no suspension of aid.

All supporting documentation should be submitted with the appeal. This process is separate to any academic appeals process. 

Grounds for the appeal may be:

UCLan’s US Loans Office did not follow the University’s Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy.

The evidence submitted to challenge the decision to withhold financial aid was not considered by UCLan’s US Loans Office.

The appeal will be considered by the Head of Student Records and Data Returns. The University will notify the student in writing of the outcome of the appeal decision. The appeal will be considered on its merits and a response to the appeal will be provided within 14 working days. Students who appeal the first appeal decision will be informed of the decision of the Head of Student Records and Data Return in writing. A student may appeal again, but only if other circumstances are demonstrated.

If the appeal is denied a student may regain eligibility if they continue to study and their minimum cumulative pass grade reaches the required levels. They will be notified in writing of their change in status within 14 working days after they complete the applicable payment period.

Appeals against a decision to suspend Financial Aid and Financial Probation

Financial Aid probation is the status assigned by the University to a student who fails to make satisfactory academic progress and who has appealed and has eligibility for Aid reinstated. This decision is final.

Where a student’s appeal has been upheld, the student retains their eligibility for funding for the subsequent term. However, during the study term the student is placed on Financial Aid Probation, for a period of no longer than one term, and must meet SAP requirements in order to remain eligible for financial aid.

1.0 Purpose

The University is required to complete a Return to Title IV (R2T4) calculation for Federal Student Aid recipients who withdraw from their studies during the course of the academic year. Loan funds must be returned in accordance with the terms set out in the Master Promissory Note (MPN). The date of withdrawal is determined by the last date of attendance according to the student’s record following withdrawal, or a result of academic failure.

2.0 Scope

This policy applies to all students registered at the University of Central Lancashire and who are in receipt of US Federal Student Aid via the following financial programmes:

• Federal Direct Subsidised Loans.
• Federal Direct Unsubsidised Loans.
• Federal Direct PLUS Loans.

3.0 Policy statements

3.1 Withdrawal

A student may either withdraw from their course or be required to withdraw for a range of reasons, including:

• Academic failure.
• As a result of disciplinary action.
• A student no longer wishes to continue on their programme.
• Poor attendance at scheduled teaching sessions or engagement with the programme.

A student in receipt of Federal Student Aid who withdraws from their course, whatever the reason, must advise the UCLan’s US Loans Office within 5 working days. In addition, if it is the student’s decision to withdraw, the Student must complete UCLan’s Student Led Withdrawal Policy which can be found on the Student Hub.

For the purposes of Federal Student Aid, the date recorded as the last date of attendance on the Student record will be the date used on the R2T4 calculation.

Students who do not register with the University and who do not attend classes are ineligible for Federal Student Aid. In such circumstances their Title IV loans will be cancelled.

The US Loans Office is responsible for the R2T4 calculation, and the Finance Department is responsible for transferring the funds.

3.2 R2T4 Calculation following withdrawal

The US Loans Office will calculate, using the R2T4 spreadsheet, the types and amounts of Federal Student Aid which must be returned following withdrawal. These funds must be returned to the US Department of Education. The return amount will be calculated using the number of days the student attended in the given term and the total number of days in the given term. In some instances, the calculation may determine that no funds be returned.

3.3 Approved Leave of Absence - Interruption to Study

A Leave of Absence is an interruption to a course of study. Students wishing to take a Leave of Absence must complete UCLan’s Interruption to Study

A student returning to study within 180 days will not normally be subject to a Return of Title IV (R2T4) calculation.

Students taking an Approved Leave of Absence must email UCLan's US Loans Office, with details of the Leave of Absence, included dates leave begins and ends. The US Loans Office will inform you of your obligations and consequences of failure to return to study.

Leave of Absence cannot exceed 180 days in any 12-month period. Students returning from Leave of Absence, must return at the point they left off.

If a student fails to return from a Leave of Absence, for the purposes of Federal Student Aid, the student will be deemed to have withdrawn from their programme from the first day of the Leave of Absence.

During an Approved Leave of Absence, Title IV disbursements will not be made to the student. A student’s Title IV loans will enter their grace period (you are advised to check your individual loan documents regarding grace periods).

A Return to Title IV (R2T4) calculation for Federal Student Aid recipients is required where students undertake an Approved Leave of Absence - Interruption to Study longer than 180 days. A student in receipt of Federal Student Aid who interrupts from their course for more than 180 days must advise the US Loans Office within 5 working days of the interruption.

3.4 Academic Failure/Failure to Progress

Where a student fails assessments or modules, and is unable to progress, or if it is determined that failure has occurred due to non-attendance, then the last date of attendance or engagement will be used in the R2T4 calculation. Students who do not attend any classes are ineligible for Federal Student Aid and as a result their Title IV loans will be cancelled.

3.5 Tuition fee calculation

Following Withdrawal or Leave of Absence – Interruption to Study, the University will review a student’s tuition fee account and will consider if a refund is appropriate.

3.6 Post withdrawal disbursements

If a student does not receive their disbursement at the beginning of the payment period and decides to withdraw, the student is eligible for the amount of loan earned in this period. The University will complete the Title IV calculation and notify the student of any loan overpayment or post withdrawal disbursement. The loan amount will be calculated and offered as a post withdrawal disbursement within 30 days of the date of determination.

The post withdrawal notification will include:

• The types of loan and balances available.
• The option to accept or decline some or all the funds.
• The obligation for the student/parent borrower to repay the loan funds whether they are disbursed to the student account or to the borrower.
• The timeframe in which a student/parent borrower must reply to the notification.

The University may automatically use all or a portion of the post withdrawal disbursement (if the student accepts it) for tuition fees, and any other charges contracted by the student with the University. The student may choose to decline the loan funds so that additional Federal loan debt is not incurred. However, it may be in the student’s best interest to accept the disbursement and allow the University to retain the funds owed in order to reduce their indebtedness to the University.

A response to the notification is required within 21 days, at which point the University will make any post withdrawal disbursement available to the student (or parent in the case of a Parent PLUS loan) within 180 days from the date of determination. If a response to the notification of post withdrawal disbursement is received after 21 days, the University reserves the right to decline the post withdrawal disbursement. The decision will be communicated to the borrower in writing. If no response to the notification is received by the University, the post withdrawal amount will not be disbursed.

3.7 Return of Overpayment – Withdrawal and Absence of Leave (180 days or more)

Federal Student Aid recipients who receive an overpayment resulting from changes in enrolment, cost of attendance and general eligibility will be required to return the necessary funds the Department in accordance with the terms of the Mater Promissory Note (MPN).

In accordance with federal regulations, refunds are allocated in the following order:

• Unsubsidised Direct loans.
• Subsidized Direct loans.
• Direct PLUS loans.

The following calculation has been provided by the US Department of Education to calculate the amount of unearned funds:

Divide the number of days enrolled on the programme by the total number of days in the payment period, this will give you the amount of loan funds earned.

3.8 Calculation of Title IV Entitlement

Where a student withdraws or takes leave of absence (interruption to study) after having attended more that 60% of the payment period, they are considered to have earned 100% of the loan funds therefore there is no requirement to return funds. In cases where students have received more loan funds than earned, the unearned funds must be returned to the US Department of Education by the University or the student. If the student has earned less than the earned amount of loan funds, the difference could be paid as a post withdrawal disbursement. The University will collect any unearned Title IV funds required to be returned from the student.

The calculation for Title IV entitlement is as follows:

Divide the number of days enrolled on the course by the total number of days in the payment period, this will give you your entitlement amount.

3.9 Responsibilities

The University’s responsibilities regarding the return of Title IV funds (R2T4 calculation) include:

• Providing each student with the information given in this policy.
• Identifying students who are affected by this policy and completing the R2T4 calculation for those students.
• Returning to Title IV programmes any Title IV funds which have been applied to tuition fees.

Student responsibilities include:

• Notifying the University of the student's intent to withdraw from all courses.
• Returning any funds that were disbursed directly to the student and for which the student was determined to be ineligible through the R2T4 calculation.

Federal regulations require the University to return unearned funds directly to the Department within 45 days of the date of determination. If the return of funds to the Department creates an outstanding balance due on the student account, the student will be responsible for payment of the full balance on their account.

3.10 Visa requirements

The University is required to inform UK Visas & Immigration of any change of enrolment for international students.

3.11 Drug related offences

Eligibility for Federal Student Aid may be affected if a student in receipt of Title IV funds is convicted of drug related offences and may result in the return of funds. Students are directed to the Code of Conduct for Students for information about expectations of students.

Further guidance

Please contact UCLan’s US Loans Office if further information is required on this policy.

The US Government requires institutions who participate in the federal student loans programme to disclose the following consumer information:

Financial assistance

UCLan has a number of Scholarships and Bursaries available to support students while studying with us. Visit the UCLan Bursaries and scholarships page for more information.

US financial aid information

UCLan’s US Loans webpage provides information about:

• Student Eligibility Requirements
• How to apply and loan amounts
• Cost of attendance
• Entrance counselling
• How and when aid will be disbursed
• Withdrawal procedures, refund policies and return of Title IV funds
• Satisfactory Academic Progress
• Financial Aid Probation and Suspension
• Exit counselling

US federal regulations state that you must have a secondary school completion credential (high school diploma) or the recognized equivalent of a secondary school completion credential to be eligible to receive Federal Student Aid.

The US Department of Education provides information for students regarding Federal Student Aid at studentaid.gov

Degree programmes and policies

Visit the UCLan webpage for a list of degree programmes offered at UCLan. Courses for each degree are listed accordingly and link directly to the course catalogue where detailed descriptions of each course can be found.

Student policies can be found by visiting the Student Policies and Regulations webpage.

Ineligible programmes

The following programme types are not eligible for Title IV funding at UCLan:

• Medical Programmes
• Clinical Programmes
• Nursing Programmes
• Veterinary Programmes
• Degree Apprenticeship Programmes
• CPD and Short Course Programmes

Online courses

UCLan offers a number of online courses, however, Title IV Aid is not eligible for online, or distance learning courses. Students in receipt of Title IV Aid at UCLan are required to study on Preston Main Campus.

Some on campus programmes at UCLan offer partial online teaching. Please contact UCLan’s US Loans Office for further information on eligibility of partial online teaching.

School costs

Information regarding Tuition Fees can be found on UCLan’s Fees and funding webpage.

For an indication of average monthly living expenses during studies at UCLan, please use the UCAS Student Budget Calculator and search for University of Central Lancashire.

Inclusive support and wellbeing services

UCLan offers a number of support services for students. Please visit UCLan’s Student Hub pages for Inclusive Support and Wellbeing Services.

Refund policy

UCLan’s Tuition Fee Policy and Refund Policy will be adhered to in all instances.

The Return of Title IV funds (R2T4) policy overrules UCLan’s refund policy. Information regarding the Return of Title IV funds (R2T4) policy is available on the US Loans webpage

Study abroad information

If you are in receipt of Federal Student Aid, you are not allowed to study abroad in the US. You are also not allowed to study abroad at a school that is not approved for Title IV Aid. For further information regarding study abroad eligibility for Federal Student Aid, email UCLan’s US Loans Team

Withdrawal procedure

If you withdraw from your course at UCLan, this will affect your eligibility for Federal Student Aid.

In the event of withdrawal from the course, you will need to complete Exit Counselling for your student loan.

Student charter

UCLan believes that students and staff should have reasonable expectations of one another, while behaving professionally and respectfully. The Student Charter has been developed in conjunction with the Students’ Union and outlines our culture and principles.

Summary of policies

To view more UCLan policies, visit the Student Policies and Regulations webpage.

Data Protection and Information Management

UCLan complies with the General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018 whenever it processes personal data. For further information regarding UCLan’s Data Protection Policy and Information Management Policy, visit UCLan’s Data Protection webpage.

UCLan will confirm the enrolment status and academic achievement of students to the US Department of Education as required by Federal Student Aid regulations, and in line with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). By Accepting Federal Student Aid, students are acknowledging and consenting to this sharing of data.

More information relating to sharing of information can be found on the Master Promissory Note (MPN) when taking out Federal Student Aid.

Misrepresentation

UCLan will hold itself to the highest levels of integrity and will not knowingly provide any false, erroneous, or misleading statements to a student or prospective student, to the family of an enrolled or prospective student, or to the US Department of Education.

UCLan is committed to operating in an environment of integrity. Each member of the UCLan community is responsible for assuring that the actions and activities conducted at the University promote such an environment.

Private education loans

UCLan does not have a Preferred Lender Agreement with any specific lender of private education loans. In most cases, UCLan will work with whichever private lender a prospective borrower decides to use, provided such lenders chose to offer loans to students studying outside the USA.

At the date of publication, UCLan is registered with both Sallie Mae and Earnest to approve private education loans, however, UCLan does not promote, endorse, or recommend these providers over any other private lenders.

UCLan has no affiliation with any private lender, and any reference to private lenders does not represent the existence of an approved lender.

Please be aware that private education loans are still limited to Cost of Attendance similar to Direct Loans. A student may hold both a private education loan and Direct Loans, however, the total cannot exceed the Cost of Attendance.

Students should be aware that they may qualify for Title IV loans, and that the lending terms and conditions of Title IV loans may be more favourable than those of private education loans. Students are advised that UCLan does not offer any advice on which loan to take out, and that they should conduct their own research into what loans would best meet their needs.