Financial aid for on-line study in England?

[Pelican]

I found Cambridge University has some very interesting 1-year certificates and diplomas, fully on-line, costing ~$4-5k. I wonder if there is any way I can take out a federal loan for this? I have taken out Perkins/Federal Subsidized loans in the past, but will be paid off completely the end of the month, so my balance on the student loans will be $0.

[ss20ts]

Not through FAFSA

https://www.google.com/search?q=Student+...=703&dpr=2

[sanantone]

Yes, you can as long as Cambridge has organized a way to give financial aid to online students. A waiver has been granted until June 2023 because of the pandemic. Keep in mind, though, that even many certificate programs at U.S. institutions do not qualify for financial aid because they're too short.

https://www.internationaleducationcounci...s-students

[ss20ts]

Yes, you can as long as Cambridge has organized a way to give financial aid to online students. A waiver has been granted until June 2023 because of the pandemic. Keep in mind, though, that even many certificate programs at U.S. institutions do not qualify for financial aid because they're too short.

https://www.internationaleducationcounci...s-students

This is 100% not normal at all. Before getting excited I would look into this. Certificate and degree programs aren't the same thing. It's rare that a certificate is covered by financial aid in general let alone out of the country.

[sanantone]

Yes, you can as long as Cambridge has organized a way to give financial aid to online students. A waiver has been granted until June 2023 because of the pandemic. Keep in mind, though, that even many certificate programs at U.S. institutions do not qualify for financial aid because they're too short.

https://www.internationaleducationcounci...s-students

This is 100% not normal at all. Before getting excited I would look into this. Certificate and degree programs aren't the same thing. It's rare that a certificate is covered by financial aid in general let alone out of the country.

That's why I warned that the certificate program might be too short to be eligible for financial aid. I believe graduate certificate programs have to at least be 15 or 18 semester hours, at minimum, but schools have some discretion over what qualifies. 

But, for international degree programs, in general, you can use FAFSA to apply for financial aid at non-U.S. institutions. It's been this way for a long time. The Department of Education updates their list of eligible and participating institutions quarterly. The only caveat is that none of the courses can be online or correspondence. Currently, that requirement is being waived.

[carrythenothing]

You can download an Excel file containing the international schools that participate in the federal student loan program: https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/ty...ernational

It'll still only apply to degree programs.

[sanantone]

Here, you'll find a link to a spreadsheet of eligible institutions.

https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/ty...ng-schools

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I see that several UK universities say that their PGDip and PGCert programs are ineligible for U.S. financial aid, but there's a UK university that says that the Graduate PLUS loan can be used for their PGDip programs. So, I'd say it's a case-by-case basis just like it is at U.S. institutions. University of Florida says that its 15-credit graduate certificate programs don't qualify for financial aid, but Western Kentucky University has 15-credit graduate certificates that do qualify for financial aid.

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Here's Cambridge's page on Federal Direct Loans. Of course, I don't think they're aware that financial aid is temporarily available for online studies, but their certificate and diploma programs have been categorized as ineligible anyway. There are master's and LLM programs that can be completed in one year. Many LLM programs at UK universities don't require an LLB or JD.

https://www.cambridgestudents.cam.ac.uk/...s/us-loans

[sanantone]

More information for those interested in non-U.S. institutions. 

In addition, a foreign institution may only approve federal student loans or deferments for eligible U.S. students for enrollment in an educational program that is at least one year in length and leads to a certificate, diploma, or full degree program. The program must be at the undergraduate or graduate level.


https://fsapartners.ed.gov/knowledge-cen...s-students


Provide an eligible education program 

o For which the institution is legally authorized to award a degree that is equivalent to an associate, baccalaureate, graduate, or professional degree awarded in the United States; or 

o That is at least a two-academic-year program acceptable for full credit toward the equivalent of a baccalaureate degree awarded in the U.S.; or 

o That is equivalent to at least a one-academic-year training program in the U.S. that leads to a certificate, degree, or other recognized educational credential and prepares students for gainful employment in a recognized occupation.

https://fsapartners.ed.gov/sites/default...iteria.pdf