Overview
The University of Derby is approved by the US Department of Education to certify loans under the William D. Ford Direct Loan Program, enabling eligible students to access US federal student loans while studying in the UK.
As the University is classed as a foreign school, it is not eligible to certify Pell Grants or Perkins Loans.
Eligible students may apply for the following loan types:
- Direct Subsidized Loan - an interest free need-based loan for undergraduate students
- Direct Unsubsidized Loan - a loan with interest for both undergraduate and postgraduate students
- Direct Parent PLUS Loan - a loan with a higher interest rate the parent of eligible undergraduate students who need additional funds to cover the Cost of Attendance (new loan limits apply to students starting their course on or after 1 July 2026 who, along with their parents, have no prior Parent PLUS borrowing history)
- Direct Graduate PLUS Loan - a loan with a higher interest rate for postgraduate students who need additional funds to cover the Cost of Attendance (available only to students who are already borrowing a Graduate PLUS Loan prior to 1 July 2026)
Eligibility Criteria
For a student to be eligible for Direct Loans they must meet the following eligibility criteria:
- Must be a US citizen or eligible non-citizen with a valid Social Security Number
- Must not be in default on previous loan payments
- Must not have reached the maximum permitted level of outstanding loan borrowing
- Must be studying on campus (online study is not permitted)
- Must be on an eligible programme of study
- Must be fully enrolled at least half-time for the period for which the loan is originated (PhD students who have submitted their thesis for examination do not meet this requirement)
- Must comply with the University's Satisfactory Academic Progress for Federal Aid Recipients Policy
- Must have a High School Diploma or equivalent
Programmes eligible to receive Federal Direct Loans
Most degree programmes delivered at the University of Derby are eligible for Federal Direct Loans. These include undergraduate (Bachelor's), postgraduate (Master's) and doctoral (PhD) degrees delivered across all our Derby campuses: Kedleston Road, Markeaton Street, Britannia Mill, One Friar Gate Square and the Cavendish Building.
Programmes not eligible to receive Federal Direct Loans
Federal loans cannot be issued for:
- Certificate programmes
- Diploma programmes
- Foundation Programmes
- Distance learning programmes (in whole or in part)
- Telecommunications or correspondence courses (in whole or in part)
- Direct assessment programmes
- Programmes that require a compulsory period of study abroad or internship of more than 25% of the length of the programme in the US
- Programmes where a compulsory period of more than 25% of the length of the programme is dedicated to study abroad at a Title IV ineligible institution
- Programmes offered in whole or in part via the distance-learning route
- Nursing programmes
If your programme of study is not eligible, you may wish to apply for private loans to cover your Cost of Attendance.
If you are unsure whether the programme you have applied for is eligible for Federal Direct Loans, please contact the Federal Aid Team by emailing federalaid@derby.ac.uk
Student Dependency Status
When you complete your FAFSA, you will be asked to provide financial information based on your dependency status. Dependent students must include both their own information and their parents’ details. Independent students only need to provide their own information, and their spouse’s information if they are married.
Being classed as a dependent student does not mean that your parents are required to contribute financially to your studies. Your dependency status is simply used to determine your eligibility for Federal Student Aid.
Independent Student Status
For Federal Aid Purposes, you will be considered an independent student if you meet one or more of the following criteria:
- You are at least 24 years old by 31 December of the relevant award year
- You are, or were until age 18, an orphan or a ward/dependent of the court
- You are a veteran of the US Armed Forces
- You are enrolled in a Master’s or Doctoral programme at the start of the award year
- You are married at the time you complete your FAFSA
- You have at least one child who receives more than half of their financial support from you
- You have another dependent (not a spouse or child) who lives with you and receives more than half of their support from you
- You are currently serving on active duty in the US Armed Forces (for purposes other than training)
- You are considered homeless, or at risk of becoming homeless
Dependent Student Status
If you do not meet any of the criteria listed above, you will normally be considered a dependent student for Federal Aid purposes. In some cases, a Federal Aid Team may review individual circumstances and determine that a student should be treated as independent. This is known as a dependency override and is only granted in exceptional situations.
Returning to the United States
Students in receipt of Federal Direct Loans are not permitted to return to the United States to undertake fieldwork, research placements, internships, externships, or to complete their thesis, as per US Federal Regulations.
An exception applies only to doctoral (PhD) students undertaking independent research during the write-up period, where the research must be conducted in the US and is supervised by faculty. Approval must be obtained from the Federal Aid Team, and permission is limited to a maximum of one academic year.
This restriction does not prevent students from returning to the United States for holidays or vacations.
Private US Student Loans
The University of Derby does not currently have arrangements in place with private US student loan providers. However, we are in the process of onboarding Sallie Mae and Earnest as approved lenders starting from the 2026/2027 academic year.
Further information will be published on this page in due course.