US Financial Aid

How to Apply

UWA participates in the William D. Ford Direct Loan program (also known as Stafford Loan), which offers Direct Subsidized Loans, Direct Subsidized Loans and PLUS Loans to US Citizens.

To apply for a Direct Loan, please complete the following steps:

  1. Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the relevant loan period and academic year. The UWA school code is G11094.
  2. Complete the Direct Loan Entrance Counselling (first time borrowers at each grade level must complete this). 
  3. Sign a Master Promissory Note (MPN) for the relevant loan period. If you are also accessing a PLUS loan, this will require a separate MPN. 
  4. Lodge an enquiry with askUWA for US Federal Student Aid to let us know you have lodged a FAFSA. Please do not send any documents as these will be downloaded directly from the US systems. 

UWA will download an Institutional Student Information Record (ISIR) which has your loan history and your Student Aid Index (SAI) information. We’ll use this to calculate your Cost of Attendance (CoA), which determines how much you’re eligible to receive for the first year of your course (usually two semesters).

 

The CoA does not cover relocation costs to Perth so it's important to plan how you will fund this. 

 

Students studying at a foreign school need to lodge a new FAFSA and MPN every twelve months as they progress through their course

You need to understand your rights and responsibilities as a borrower. The Borrower's Rights and Responsibilities Statement appears on the MPN. Your rights and responsibilities are also available via StudentLoans.gov.

What’s Next

UWA will email you a Letter of Award for financial aid with the following information: 

  • Eligible loan amount
  • CoA Calculation 
  • Disbursement Date(s)

You will need to return a signed copy of the Letter of Award that specifies how much you wish to borrow. We’ll certify the loan with the US Department of Education.

Loans are disbursed after course commencement in multiple disbursements of equal amounts, in line with the teaching periods (such as semesters or terms). 

UWA will place the tuition fees covered by the loan under a sponsorship. The fees will be paid once the disbursement arrives, and any remaining funds disbursed to you to cover living costs.  

To remain eligible for Federal Aid, all students must meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements. These are outlined in the SAP Policy on this page.

  • Am I eligible for US Financial Aid?
  • How much can I receive?
  • Cost of Attendance
  • When will I receive the money?
  • Disclosure obligations to students in receipt of US Financial Aid
  • Repaying the loan
  • US Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act

Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy

The US Department of Education requires institutions of higher education to establish minimum standards of satisfactory academic progress for students receiving federal aid. The following US Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements includes two standards: qualitative and quantitative. Students must meet both standards to continue receiving financial aid.

In summary, to remain eligible for US Federal Aid, the following applies:

Student visa holders are required by law to be enrolled full time, while students on visas which do not have this requirement must maintain at least 50 per cent enrolment to be eligible for Federal Aid meeting the condition that you complete your course within the specified course duration, and pass two-thirds with the standard full-time points for the period they have studied.

  • Qualitative measures
  • Quantitative measures
  • Disbursement of US Federal Aid
  • Transfer students from another university
  • Change of program or degree
  • Concurrent degrees
  • Additional degrees
  • Probation
  • Appeals
  • Waivers of SAP

Return of Title IV - R2T4 (Withdrawing from your course)

United States law specifies how UWA must determine the amount of Title IV program assistance (Stafford Loans) that students earn if they withdraw from their university study. See section on Withdrawals for specific information regarding Leaves of Absence (LOA) and the withdrawal process. The Financial Aid Administrator is responsible for calculating R2T4. Worksheets and software are provided by the US Department of Education to calculate the R2T4 funds. All funds must be returned to the lender within 45 days of the last date of attendance. If you have questions about your Title IV program funds, the United States Federal Student Aid Information Centre number is 1-800-4-FEDAID (1-800-433-3243). TTY users may call 1-800-730-8913. Find out more.

As an international student at UWA, you are bound by UWA’s Refund Policy

If you withdraw, your eligibility for refunds or liability for tuition and other payments to UWA is determined by this policy, and is separate from your obligation to repay your financial aid. If you withdraw from your course, drop out, are expelled, or go on unapproved leave of absence in the first 60 per cent of a payment period, both you and UWA will have to repay a portion of the Federal Aid. Any loan funds that you must return, you (or your parent for a Direct PLUS Loan) repay in accordance with the terms of the promissory note. 4 C.F.R. §668.22(h)

The amount that must be repaid is worked out pro rata based on your withdrawal date. The requirements for the treatment of FFEL funds when a student withdraws are available from the US Federal Student Aid site.

When a student withdraws during a payment period, the amount of Title IV program assistance that has been earned up to that point is determined by a specific formula. The date of withdrawal is earlier of the date the student notified the faculty, International Student Support team or Student Central of their intent to withdraw or the date the student submitted the withdrawal form. If the student received (or UWA received on the student’s behalf) less assistance than the amount that earned, the student may be able to receive those additional funds. If the student received more assistance than was earned, the excess funds must be returned by UWA and/or the student.

If a student withdraws from their course, drops out, is expelled, or goes on an unapproved leave of absence in the first 60 per cent of a payment period, both the student and UWA will have to repay a portion of the Federal Aid. The amount that must be repaid is worked out pro rata based on the student’s withdrawal date. The requirements for the treatment of Direct Loan funds when a student withdraws are available through the Federal Student Aid Handbook.

Whereas UWA is not required to record formal attendance, students are monitored on a weekly basis, through liaison with faculty and reporting through the Student Management System, to check if you withdraw, drop out, are expelled or are on either approved or unapproved leave.

  • Withdrawal date
  • Failing all units in a semester
  • Principles of Return of Title IV Funds
  • Leave of Absence and Approved Leave
  • Consequences of withdrawal to loan recipients
  • Failure to return from approved leave
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