US Federal Student Aid

Information for New Applicants

University College Cork (UCC) is approved by the U.S. Department of Education to certify loans under the U.S. William D. Ford Direct Loan programme.

Under this programme eligible students can obtain:

  • Subsidized,
  • Unsubsidized loans,
  • Parent PLUS or,
  • Graduate PLUS loans from the U.S. Department of Education.

Federally supported loans are issued by the US Department of Education rather than by a private lender/bank. UCC manages the loan origination and disbursement of the loan process.

For full information on the process download the UCC Federal Aid Student Guide 2023-24.

Please note: that US Federal Government regulations for Foreign Schools differ to those for US domestic schools and that the process which we follow at University College Cork is in accordance with the regulations for Foreign Schools. It is important to adhere to deadlines and to plan early as the process can take several weeks from initial application to loan origination.

Eligibility for US Federal Aid

Students from the United States of America who choose to study at foreign institutions are not eligible for grants from the US Federal government e.g. Pell Grants but they may apply for US Federal loans to fund their study. The Federal Direct Loan programme is available to US citizens or eligible non-citizens who are enrolled at least half-time, making satisfactory academic progress and are not in default on a previous loan or exceeding federal loan limits.

Eligible Programmes

  • Degree (Undergraduate or Postgraduate)
  • Medical programmes*
  • Masters
  • PhD

Non-Eligible Programmes

  • Nursing
  • Diploma Programmes
  • Distance Learning Programmes
  • Programmes more than 25 percent of which takes place in the USA. Study in the USA can only be at institutions of higher education that are themselves eligible for the US Title IV aid programs.
  • Programs more than 25 percent of which takes place at an institution outside the USA that is itself not eligible for the US Title IV aid programmes.

Eligible students at University College Cork can apply for the following Federal Aid loans:

  • Direct Loans (Subsidized and Unsubsidized)
  • Direct PLUS Loans (Undergraduate Parent or Graduate Student)

* Medical Programmes for the 2023-24 academic year are eligible only for continuing students who have previously borrowed US federal loans at University College Cork. UCC will take steps to seek full eligibility for 2024-25 but whether or not US federal loans are available to medical students for that academic year will not be known until sometime in 2024.

Study Abroad Information

A student’s enrolment in a programme of study abroad approved for credit by University College Cork is considered enrolment at UCC for the purpose of applying for assistance under the Title IV, HEA programmes.

US Students should note, however, some limitations. (These limitations were modified as of 1 July 2021.) US students receiving Direct Loans or Direct PLUS loans can only go on study abroad on locations in the USA for no more than 25 percent of their programme of study and only to locations themselves eligible for the US Title IV aid programmes. They can go on study abroad at institutions outside the USA that are not themselves eligible for the US Title IV aid program for no more than 25 percent of their programme of study.

View current eligible foreign schools.

How to Apply

To view more information on the loan application process choose from one of the following options:

Continuing Students

If you are attending UCC for more than one year you will need to submit a FAFSA for each subsequent year of study. 

Students should refer to the for detailed information on how to apply. Please refer to the guide for every year that you are in receipt of student aid as the information is subject to change.

Once you have completed your FAFSA and received your Student Aid Report, you should complete the following:

  1. Master Promissory Note (MPNs) and,
  2. Loan Entrance Counselling if required.

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