u.s. federal aid instruction brochure instruction...6 before you start: handy links while the...
TRANSCRIPT
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UCD GLOBAL Ireland’s Global University
U.S. FEDERAL AID
Instruction Brochure
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Welcome Dear Federal Aid Applicant,
We have compiled this brochure describing the process and necessary steps you must undertake to
ensure your Federal Aid is organized successfully. This will ensure these loans from the United States
of America will arrive on time at the beginning of each term.
If this is your first experience with Federal Aid, I recommend reading
through the following website, which provides useful information
about US Loans: www.studentaid.ed.gov
If you have previously used Federal Aid at a US institution, the
process for foreign schools has many differences, so please read this
document closely. In particular, we would like to highlight that no
foreign school is eligible to process Pell Grants,1 this is not UCD policy.
For more information see: www.studentaid.ed.gov/sa/prepare-for-college/choosing-
schools/types/international
Important pointers:
• The US Department of Education (DOE) Federal School Code for
UCD is G10188.
• Using Federal Direct Subsidised/Unsubsidised and PLUS Loans,
eligible students can borrow up to the full Cost of Attendance
(COA) each year.
• Certificates, Diplomas and distance learning programmes are
not eligible for US Federal Loans. Students studying these types
of programme, who require financial assistance, must investigate
private loans. Please familiarize yourself with this process which
is described in detail in this document and use this as a reference
throughout your application. This will ensure your Federal Aid
loan money arrives in Ireland in a timely manner.
We look forward to assisting you through this process and welcoming you to the UCD Campus.
1 https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/types/grants-scholarships/pell
Please remember we are here to assist you. If after reading this document you still need additional assistance, don’t hesitate to contact us on [email protected].
If you want to chat conveniently with someone about this application process, please remember you can reach our New York office directly on:
+1 646 690 9024
UCDublin_NAmerica
One of our staff members will
be more than happy to guide
you through our application
process if you wish to speak to
someone in relation to this.
Remember: Taking out a loan – even U.S. Federal Aid – is a big responsibility which may impact your life
for many years after your degree. While we at UCD Global aim to assist you throughout this process,
you are always encouraged to ensure that you are a responsible and educated loan-taker. Be sure to
read through this document and the resources mentioned in it carefully so that you can make informed
choices about the loans you would like to take.
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Table of Contents
WELCOME ........................................................................................................................................................ 2
FEDERAL AID APPLICATION TIMELINE .............................................................................................................. 5
BEFORE YOU START: HANDY LINKS .................................................................................................................. 6
CHAPTER 1: COMPLETING THE PROCESS .......................................................................................................... 7
STEP 1: FILL OUT THE FAFSA ................................................................................................................................. 7 Level of Study and Dependency Status .......................................................................................................... 7 Dependency Status......................................................................................................................................... 8
STEP 2: FILL OUT THE COST OF ATTENDANCE CALCULATOR ........................................................................................... 9 Year of study ................................................................................................................................................ 10 Number of Semesters ................................................................................................................................... 10 Dependency Status....................................................................................................................................... 10 Expected Family Contribution (EFC) ............................................................................................................. 11 Tuition Fees .................................................................................................................................................. 11 Scholarship Information ............................................................................................................................... 11 Weekly Essential Costs ................................................................................................................................. 11 Single Costs for the year ............................................................................................................................... 12 Estimated costs & US Department of Education’s maximum loan eligibility ............................................... 12 How much would you like to borrow ........................................................................................................... 12 Cost of Attendance ....................................................................................................................................... 13 Exchange Rate .............................................................................................................................................. 13 Loan Fees ..................................................................................................................................................... 13
STEP 3: FILL OUT YOUR FEDERAL AID APPLICATION ON THE UCD APPLICATION SYSTEM ................................................... 14 Academic Information, Level of Study & Dependency ................................................................................. 14 Two-semester Master’s Programme ............................................................................................................ 15 January/May Start or Repeat Student ......................................................................................................... 15 Financial Assistance & Family Contribution ................................................................................................. 16 Loan Request ................................................................................................................................................ 17 Accommodation ........................................................................................................................................... 18 Deferring Loans ............................................................................................................................................ 19
STEP 4: UPLOAD DOCUMENTS TO FEDERAL AID APPLICATION SYSTEM ........................................................................... 20
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS EXPLAINED .............................................................................................................. 22
1. SAR - Accessing your Student Aid Report ............................................................................................ 22 2. UCD Offer Letter/Acceptance Letter ................................................................................................... 23 3. Proof of U.S. citizenship or eligibility if non-citizen ............................................................................. 23 4. Transcripts ........................................................................................................................................... 23 5. Cost of Attendance: Award Letter ....................................................................................................... 23 6. Entrance Counselling ........................................................................................................................... 24 7. Master Promissory Note (MPN) Subsidized & Unsubsidized ............................................................... 24 8. Master Promissory Note (MPN) PLUS Loan ......................................................................................... 25 9. Parent PLUS Declaration Form ............................................................................................................ 26 10. Scholarship and Funding Information ............................................................................................. 26
CHAPTER 2: ACCEPTING YOUR LOAN AWARD ............................................................................................... 27
CHAPTER 3: DOCUMENT VERIFICATION & LOAN ORIGINATION ..................................................................... 28
CHAPTER 4: ARRIVING IN IRELAND & LOAN FUNDS DISBURSED .................................................................... 29
STEP 1: OPENING AN IRISH BANK ACCOUNT .............................................................................................................. 29
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STEP 2: UPLOADING YOUR BANK DETAILS .................................................................................................................. 30
CHAPTER 5: UNDERSTANDING YOUR DISBURSEMENT ................................................................................... 31
GROSS VS. NET LOAN AMOUNTS .............................................................................................................................. 31 NUMBER OF DISBURSEMENTS .................................................................................................................................. 31 THE EXCHANGE RATE ............................................................................................................................................. 31 HOW EACH DISBURSEMENT IS USED ......................................................................................................................... 32 SCHOLARSHIPS & DISBURSEMENTS ........................................................................................................................... 33
CHAPTER 6: SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS FOR FINANCIAL AID RECIPIENTS ...................................... 34
Qualitative Measure .................................................................................................................................... 34 Quantitative Measure .................................................................................................................................. 35 Maximum Timeframe .................................................................................................................................. 35 Notifications ................................................................................................................................................. 35 Financial Aid Warning, Probation and Suspension ...................................................................................... 35 Appeals ........................................................................................................................................................ 35
CHAPTER 7: WITHDRAWING & RETURNS OF LOANS ...................................................................................... 37
CHAPTER 8: EXIT COUNSELLING & REPAYMENT ............................................................................................. 38
Exit Counselling ............................................................................................................................................ 38 Necessity of repaying your loan ................................................................................................................... 38
CHAPTER 9: CONSUMER DISCLOSURES .......................................................................................................... 38
CHAPTER 10: CONTACT INFORMATION: ......................................................................................................... 39
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Federal Aid Application Timeline
Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA
- Application)
www.fafsa.ed.gov
OCTOBER
NOVEMBER
Done?
☐
Receive Student Aid Report (SAR)
DECEMBER ☐
Download the following documents from the Student Landing
Portal / Federal Aid Application Screen:
• Cost of Attendance Template
• Instruction Document
JANUARY
FEBRUARY
MARCH
☐
Make loan application on:
www.studentloans.gov/myDirectLoan/index.action
The student must complete the following:
• Entrance Counselling
• Master Promissory Notes (MPN) (after 15 April)
• Annual Student Loan Acknowledgment (after 15 April)
MARCH
APRIL
☐
Send completed Cost of Attendance template to
[email protected] & upload electronic documents to UCD
(Federal Aid Application on Application System)
1. Student Aid Report
2. UCD Offer Letter (online version)
3. Passport / Birth Certificate
4. Official Transcripts / High School Results
5. Completed Cost of Attendance / Award Letter
6. Proof of Entrance Counselling (screenshot)
7. Master Promissory Notes (MPN)
*Required Reporting Questions must be completed
MAY
JUNE
☐
Federal Aid Office verifies documents before loans originated
online. Once successfully organized, you will receive email
confirmation.
JULY
ALL DOCUMENTATION MUST BE SUBMITTED BY JULY 31ST
☐
Open an Irish bank account after you arrive in Ireland.
Student enters bank details into our Student Information System
(SISWeb)
AUGUST ☐
Loan Money Disbursed to you at beginning of each
semester. (UCD Payments Office)
SEPTEMBER
☐
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Before You Start: Handy Links While the process in this Brochure is tailored for students coming to UCD, Federal
Student Loans are ultimately provided by the U.S. Federal Government. It is
therefore important that students always familiarise themselves with the
information provided by the official StudentLoans.gov website. Below are a few of
the most important or useful links.
FAFSA https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/fafsa
StudentAid.gov https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/
StudentLoans.gov
https://studentloans.gov/ This is the handiest site! Use it to sign MPNs, Entrance Counselling and access the documents you have already completed. There is a Repayment Calculator on this site too!
National Student Loan Data System
https://nslds.ed.gov/nslds/nslds_SA/ Use this to find:
• Your current enrolment status,
• What loans you have taken,
• Who is your Loan Servicer,
• How to contact your Loan Servicer.
Interest Rates and Origination Fees
https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/types/loans/interest-rates
Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans Explained
https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/types/loans/subsidized-unsubsidized
Federal vs. Private Loans https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/types/loans/federal-vs-private
Eligibility Criteria https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/eligibility/basic-criteria
Dependency Status https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/fafsa/filling-out/dependency
Information for Parents https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/prepare-for-college/parents
UCD’s Federal Aid Website
http://www.ucd.ie/global/study-at-ucd/scholarshipsfinances/northamericaloans/usfederalaid/
UCD Application System http://www.ucd.ie/registry/admissions/apply.html
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CHAPTER 1: Completing the Process
Please look over this Instruction Brochure and consult our Financial
Aid Website before beginning the financial aid process. There is a
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) section which we encourage
students to read before contacting us. If after reading this
document and the FAQs, you still require assistance, please email
Applying for Federal Aid at UCD may differ from other universities. You must
already have secured an offer for a UCD programme before making this
application. Your documents will not be processed until you have the following
status on your application: ‘Accept’ or ‘Conditional Accept’. Please upload all required documents to
our office before 30 July. Loans are originated on a rolling basis. For September start students, we will
review your application and confirm that all documents are uploaded correctly. The loan origination
process does not begin until August.
STEP
1
Fill out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)
Go to the FAFSA website (studentaid.ed.gov/sa/fafsa) and fill in the necessary information.
You will need the following:
• PIN from the Department of Education before you begin (available on FAFSA website)
• Your tax documents from the previous year (if applicable – if you are not required to file taxes,
you can fill out the FAFSA without them)
• To ensure that you list UCD as one of the schools you are planning to attend, enter School Code:
G10188
Applications to FAFSA will produce a Student Aid Report (SAR), which UCD requires to determine your
eligibility for loans. A few days after you fill out the FAFSA, you will be sent a link via email to your SAR.
You will need the SAR to calculate your Estimated Financial Contribution (EFC), which you will use to
fill out the Cost of Attendance Calculator.
Level of Study and Dependency Status Loan limits and amounts vary depending on:
• at what level you are studying
• what year you are in University
• whether you are a dependent or independent student.
For further information see the following:
www.studentaid.ed.gov/types/loans/subsidized-unsubsidized
UCD Federal Aid
Website and FAQs:
www.ucd.ie/global/
study-at-
ucd/scholarshipsfin
ances/northamerica
loans/usfederalaid/
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Dependency Status The federal student aid programmes are based on the concept that
it is primarily your and your family’s responsibility to pay for your
education. And because a dependent student is assumed to have
the support of parents, the parents’ information has to be assessed
along with the student’s, in order to get a full picture of the family’s
financial strength. If you’re a dependent student, it doesn’t mean
your parents are required to pay anything toward your education;
this is just a way of looking at everyone in a consistent manner.
Your answers to questions on the FAFSA determine whether you
are considered a dependent or independent student. UCD has no
input in this determination and no ability to change your
assessment.
Your dependency status determines whose information you must
report on your FAFSA.
• If you’re a dependent student, you will report your and
your parents’ information.
• If you’re an independent student, you will report your own
information (and, if you’re married, your spouse’s).
Changing Your Dependency Status
*Note: All postgraduate students are independent
University Federal Aid administrators can change a student’s dependency status from ‘dependent’ to
‘independent’ only. We cannot reverse this change! We can only make this change in a limited number
of circumstances and need proper documentation to authorise it. Any attempt to get loan money
outside of compliance with the Federal Regulations is considered to be fraudulent on the applicant’s
part and will have far reaching consequences.
If you believe you should be treated as an independent student, please ensure you fall into one of the
provided categories listed on the website: studentaid.ed.gov/sa/fafsa/filling-out/dependency
Please note: To be considered a dependent undergraduate student whose parents are unable to
obtain PLUS Loans, your parents will have to provide documentation detailing that they have been
rejected for a PLUS loan in order for us to change your status to an independent student.
MDS2 - Medicine:
Some students are enrolled on
the normal 6-year MDS2
Medicine programme (not
Graduate Entry). The first 3 years
of MDS2 Medicine are treated
like a regular undergraduate
programme. Students who would
normally be classified as
‘dependent’ will be dependent
for these years.
Years 4, 5 and 6 are considered to be Graduate / Professional level. Students entering their 4th year of MDS2 should indicate that they are taking a ‘Professional’ programme. This will classify them as ‘independent’.
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STEP
2
Fill out the Cost of Attendance Calculator (Excel document)
After you have received your SAR via email, you can access the Cost of Attendance (CoA) Calculator
by emailing [email protected]. Please have your SAR with you as you begin to fill out the sheet.
There are a number of separate Excel tabs to this COA Calculator, so please read the one called
“Introduction” first. You can use this document as a guide on necessary steps to follow.
**The Cost of Attendance Worksheet has been locked, this restricts you from editing the document.
This is important as a compliant maximum cost of attendance is produced from your answers. You
cannot simply change your answers to alter your borrowing as this would be seen as fraudulent on
your part.
Pro tip: Open the Calculator in Microsoft Excel only. Google Sheets and Apple Mac’s Numbers both corrupt the formulae which make the Calculator work.
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Please follow below for steps to fill out each box of the tab “Cost of Attendance” correctly.
After entering general information, you will be required to select the necessary dropdown value or
input the associated financial amount.
Undergraduate students will usually indicate the following:
Graduate students will usually indicate the following:
Professional Course Programmes such as Graduate Entry Medicine, Graduate Entry
Veterinary or 4th/5th/6th year of Medicine:
Year of study Please indicate as to what year of the programme you will be proceeding into. If this is your first year,
you will be indicating 1. (Note: this is true for new graduate students as well)
Number of Semesters Please indicate the total number of semesters you will be enrolled for If you are an undergraduate
student: it is its usually 2. For postgraduate, it is usually 3.
Dependency Status You are either a Dependent (D) or Independent (I) student. Consult your SAR when selecting your
Dependency Status on the COA – the SAR and the COA must match. If they do not match, we will not
be able to originate your loans.
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If you find that your SAR has the wrong dependency status for you, you will need to contact the Student Loan Support Center at 1-800-557-7394
Expected Family Contribution (EFC) Your EFC is an index number that university financial aid staff use to determine how much financial
aid you would receive if you were to attend their school. The information you report on your FAFSA is
used to calculate your EFC. The EFC Formula Guide shows exactly how an EFC is calculated.
This information is located on the FIRST page of your Student Aid Report:
Tuition Fees For information in relation to UCD tuition fees, please see your online UCD Offer Letter. If you are
continuing student, your tuition fees will stay the same throughout your degree, apart from Medicine
and Veterinary Medicine programmes. Continuing Medicine and Veterinary Medicine students should
contact their UCD Programme Office to confirm their fees ahead of completing their COA each year.
Scholarship Information You must enter correctly any other scholarships or external funding you are receiving for the year.
Please only indicate any scholarships you have been awarded at time of completion. Do not include
financial aid that you have received in previous years.
Note: You are provided several different lines on the COA to do this, depending on the type of funding
you are receiving (whether it is from the University or External Sources, in dollars or euros):
If you are subsequently awarded any outside scholarship, please inform our Financial Aid Office by
email: [email protected]. In most cases, we will simply put this on record for Audit. However, if you
have borrowed your maximum eligible loan amount, we will have to make a change to your loan
amount.
Weekly Essential Costs To build an accurate cost of attendance, you are encouraged to lower the estimated figures we have
provided. You may not request more than the University’s Maximum Estimate.
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The amounts provided in the COA are primarily to calculate the maximum loans for which you will be
eligible and do not dictate the amounts that you will spend on each of these items.
For your own budgeting, keep in mind that the average undergraduate student spends around 32-35
weeks in Dublin for term time. Postgraduate students usually spend between 50 and 52 weeks each
year on coursework and writing their dissertations.
Single Costs for the year To build an accurate cost of attendance, you are encouraged to change the values to match your own
situation. In particular, the cost for return flights and whether you need to purchase a new PC and
printer will depend on your circumstances.
If you need to request additional costs relating to the amount it will cost you to attend UCD, we can
make amendments to the template provided, please contact [email protected] with proof of the
additional expenses.
The following are two examples where we would make amendments to our COA Template:
• an allowance for childcare or other dependent care;
• costs related to a disability.
Estimated costs & US Department of Education’s maximum loan eligibility All financial information you have input will be calculated to provide you with a total requested cost
of attendance. Your maximum Subsidised, Unsubsidized, & PLUS loan will be provided based on your
responses above.
How much would you like to borrow Your maximum Loan Eligibility will be displayed. You can then choose how much of each type of loan
you would like to borrow. For loan types and interest rate information, please visit
www.studentloans.gov.
Please indicate how much you would like to borrow in the ‘Your Request’ column. We encourage you
to round to the nearest hundred.
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Messages will advise you if you are trying to borrow incorrect loans based on your eligibility. For
example, if a graduate tried to borrow a subsidized loan, they would receive the following message:
“You cannot borrow more than 0”
All documents and answers provided are verified by the UCD Financial Aid Office, but we expect
students to be accurate and answer truthfully in all instances.
A sample COA for an Undergraduate Student who has identified that they require the maximum loan
eligibility and who is not receiving any scholarship funds.
Cost of Attendance To some students, the Cost of Attendance seems very generous; we consider all possible additional
costs a student may incur. It is NOT what we see the typical student spending, nor do we recommend
that students/families take out the maximum allowance for FAFSA or other loan programmes.
Students rarely use their full Cost of Attendance: UCD encourages all students to look at their budgets
carefully and take out only the loan amounts that they need.
Many students choose to reduce their loans after the first disbursement, once they have a sense of
how much they will need to support themselves. If you want to reduce your loans, please email
Exchange Rate The exchange rate is set by our Federal Aid Office and selecting the worst possible rate and
incrementing it by the worst possible commission. This is sufficient to enable loans to be calculated
and originated. Should the rate change unfavourably once the course has started, then the whole Cost
of Attendance can be reviewed again. Otherwise, the rate will not be re-assessed until after the end
of the registration period. Each semester the exchange rate is likely to vary depending on numerous
factors. When your funds arrive, you get the current exchange rate of the day. Please keep this in mind
when budgeting, as your refund amount will vary for each disbursement.
Loan Fees Most federal student loans have origination fees that are a percentage of the total loan amount. The
loan fee is deducted proportionately from each loan disbursement you receive. This means the money
you receive will be less than the amount you actually borrow. You are responsible for repaying the
entire amount you borrow and not just the amount you receive.
For information in relation to loan fee percentages, please see the following webpage:
www.studentaid.ed.gov/types/loans/interest-rates
UCD builds loan fees into our Cost of Attendance calculator.
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STEP
3
Fill out Your Federal Aid Application on the UCD Application System
After you have completed the COA template, and are satisfied with your loan request, you can fill out
our federal aid application on the system. To access this, please log on to the UCD Applications System
(UCD SISWeb Application System).
Please note: you must already have secured an offer for one of our programmes before making this
application. You should only submit your federal aid application if you are accepting your offer to study
at UCD.
Please input the requested information and upload the requested documents.
Please note many of these details can be retrieved from your completed Cost of Attendance
Template.
When submitting answers, if you have not completed all mandatory sections, you will be unable to submit and you will be required to enter your answers again. Please be extremely cautious as a result. It is advisable to keep a record of answers on a separate document for reference in case you encounter this issue.
Please ensure the information you provided previously matches the information supplied on the
Cost of Attendance/Award Letter. Any attempt to get loan money outside of compliance with the
Federal Regulations will be seen as fraudulent on the applicant’s part and have far reaching
consequences.
It is important to take time when filling in these details. We will be using your responses when
updating your Enrolment Status on the National Student Loan Database.
When working through the Questions, please note we provide additional information and
explanations to each question on the right side of the page in italics.
1. Is this your first time borrowing Financial Aid at University College Dublin? Or are
you a continuing student who has applied before for Federal Loans for the
programme you are currently studying?
NEW: For any student that has NOT taken out US Loans at UCD before for their current course they
are enrolled to.
CONTINUING: For students who have already completed a year at UCD and are continuing with
their programme.
Academic Information, Level of Study & Dependency This section requires information in relation to what programme you are studying.
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2. Please select the programme for which you wish to apply for Financial Aid:
Please select the programme you are studying and wish to borrow loans for, from the dropdown
provided. You will not be able to see your programme on the list if:
• You have not received an offer for the programme yet;
• You have transferred from one programme to another after starting at UCD;
• You are enrolled in certain PhD programmes.
If you do not see your programme on the dropdown, please email [email protected].
3. Please indicate as to what year of the programme you will be entering into.
If this is your first year studying at UCD, you will indicate 1. As you progress into your next academic
year, you will indicate 2 and so on.
4. How many semesters in this coming award year will you be in attendance?
Undergraduate Programmes usually 2; Masters Programmes usually 3.
How many semesters you are studying, affects your disbursements as follows (See also 2 Semester
Award Letter and 3 Semester Award Letter on your Cost of Attendance Calculator)
Two term disbursements: 1. September 2. January
The University will deduct up to one half of your tuition fees from each disbursement and will transfer any remaining monies to you. If you have already paid towards your tuition fees, then less money will be deducted from your disbursements.
Three term disbursements:
1. September 2. January 3. May
The University will deduct up to one third of your tuition fees from each disbursement and will transfer any remaining monies to you. If you have already paid towards your tuition fees, then less money will be deducted from your disbursements.
Two-semester Master’s Programme However, if your particular Master’s Programme is strictly a two-semester programme and you will
not be in Ireland attending class or writing up your thesis, please indicate 2 semesters. The interest on
your loan will be higher if your loan is disbursed in fewer instalments and tuition payment will be taken
in two instalments instead of three.
January/May Start or Repeat Student If you are a January/May start student and are scheduled to finish mid-year, or if you are repeating a
small number of modules and aim to be finished mid-year, please indicate 1 semester.
5. What intake semester/term/month are you commencing your studies? September
start, January start or May start
When are you starting your studies? Most students start their programmes in September. Only a few
PhD students start their programmes in January or May.
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6. Grade Level of your current year of the programme:
UNDERGRADUATE: If it is your first year of University (Never Attended College) you will indicate
0:1st Year, Undergraduate/Never Attended College
As you progress academically, you will move up the scale. Our
Undergraduate Degrees are up to 4 years so 4th Year is the final
choice for Undergraduate students.
GRADUATE/PROFESSIONAL: If it is your 1st year doing a Master’s
Degree or Grad Entry (Professional Course) you will indicate:
6: 1st Year Graduate/Professional – As you progress academically you will continue to select
7: Continuing Graduate/Professional or Beyond – Until you have finished your
Masters/PhD/Graduate Entry Programme.
7. What is your dependency status? Select one of the following:
Dependency status has been addressed earlier in the document. Please select the appropriate level.
8. Please enter your SSN number:
Please indicate your Social Security Number (SSN) without any spaces for convenience, e.g. instead
of 123-45-6789, please indicate as follows: 123456789
Financial Assistance & Family Contribution For this section, please use your Completed Cost of Attendance as reference. Amounts as specified
are recorded in dollars as per the Cost of Attendance Template.
9. In Section 4 of your completed Cost of Attendance Template. What is the overall
amount provided in the ‘Adjust for Sponsorship, Awards or
other Aid?’
This is the sum of all your forms of Sponsorship, awards or other aid as identified earlier in the Cost of
Attendance Calculator.
MDS 2 - Medicine:
For students on this
programme, the first three
years of the programme are
treated like a regular
undergraduate. For their fourth
year, they will select 6: 1st Year
Graduate/Professional, and for
years 5 & 6, they should select
7: Continuing Graduate/
Professional or Beyond
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10. Please provide the Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) number. You can find
this information on the top right corner of your Student Aid Report.
Please enter your EFC exactly as it appears (including zeros) on your Student Aid Report.
11. In Section 4 of your Completed Cost of Attendance Template. What is the
overall amount provided in the ‘Total Eligible before adjustment for Fees’
In this answer box, you record your maximum overall loan eligibility. Please note this is not necessarily
how much you would like to borrow, but what the Cost of Attendance Calculator has produced for
you based on your answers.
Loan Request This is where you indicate your overall loan request. It is very important you return the correct
information in each box.
There are three separate boxes for each type of loan (Subsidized, Unsubsidized, PLUS and depending
on your eligibility, you may have to use between one to three boxes.
For this section, please use your Completed Cost of Attendance as reference. All amounts in this
section are in dollars as per the template.
12. In Section 6 of your Completed Cost of Attendance Template, the following
questions are asked What is your request in Subsidized Loans? Subsidised -
Adjusted by EFC
Direct Subsidized Loans are only available to undergraduate students with financial need, as
determined by the EFC. If you are an undergraduate student, you may be eligible for this loan provided
that your EFC is low enough. The U.S. Department of Education pays the interest on a Direct Subsidized
Loan.
13. In Section 6 of your Completed Cost of Attendance Template. What is your
request in Unsubsidised Loans?
Direct Unsubsidized Loans are available to undergraduate and graduate students; there is no
requirement to demonstrate financial need. You are responsible for paying the interest on a Direct
Unsubsidized Loan during all periods.
Undergraduates, Graduates and Professional students will all be eligible for this type of loan.
14. In Section 6 of your Completed Cost of Attendance Template. What is your
request in PLUS Loans (Grad or Parent)? PLUS Loan (Adjusted up to include all
fees)
PLUS loans are federal loans that graduate or professional degree students and parents of dependent
undergraduate students can use to help pay education expenses.
For information in relation to eligibility and this loan see:
www.studentaid.ed.gov/sa/types/loans/plus#eligibility
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If a student applies for a PLUS loan, the applicant:
• cannot have an adverse credit history; and
• must meet the general eligibility requirements for federal student aid. If you are borrowing on
behalf of your child, your child must also meet these requirements.
15. In Section 6 of your Completed Cost of Attendance Template. What is your total
request? Your Total (after rounding, may be marginally higher than total of
section 4)
This is the overall figure that will be originated for you. All type of loan requests should add up to this
amount.
16. Please confirm that you have sent your final completed Excel file (in Excel
format) to [email protected]; this will assist us in the verification process.
For verification, we will review the protected Excel file you have emailed to [email protected], this
will allow us to ensure the sheet remains protected and all values are accurate to satisfy regulations.
We cannot process your loan application unless we receive the COA in Excel format by email. Please ensure that you have saved your COA as an .xls, .xlsx, or .xlsm format.
Accommodation
17. Are you planning on living on-campus accommodation or off-campus
accommodation?
For convenience and to ensure there are no issues when moving in, we allow students the option to
deduct necessary loan money directly to cover on-campus accommodation costs.
18. If you are living on campus would you like to automatically deduct your federal
aid to cover this accommodation fee?
This is recommended as it allows you to access your room on arrival. Please confirm your consent to
a deduction; the amount that will be deducted is the amount due as per your SIS residence account
after you have organized your campus accommodation booking.
Please note: If you do not borrow enough federal loan funds to cover your outstanding tuition balance
(a third or a half of your overall tuition balance depending on how many semesters you have enrolled
for), no funds will be transferred to Residences Finances and you will be at risk of your license to reside
being revoked.
*To Note: While filling out the US Financial Aid application, you will have the option to deduct
necessary loan money directly to cover on-campus accommodation costs. If you have selected this
option, your name will be given to the Accommodation Office as a student who is using loans to pay
for housing. You will have no problem moving into your room when you arrive on campus.
If you wish to use this facility, please ensure your loan covers your outstanding tuition and on-campus accommodation costs for each semester.
19
Deferring Loans All information returned here will be used to defer your student loans whilst you are enrolled in full
time study. As a result, it is very important you provide the correct information as this information is
communicated directly to the Department of Education.
19. If you are a continuing student, has information in relation to your programme
or expected completion date changed since your previous year’s application?
Each year, you will be asked if any of your previous information has changed in relation to graduation
dates and so on. This is the quickest way to notify us, ensuring we amend your loan details and your
loans stay in deferment. to ensure we amend your loan details and ensure your loans stay in
deferment.
20. Please indicate which CIP code that best describes your programme of study:
The Classification of Instructional Programmes (CIP) provides a taxonomic scheme that supports the
accurate tracking and reporting of fields of study and programme completions activity.
To browse available CIP codes, see the following website: https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/Default.aspx?y=55 Note: The Department of Education has updated the CIP codes. Be sure to select the 2020 CIP codes. I have suggested generic CIP codes for each College/Area for return below; many of our programmes
will not match those provided by the Department of Education. Please use these numbers exactly as
they appear here, including the decimal point.
21. Programme Begin Date (yyyymmdd). (e.g. 1 September 2019 would be
201890901)
When reporting dates please ensure you report year, month and then day as stipulated. See
www.ucd.ie/students/keydates.htm
As you can see our calendar can be viewed in advance up to Academic Term 2021/2022, this should
allow you to report the correct dates.
Programme Suggested CIP Code
Agriculture, Agriculture Operations, and Related Sciences, Other 01.9999
Architecture 04.9999
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other 52.9999
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services, Other 11.9999
Engineering Technologies and Engineering- Related Fields, Other 15.9999
Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other 51.9999
Legal Professions and Studies, Other 22.9999
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, Other 24.0199
Medicine 51.1201
Public Health, Other 51.2299
Science Technologies/Technicians, Other 41.9999
Social Sciences, Other 45.9999
Sports & Exercise 36.0108
Veterinary Medicine 51.2401
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22. The credential level of the programme. Values are:
You must indicate whether you are studying a
Bachelor’s, Master’s, Doctoral or First Professional
Degree.
Graduate Entry Medicine and Veterinary are to be reported as a First Professional Degree. The fourth year of Undergraduate Entry Medicine students will report as studying a First Professional
Degree. This allows students in this situation to borrow graduate PLUS loans.
MDS2 – Medicine US Department of Education regulations note a criterion of three years of post-secondary, or college
level study, either prior to, or as part of the graduate/professional degree.
Students on the MDS2 Medicine (6-year) programme, should select the following:
1st, 2nd & 3rd year 03 (Bachelor’s Degree) 4th, 5th & 6th year 07 (First Professional Degree)
STEP
4 Upload Documents to Federal Aid Application System
After filling out the General Questions, you will need to upload documents. The Federal Aid Office
requests the following documents to process your loan application. The documents requested are
required to comply with US Federal Regulations.
Please note: You cannot continue with your application until you have received your Student Aid
Report as this document is needed for the generation of your Award letter and for use on our Cost of
Attendance Template.
For convenience and to assist in keeping this process as efficient as possible, we request that all
documents2 are submitted together.
2 These documents are explained in detail over the next few pages.
!
Note:
Applications with outstanding required documentation will not be processed.
All documentation should be uploaded in PDF format.
Document names should not have any special characters or marking (commas, apostrophes, etc.) or upload will fail
!
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1. Student Aid Report The Student Aid Report (SAR) is a paper or electronic
document that gives you some basic information
about your eligibility for federal student aid and lists
your answers to the questions on your Free
Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
2. Offer/Acceptance letter Please provide a copy of your offer/acceptance letter
to UCD.
3. Birth Certificate/Passport Please provide a photocopy of one of the following:
Birth Certificate, Passport or proof of US
citizenship/permanent residency authorization.
4. Transcripts Please provide a photocopy of Official Transcripts
from previous Universities/High School.
5. Cost of Attendance & Award Letter Once you have completed the Cost of Attendance
Template, this document must be uploaded in PDF
Format. For your convenience, this document has a
checklist on one of the Excel sheets to ensure you
have completed necessary tasks.
Remember to email the Excel version to [email protected]
6. Entrance Counselling (evidence
required)
Please submit evidence you have completed the
necessary counselling.
7. Master Promissory Notes (MPN)
(Sub/Unsub Loan)
Please upload a copy/screenshot of the relevant
completed MPN. Please complete no earlier than 180
days before the first day of term.
8. Master Promissory Notes (MPN)
(PLUS LOAN)
If required (if you are taking out a PLUS Loan) please
send a copy/screenshot of the relevant completed
MPN. Please complete no earlier than 180 days before
the first day of term.
9. Parent Plus Declaration Form If you are a dependent undergraduate whose parent
is taking out a Parent Plus Loan, they need to have
filled in the following letter to satisfy regulations. You
must upload this before we process your loan.
10. Scholarship/Funding Information If you are a recipient of a scholarship or alternative
external funding, please upload scholarship
documentation.
22
The following documents are only mandatory for ‘New Applicants’:
• Copy of Offer/Acceptance letter
• Birth Certificate/Passport
• Transcripts
• Entrance Counselling (evidence required)
You are a ‘New Applicant’ if this is your first time borrowing Financial Aid at UCD or if you are a
continuing student who has not previously applied for Federal Loans for the programme you are
currently studying.
Please note if you are changing a programme or progressing to a postgraduate programme you must
identify as a ‘New Applicant’ and update all information/documents for your new programme. For
example, a student progressing into a Master’s Degree would now need to upload his Bachelor’s
Transcripts instead of relying on the previously uploaded High School Results.
The following documents are required in the following situations:
• Master Promissory Notes (MPN) (PLUS Loan): This is only required if you are borrowing a
Plus Loan. PLUS Loans fall into two categories. Parent PLIS loan (requiring your parents’ action)
or a Grad PLUS loan (requiring your own action). This MPN can be completed on:
www.studentloans.gov
• Parent Plus Declaration Form: This is only required if you’re applying for a Parent Plus Loan
(Dependent Undergraduate Student).
• Scholarship/Funding Information: Any Scholarship/Funding information you provide is simply
put in your Federal Aid file for compliance purposes as this reduces the amount you are
allowed to borrow.
Required Documents Explained Please note all documents we request are to satisfy Department of Education Auditory Requirements.
1. SAR - Accessing your Student Aid Report We request a PDF copy of your Student Aid Report (SAR). Please ensure you have indicated University
College Dublin (Federal School Code for UCD is G10188) on your FAFSA application.
The Student Aid Report (SAR) is a paper or electronic document that gives you some basic information
about your eligibility for federal student aid and lists your answers to the questions on your Free
Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
If you provided a valid e-mail address on your FAFSA, you will receive an e-mail with instructions on
how to access an online copy of your SAR. If you did not provide a valid e-mail address on your FAFSA,
the Social Security Number you included in your FAFSA did not match the one on file for you with the
Social Security Administration, or you did not sign your FAFSA, you will receive either a SAR or a SAR
Acknowledgement via postal mail. Typically, you will be able to access your SAR within two weeks of
filing your FAFSA.
Note: Any student with a Federal Student Aid PIN can view or print his/her SAR by clicking Login on
the FAFSA home page, then selecting either the PDF or HTML version of the SAR from the “My FAFSA”
page.
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2. UCD Offer Letter/Acceptance Letter Many students will be able to download this ‘Offer Letter’ through our Application system on SISWeb
and upload the PDF as part of their Federal Aid Application.
3. Proof of U.S. citizenship or eligibility if non-citizen Federal Regulations dictate as part of the basic Eligibility Criteria for Federal Loans that a student who
receives federal loans must be a U.S. citizen or an eligible noncitizen. If so, please submit a scanned
copy of a required document that satisfies this requirement. Otherwise, you can upload a copy of your
US passport.
4. Transcripts Please provide a photocopy of Official Transcripts from previous Universities/High School. These
transcripts require your completion date, as this is an auditory requirement. *Graduate students do
not need to provide high school transcripts.
Only official transcripts will satisfy this regulatory requirement, a loan cannot be originated until we
verify this document.
*Official transcripts can be sent to [email protected] or UCD North America Global Center 12 E.
49th St., 11th Floor, New York, NY 10017
5. Cost of Attendance: Award Letter As part of your application, we request you work your way through our Cost of Attendance Calculator
(Step by Step guide included in this document).
You must provide correct information so we can produce a compliant maximum cost of attendance
for students. The ‘Cost of Attendance’ Calculator automatically generates an Award Letter which can
be used to confirm you are receiving Federal Funds once we confirm that you are eligible to receive
loans. There is an ‘Award Letter’ sheet that can be printed for Garda National Immigration Bureau
when you arrive in Ireland.
Please note: There is a different Award letter depending on the number of semesters you are enrolled
in.
Your responses will affect your eligibility with regards the maximum financial aid you can borrow.
Failure to provide the correct information can be viewed as fraudulent on your part. Please allow
adequate time when completing this document. Note: This file must be uploaded to our system as a
PDF and not as an Excel file.
Please note: You must either save the necessary pages of this template to PDF, or print this document,
scan it and upload it to our system. Excel documents uploaded to SISWeb become unreadable.
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6. Entrance Counselling You must complete entrance counselling. Federal Regulations require all students to complete
‘Entrance Counselling’ prior to the disbursement of financial aid. Direct Loan Entrance Counselling will
explain the Direct Loan obligation you agree to meet as a condition for receiving a Federal Direct Loan.
Loan applications will not be processed until Entrance Counselling has been completed.
Entrance Counselling can be completed online at: www.studentloans.gov/myDirectLoan/index.action
Please upload evidence/proof demonstrating you have completed this counselling (e-mail
confirmation or a screenshot). Here is an example of an e-mail confirmation:
7. Master Promissory Note (MPN) Subsidized & Unsubsidized The Master Promissory Note (MPN) is a legal document in
which you promise to repay your loan(s) and any accrued
interest and fees to the U.S. Department of Education. It also
explains the terms and conditions of your loan.
Please complete your MPN no sooner than 180 days before
the start of term. MPN’s must be completed annually as we
are a foreign school.
To complete the application for your loans, login to
www.studentloans.gov and choose “Complete Master
Promissory Note.”
Please note: There are two separate Master Promissory Notes
to complete, depending on what loans you require.
One MPN for your (1) Subsidized & Unsubsidized loan and a
separate MPN for your (2) PLUS Loan, if you are borrowing
this type of loan.
NEW: Annual Student Loan
Acknowledgment (ASLA)
Starting in 2020, all student and parent
borrowers are required by federal law
to confirm that they have accessed their
ASLA ahead of the first disbursement.
The ASLA will be visible to applicants
completing their MPN.
If you do not complete your ASLA for both Subsidized & Unsubsidized and PLUS loans before submitting your documents to UCD, we will not be able to originate your loans.
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8. Master Promissory Note (MPN) PLUS Loan Graduate PLUS Loans must be completed by the student. However, Parent PLUS loans must be
completed by their parent taking the loan out.
You can complete your PLUS MPN through www.studentloans.gov
To apply for a Graduate PLUS loan or have your parent apply for a Parent Plus loan, click on “Start
PLUS Application”, and fill in all required details. Then click on “Complete Master Promissory Note”
and choose the appropriate PLUS option. MPN/Credit Checks are valid for the entire academic year
as long as the initial loan has been originated within 180 days of completion.
The Master Promissory Note must be downloaded as a
PDF and attached to your application:
For Direct PLUS Loans to be processed, an accepted credit decision or successfully appealed credit
check is required.
Undergraduate Students: If you are applying for a Parent PLUS
Loan, your parent must fill in the Parent PLUS Loan Declaration
Form on the Cost of Attendance Calculator.
If you are not approved for the PLUS loan, the following options are available to you should an adverse
credit history result in being denied a PLUS loan:
a. Appeal your credit decision with the U.S. Department of Education if you believe that there was
an error on your credit report.
You may pursue this option by visiting www.studentloans.gov or by calling 1-800-557-7394 (Federal
Loan Origination Center) and speaking with a representative. To appeal your credit decision online:
1. Login to www.studentloans.gov using the student borrower’s information (SSN & FAFSA PIN).
2. Select the “Appeal Credit Decision” link under the PLUS Process section on the left side menu
3. Follow the instructions provided to complete the appeal process. After completing the appeal
online, the borrower should receive a call from a representative with the Federal Loan
Origination Center within 3 business days to discuss their appeal. If the borrower does not
receive a call, they may contact the Federal Loan Origination Center at 1-800- 557-7394 to
discuss the status of their appeal.
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b. Reapply with an endorser (co-signer) at www.studentloans.gov
To apply with an endorser (co-signer):
1. Login to www.studentloans.gov using the student borrower’s information (SSN & FAFSA PIN).
2. Select the “Endorse PLUS Loan” link under the PLUS Process section on the left side menu
3. Follow the instructions provided to complete the endorser process. You will need your Loan
Reference Number to complete the endorser process. This number was provided during your
original credit check. If you do not have this information, you may contact the Federal Loan
Origination Center at 1-800-557-7394.
If you choose an endorser, please email a PDF of the Endorser Addendum to [email protected].
c. You may provide documents demonstrating you have failed to receive a PLUS Loan, allowing the
Financial Aid Office to change your status from a dependent student to an independent student for
loan purposes.
If you are a dependent student whose parents are ineligible for a Direct PLUS Loan, you may be able
to receive additional Direct Unsubsidized Loan funds. However, you will be unable to borrow a PLUS
loan.
For more details see the following: www.studentaid.ed.gov/sa/types/loans/subsidized-unsubsidized .
If a student has been assessed as Independent, then their only option is Subsidised/Unsubsidized
loans topped up by private loans.
9. Parent PLUS Declaration Form If you are a Dependent Undergraduate student and you have completed the Cost of Attendance
Calculator and have indicated you wish to borrow a PLUS Loan, please select the ‘Parent PLUS
Declaration Form’ tab. You can now print off the required form and have your parent complete and
sign as requested.
10. Scholarship and Funding Information Grants and scholarships can come from the federal government, your state government, your college
or career school, or a private or non-profit organization.
If you are receiving any external scholarships or funding, please indicate this on the Cost of Attendance
Calculator.
Please also upload evidence that can be kept on record as this information must be recorded as your
‘Estimated Financial Assistance’. This will impact your overall loan eligibility.
If you are subsequently awarded any scholarship, please inform the Financial Aid Officer by e-mail
[email protected]. In most cases, we will simply put this on record for audit. However, if you have
borrowed your maximum eligible loan amount, we will have to make a change to your loan amount.
For more information in relation to UCD Global Scholarships, please see the following website:
http://www.ucd.ie/global/study-at-ucd/scholarshipsfinances/scholarships/
27
CHAPTER 2: Accepting Your Loan Award As a rule of thumb, students receive the loans they request provided that:
• All documents submitted are accurate;
• No information is omitted;
• Their request is within the limits given on their individualised COA Calculator;
• They apply on time.
If you are not eligible for the loan amount you have requested, we will let you know when we verify
your documents and originate your loans.
UCD works on an ‘opt-out’ loan system. Once you submit your loan request, we assume that you
would like to take out the loan amount detailed in your COA (cells D89 – D91). We will send you an
email asking you whether you would like to cancel or reduce your loans, but if we do not hear back
from you we will process your loan application.
By submitting your online federal aid application, you are confirming your commitment to the
following:
• To remain a full-time enrolled student in good academic standing on an eligible programme
• To meet all remaining financial obligations in a timely manner
• To notify the University & Financial Aid Office if you withdraw from or change your programme
• To confirm you will be in attendance at least half-time on University grounds and not studying
abroad or on exchange at a US institution or another foreign institution that is not eligible for
US Federal Student Loans for this coming academic year.
• That you understand and agree that UCD will report your enrolment status to the National
Student Loans Database.
• To acknowledge that to the best of your knowledge, the information contained here is true
and accurate at time of completion.
You MUST notify our office if your enrolment status changes or you no longer meet any of the above
criteria. We are here to advise and assist you. For example, we can assist in deferring your loans if you
take a leave of absence.
You MUST also notify us if you decide to change programme at UCD.
28
CHAPTER 3: Document Verification & Loan
Origination Document Verification & Deadlines: The Federal Aid Administrator will verify documents on an ongoing basis.
Please log into your SISWeb account and check for the following statuses:
• APPLICATION SUBMITTED, AWAITING REVIEW: This means your application has been successfully submitted, but that it has not yet been reviewed by UCD staff.
• APPLICATION REVIEWED, LOAN ORIGINATION PENDING: This status means a UCD staff member has reviewed your application, and it has been confirmed as correct.
• LOAN ORIGINATED: Your loans have been originated and are ready for disbursement on the
designated date.
Rejecting Documents: The Federal Aid Administrator may reject your application. Failure to submit documents and complete
the requested actions (on time and accurately) may result in a delay of disbursement of funds.
If your application is rejected, the Federal Aid Administrator will email you with details. If you are
required to submit additional or corrected documents, please email them to [email protected].
For this reason, we recommend that you keep a record of all your documents and submitted
questions.
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CHAPTER 4: Arriving in Ireland & Loan Funds
Disbursed
Loan funds may only be applied to your account 10 days before the start of the academic semester.
But you will not have immediate access to your loan funds when you arrive in Ireland - you will need
to prepare for this by bringing sufficient money, especially if your loan application was late. While we
try our best to make the loan process as smooth as possible, sometimes delays and problems occur
that are out of our control.
Our Federal Aid Office administers the whole Federal Aid Process; however, our involvement in the disbursement part of the process is forbidden by Department of Education regulations. The disbursement of financial aid is managed by our University’s Payments Office.
The Federal Aid Office can pass queries in relation to your disbursement onto colleagues in our
Payments office if you are having any issues in relation to your disbursement. Our Payments Office
will be making all payments by electronic funds transfer, i.e. sending money from bank account to
bank account electronically.
STEP 1: Opening an Irish Bank Account In order to receive your Federal Student Loans
(after tuition fees are deducted), you will need to
open an Irish bank account and upload your bank
details to your SISWeb account.
To open an Irish bank account you need an address in Ireland. You must also have completed your UCD registration and entered your term address into the SISWeb. You cannot open a bank account prior to arrival in Ireland
If you have completed your UCD registration, you may create and print your Certificate of Attendance in PDF format. See https://www.ucd.ie/students/studentdesk/certofattendance.html for more information. When opening a bank account at AIB or Bank of Ireland the following documents are required:
1) Valid Passport/National ID Card 2) Certificate of Attendance confirming your Dublin address
Once you have updated your Dublin address on SIS Student Web, you can print this letter under the ‘Electronic Documents’ tab.
Why an Irish bank account?
Your Federal Student Loans are educational loans only. UCD needs to demonstrate to the U.S. Department of Education that the loans are used to cover educational expenses. The money refunded to students is explicitly to support their living expenses while studying in Dublin.
Banks Catering to UCD Students
Allied Irish Banks (AIB) Campus Branch UCD – Belfield Dublin 4
Bank of Ireland (BOI) Stillorgan Road
(Opposite UCD main entrance) Dublin 4
30
Step 2: Uploading Your Bank Details
1. Log Into the Student
Information System (SIS)
www.ucd.ie/sisweb
2. Click on Campus Facilities
3. Click on My Electronic
Payments
4. Click on View/Update My
Bank Details
& Enter your
Irish Bank
Account
Details
31
CHAPTER 5: Understanding Your Disbursement Once your loans are originated, the Federal Aid Administrator and UCD Payments team will conduct
the disbursement of your loans.
Gross vs. Net Loan Amounts The amount your request in your COA Calculator is designated as the Gross Amount. This is the
amount that you will need to repay prior to any interest added.
When your loans are originated, the U.S. Department of Education deducts an Origination Fee3 which
is a percentage of the Gross Amount. The loan amount after the Origination Fee is deducted is known
as the Net Amount. This is the money which will be disbursed to UCD for your educational expenses.
Number of Disbursements In line with Federal Aid regulations, students’ loans are
divided into two or three disbursements: one at the
beginning of each semester of your programme. U.S. Federal
Aid regulations do not allow us to conduct any of these
disbursements earlier than their allocated semester. The
dates for each disbursement can be found on your 2- or 3-
Semester Award Letter, in your COA Calculator.
Breakdown of a year’s disbursements:
2-Semester Programme
3-Semester Programme
September – 1st Trimester 50% of net loan 33% of net loan
January – 2nd Trimester 50% of net loan 33% of net loan
May – 3rd Trimester 33% of net loan
The Exchange Rate Federal Student Loans are originated in U.S. Dollars ($) and students will need to repay their loans in
U.S. Dollars. However, UCD draws down and disburses loans in Euro (€). Students will see each loan
disbursement on their Fee Statement given in Euro (€). The exchange rate applied to each
disbursement is determined on the date of drawdown (usually a few days before the date of
disbursement). Because the rate will fluctuate, UCD cannot advise how much you will receive ahead
of the disbursement.
After a disbursement, you can work out the exchange rate applied by doing the following:
Disbursement Amount on Statement (€) ÷ Net Amount for Disbursement ($) = USD to EUR exchange rate
3 The Origination Fee is taken by the Department of Education before the money even gets to UCD. The Fees are set on an annual basis and can be found on the StudentLoans.gov website: https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/types/loans/interest-rates
Where can I see the money
disbursed to me?
Within 3 days of the disbursement date, your loan disbursement will show on your Fee Statement, which you can view on your SISWeb account.
32
How Each Disbursement Is Used Following Federal Student Aid regulations, each disbursement must be allocated in the following
order:
1. Tuition Fees
2. On-Campus Accommodation (if applicable)
3. Refund to student for living expenses
If you intend to use your loans to cover living expenses, please ensure that you have taken out enough
to cover your tuition and on-campus accommodation expenses first. UCD is not permitted to change
the order in which these loans are allocated.
For Federal Student Loans, UCD semesterises tuition fees. The UCD Student Payments team will
ensure that student loans are used to pay for tuition as follows:
2-Semester Programme 3-Semester Programme
September – 1st Trimester Up to 50% of Total Tuition Up to 33% of Total Tuition
January – 2nd Trimester Up to 100% of Total Tuition Up to 67% of Total Tuition
May – 3rd Trimester Up to 100% of Total Tuition
Note: Each student’s actual disbursements will differ depending on:
• Amounts they have already paid (e.g. deposits, tuition scholarships)
• Changes they may request to their total loan amount during the year
Example: Mary is enrolled in her first year of a BA at UCD:
Tuition: €19,900 No. of Semesters: 2 Cost of On-Campus Accommodation:
€7,514
Total Loan Request (Gross) $40,000 Total Loan Request (Net) $38,470
Base on this, Mary’s loan disbursements will look as follows:
September Disbursement
January Disbursement
Total for the Year
Disbursement Amount ($)
$19,370.00 $19,370.00 $38,740.00
Exchange Rate 1.1400248 1.1012398 Disbursement Amount (€)
€16,990.86 €17,589.26 €34,580.12
Tuition €9,950.00 €9,950.00 €19,900.00 Accommodation €3,907.28 €3,606.72 €7,514.00 Refunded to student (‘Electronic Refund’)
€3,133.58 €4,032.54 €7,166.12
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Note: Your Fee Statement will show the amount of fees outstanding for the whole year, even though
UCD deducts each semester’s fees with each disbursement. This means that your Fee Statement may
only show €0 after the last disbursement.
Scholarships & Disbursements Students must report any scholarships they are in receipt of in their COA. The majority of the
scholarships that UCD offers are tuition fee scholarships, which are taken to be a payment towards
the recipient’s tuition fees. All scholarships and Federal Aid disbursements will reflect on the Student
Fee Statement:
If you are awarded a tuition scholarship, it will count as a payment towards your first trimester
payment. This may mean that more money will be refunded to you during the first trimester
disbursement than in the other disbursements for the year, especially if your loans are more than your
tuition fees.
34
CHAPTER 6: Satisfactory Academic Progress for
Financial Aid Recipients All students applying for or receiving US Federal Aid (Subsidized Stafford, Unsubsidized Stafford and
PLUS loans) at UCD must progress satisfactorily towards completion of a chosen academic
programme.
UCD is required by US Federal law (34CFR 668.16) to define and enforce standards of Satisfactory
Academic Progress (SAP). The guidelines have been established to encourage students to complete
successfully academic programmes for which aid is received.
Students receiving Federal Student Loans will be evaluated at the end of each semester. This
evaluation process will consider the students’ progress under the following categories:
1. Qualitative Measure
2. Quantitative Measure
3. Maximum Time Frame
In order to receive US Federal funds, students must meet minimum standards for both the above-
mentioned components, whilst simultaneously adhering to University academic rules.
Qualitative Measure Students with course duration of 4 years or less:
• Students must have a cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.4 or greater at the end of
each semester
Students with a course duration of 5 years or more:
• Students must have a cumulative GPA of 2.4 or greater at the end of the first year.
• Students must have a cumulative GPA of 2.4 or greater at the end of each semester after they
have completed their first year.
UCD shows its grades in a fail (G) to high distinction (A+) level. The following table has been provided
to allow manual calculation of grades.
Sum of (Credit points x GPA value of grade)
Sum of Credit Points
GPA Values for grades are as follows:
A+ 4.2
A 4.0
B 3.4
C 2.8
D 2.2
E (fail) 1.6
F (fail) 1.0
G (fail) .4
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Quantitative Measure This requirement measures progress towards programme completion. In order to meet the
quantitative measure, a student must complete 67% of their attempted credits each academic year.
Maximum Timeframe An undergraduate student or graduate is entitled to receive aid for 150% of the allocated course time
frame
• 1-year degree – eligibility for aid 1.5 years
• 3-year degree – eligibility for aid 4.5 years
• 4-year degree – eligibility for aid 6 years
• 5-year degree – eligibility for aid 7.5 years
Students should be advised that while federal eligibility may allow them to continue – individual
academic progress rules and student visa restrictions may impact on the student’s ability to continue
within the programme.
Notifications SAP will be assessed for each student at the end of each academic term period, to determine your
eligibility for continued awards of aid. Students will be notified in writing if financial aid is suspended.
If you believe that you meet those criteria An appeal procedure for verifiable extenuating or
unforeseen circumstances is available. UCD cannot waive the Satisfactory SAP requirement for any
student to receive financial aid.
Financial Aid Warning, Probation and Suspension The policy for Financial Aid Warning, Probation and/or Suspension is as follows:
1. Students who fail to achieve the required GPA commensurate with the longevity of their degree
programme, and their academic level within that degree structure, will be placed on Financial Aid
warning for six months or until the results of their next exam period are available, whichever is
shorter.
2. Students who have been placed on warning and do not meet the requirements applicable to
degree and Stage will be suspended and ineligible to receive aid until such time as they achieve
the required GPA.
3. Students may appeal their suspension of aid, via written appeal to the Appeals Committee (email:
[email protected]). Students who appeal will be informed of the committee’s decision, which is
final.
4. If successful with an appeal, students are placed on probation.
5. Students who have been placed on probation and subsequently meet the GPA requirements in
the next semester will be placed back into good Financial Aid (SAP) standing.
Financial Aid will be suspended without appeal for any semester in which a student is not studying
new material, i.e. is registered to just repeats and/or resits.
Appeals Students who have their eligibility for US Federal Aid suspended may appeal the suspension if one or
more extenuating circumstances exist. All appeals must be received within ten days of receipt of the
Notice of Suspension.
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Students must indicate in writing to the chairperson the reason (s) for failure to meet the necessary
Financial Aid SAP requirements and why financial aid should not be suspended. All documentation to
support the appeal is required at time of appeal submission.
Appeals will not be accepted in cases where a student is not attempting any new modules, i.e. is
registered to just repeats and/or resits.
Appeals must be submitted by email to [email protected].
**Remember you can track and review your current module GPA and your Overall Results Summary
on your Student Information System:
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CHAPTER 7: Withdrawing & Returns of Loans Withdrawal is where a student leaves their programme of study permanently and ends all activity
associated with their studies before they have completed the programme for which they are
registered. Please see the following website for information on how to withdraw from UCD:
www.ucd.ie/students/fees/withdrawal.html
Recipients of Federal Student Loans must notify [email protected] by email if they intend to withdraw
or take a Leave of Absence.
It is important that you withdraw officially. Students remain liable for fees up to the date that they
officially withdraw from the University.
UCD has a clear refund policy for students attending this institution.
The following is an addendum for students who are utilizing US Federal student aid funds:
For the purposes of Federal Student Loans, students ‘earn’ loans by virtue of attending their academic
programme. A student who withdraws during a semester only earns the semester’s disbursement in
proportion to the percentage of the semester they have attended. If the student has earned less than
60% of their loans, UCD must return the ‘unearned’ proportion of their loans to the U.S. Department
of Education.
If it is determined that refund money must be returned, UCD is required to return loans in this order:
1. Unsubsidized
2. Subsidized
3. PLUS
If any money was refunded to the student for living expenses, they may be required to repay this to
the U.S. Government through their loan servicer immediately.
Advisory Because UCD is outside the U.S., the process of returning loans may take significantly longer than it
does for universities in the U.S. and will be affected by changes in the exchange rate. UCD needs to
return loans in USD ($), and will debit student accounts in EURO (€) using the exchange rate of the
date that we conduct returns (not the exchange rate of the day the loans were disbursed). For this
reason, we cannot advise on the status of your UCD account while the return of loans is in progress.
Any amounts owed to you after the returns process is completed will only be paid to you once we can
confirm the exchange rate for the returns.
Returning loans from universities outside the U.S. may take up to 6 weeks to process. During this time,
UCD cannot start any new returns or conduct any further disbursements.
Return of loan funds does not cancel your liability to the University for any Tuition Fee Balance
outstanding on your account. If a student withdraws from a course of study at any point during the
current academic year, their Loan Servicer will be notified, and the student will be required to attend
an Exit Counselling Interview.
If during the course of your study, you are contemplating withdrawal, please contact our Office and
arrange to speak to a Student Advisor.
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Chapter 8: Exit Counselling & Repayment Exit Counselling The US Department of Education requires that each student receives loan exit counselling prior to
their separation from University College Dublin.
All students due to complete their studies at UCD are asked to complete an Exit Counselling session
on the NSLDS website. www.nslds.ed.gov/nslds_SA
Please login to “Exit Counselling” and complete your Exit Counselling session. You will complete a
series of short quizzes before continuing through the session. Please note that you must complete the
entire session once you begin. The entire session takes approximately 30 minutes to complete.
Necessity of repaying your loan After you graduate, leave school, or drop below half-time enrolment, you will have a six-month grace
period before you are required to begin repayment. During this period, you will receive repayment
information from your loan servicer, and you will be notified of your first payment due date.
For information in relation to repayment and the various repayment plans, please see the following
website: www.studentaid.ed.gov/sa/repay-loans
CHAPTER 9: Consumer Disclosures We have created the following webpage to fulfil the disclosure requirements under Title IV. Federal
regulations require Institutions participating in financial aid programmes to disclose specified
information to all prospective students, current students and employees:
http://www.ucd.ie/global/study-at-ucd/scholarshipsfinances/northamericaloans/usfederalaidloans-
consumerdisclosures/
Although every effort has been made to ensure that information provided is both helpful to
prospective candidates and accurate at the time of its publication, it is possible that some information
may be outdated or superseded after print and before the start of the academic year. information is
for guidance only and we advise that specific queries should be directed to [email protected]
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CHAPTER 10: Contact Information:
Aidan Prinsloo Federal Aid Officer Email: [email protected] Address: UCD Global , Gerard Manley Hopkins Centre, Dublin 4,
Ireland Walk-in Hours: Tuesdays and Friday, 12:00 – 13:00 / 12pm – 1pm
UCD North America Global Centre Tel: +1 646 690 9024
Email: [email protected]
Skype: UCDublin_NAmerica