US Federal Loans
Ravensbourne University London is certified by the US Department of Education to provide federal student aid for our undergraduate and postgraduate degree programs. Our Federal School Code (FSC) is 042535.
Please read this information carefully before making your application.The loan application process is not the same for foreign schools and US colleges, and different regulations apply for attendance at foreign schools.
The information is relevant to prospective and current undergraduate and postgraduate students. We strongly encourage all current and prospective borrowers to consult the US Department of Education's Student Loan website as it provides all the information about loan entitlement and values that are constantly updated.
The US Loans team administers US federal student loans for both undergraduate and postgraduate students studying at Ravensbourne University London.
If you require any further information, please email the international team.
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You must meet the criteria set by the US Department of Education in order to be eligible for US federal loans.
The eligibility criteria are subject to change at the US Department of Education's discretion and are beyond Ravensbourne's control.
You should check the latest eligibility criteria on the federal student aid website.
In addition to the criteria specified on the federal student aid website, you must also:
- Be enrolled at least at a half-time rate at Ravensbourne for the duration of your course
- Be studying an eligible, degree-bearing course, Bachelor's degree programme or Master's degree programme
- Make satisfactory academic progress during your course
- With limited exceptions, undertake your study within the UK.
Enrolment
You must remain enrolled at least at a half-time rate at Ravensbourne. We will only be able to request your loan funds from the US if you are enrolled for a minimum of 7 calendar days before each disbursement date.
If you suspend, withdraw or drop below half-time enrolment then you must email [email protected] immediately. You should also read our suspend or withdraw page.
Ineligible courses
There are restrictions on the institution's ability to offer federal loan funds to students on certain courses. Ineligible courses are those which are either: less than half-time; not degree-bearing; include any online element; or involve distance learning.
This change to US law was made by the Higher Education Reconciliation Act (HERA) that came into force on 1 July 2006. The international team will advise if your course is ineligible when you submit your loan application.
Satisfactory academic progress (SAP)
To continue receiving loans both throughout the year and each successive year, students must demonstrate Satisfactory Academic Progression (SAP).
For loans purposes, if a student fails any part of their programme and is required to retake this, they cannot receive federal loans.
Once the failed unit(s) are cleared, and the student is deemed to have 'progressed', loan borrowing can resume.
View Ravensbourne's Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy.
Undertaking study or research outside of the UK
It is not normally possible for students in receipt of US federal loans to undertake any part of their study or research in the US.
If you are taking part in a study abroad programme, please email [email protected] immediately, as this may affect your eligibility for US federal loans.
Postgraduate students
| Direct Unsubsidised loan (Federal) | Direct Grad PLUS loan (Federal) | |
|---|---|---|
| Who is eligible? | Most US citizens (or eligible non-citizens) on eligible graduate courses.* | Most US citizens (or eligible non-citizens) on eligible graduate courses.* A credit check is required. |
| How do repayments work? | No payments required as long as you are enrolled on an eligible course at least half-time. Interest accrues while you are studying. | No payments required as long as you are enrolled on an eligible course at least half-time. Interest accrues while you are studying. |
| When do repayments start? | Usually six months (known as the 'grace period') after your course finishes or you become less than half-time. | Repayment begins on the date of the final disbursement. Unless you receive a deferment or forbearance, the first payment will be due within 60 days of the final disbursement date. |
Undergraduate students
Before completing a federal loan application, you will need to determine whether you are an independent or a dependent undergraduate and this will establish which loan types and amounts you are eligible to borrow.
Definitions are below, but if your circumstances are unusual and you need advice, please email [email protected]
Independent
For the purposes of federal aid, a student is considered independent if they meet one or more of the following criteria:
- The student is at least 24 years old by 31 December of the award year
- The student is an orphan or ward/dependent of the court, or was a ward/dependent of the court until he or she reached age 18
- The student is a veteran of the US Armed Forces
- The student is working on a master's or doctorate programme at the beginning of the award year for which the FAFSA is completed
- The student is married as of the date the FAFSA is completed
- The student has at least one child who receives more than half of his or her support from the student; and/or
- The student has a dependent, other than a spouse or a child, who lives with the student and receives more than half of his or her support from the student at the time the FAFSA is completed and through 30 June of the award year.
Dependent
The student is considered dependent if they do not meet any of the above criteria for an independent student.
| Direct Unsubsidised loan (Federal) | Direct Grad PLUS loan (Federal) | Parent PLUS loan (Federal) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who is eligible? | Most US citizens (or eligible non-citizens) on eligible undergraduate courses.* Available to dependent and independent students who demonstrate financial need. | Most US citizens (or eligible non-citizens) on eligible undergraduate courses.* Available to dependent and independent students. Not based on financial need. | Parents (biological, adoptive, or in some cases, step-parent) of dependent undergraduate students on eligible courses. Both the parent and the student must be eligible for Federal Student Aid. A credit check is required. |
| How do repayments work? | No interest or payments required as long as you are enrolled on an eligible course at least half-time. | No payments required as long as you are enrolled on an eligible course at least half-time. Interest accrues whilst you are studying. | No payments required as long as you are enrolled on an eligible course at least half-time. Interest accrues whilst you are studying. |
| When do repayments start? | Usually six months (known as the 'grace period') after your course finishes or you become less than half-time. | Usually six months (known as the 'grace period') after your course finishes or you become less than half-time. | Repayment period begins on the date of the final disbursement. Unless you receive a deferment or forbearance, the first payment will be due within 60 days of the final disbursement date. |
Information
*Some courses are not eligible for federal loans. More information is available on the eligibility section above.
There is an entitlement to subsidised (undergraduates only) and unsubsidised loans which have fixed limits depending on whether the student is dependent, independent or postgraduate.
These may be topped up to the full cost of attendance with a PLUS loan which is not an entitlement, but is subject to credit checking and may be declined by the US Education Department.
The US Education Department charge an origination fee on all loans and this is deducted from each disbursement. The value of the fees and the disbursements are shown in the 'Cost of Attendance' (COA) worksheet. For more detailed information, see the Education Department's Student Aid website.
There may be further changes as Congress continues to negotiate and decide the federal aid package.
US student loans can usually cover all your study-related costs.
You will need to complete a Cost of Attendance (COA) worksheet to calculate the loan amount to which you are entitled. The worksheet for federal loans is available on the how to apply section below.
Loan amounts vary depending on whether you are a postgraduate or an undergraduate:
Postgraduate students
| Direct Unsubsidised loan (Federal) | Direct Grad PLUS loan (Federal) | |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum amount per year | $20,500 | Total amount remaining after all other aid/loans have been deducted from COA. |
| Aggregate loan limit (how much you can borrow over your lifetime) | $138,500 (not more than $65,500 of this may be from a previous Direct Subsidised loans) | No limit |
| Origination and default fee | 1.066% for loans first disbursed on or after 1 October 2017 and before 1 October 2018. | 4.264% for loans first disbursed on or after 1 October 2017 and before 1 October 2018. |
| Interest rate | 6.60% for loans first disbursed on or after 1 July 2018 and prior to 1 July 2019. 6.00% for loans first disbursed on or after 1 July 2017 and prior to 1 July 2018. | 7.60% for loans first disbursed on or after 1 July 2017 and prior to 1 July 2018. 7.00% for loans first disbursed on or after 1 July 2017 and prior to July 2018. |
Undergraduate students
| Direct Subsidised loan (Federal) | Direct Unsubsidised loan (Federal) | Parent PLUS loan (Federal) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum amount per year | Year 1 $3,500 DEP $3,500 IND Year 2 $4,500 DEP $4,500 IND Year 3 and up $5,500 DEP $5,500 IND | Year 1 $2,000 DEP $6,000 IND Year 2 $2,000 DEP $6,000 IND Year 3 and up $2,000 DEP $7,000 IND | For dependent undergraduate students only. Total amount remaining after all other aid/loans have been deducted from COA |
| Aggregate loan limit (how much you can borrow over your lifetime) | $23,000 DEP $23,000 IND | $31,000 DEP (Direct Subsidised and Direct Unsubsidised combined) $57,500 IND (Direct Subsidised and Direct Unsubsidised combined). | None |
| Origination and default fee | 1.066% for loans first disbursed on or after 1 October 2017 and before 1 October 2018. | 1.066% for loans first disbursed on or after 1 October 2017 and before 1 October 2018. | 4.264% for loans first disbursed on or after 1 October 2017 and before 1 October 2018. |
| Interest rate | 5.05% for loans first disbursed on or after 1 July 2018 and prior to 1 July 2019. 4.45% for loans first disbursed on or after 1 July 2017 and prior to 1 July 2018. | 7.60% for loans first disbursed on or after 1 July 2018 and prior to 1 July 2019. 4.45% for loans first disbursed on or after 1 July 2017 and prior to 1 July 2018. | 7.00% for loans first disbursed on or after 1 July 2017 and prior to 1 July 2018. |
Additional information
DEP = dependent undergraduate
IND = independent undergraduate
Origination fees, default fees and interest rates are subject to change. For the latest information on interest rates and fees, please see the federal student aid website.
Federal loans application process
If you intend on applying for a US federal student loan to Study at Ravensbourne please read this information carefully before making your application.
The loan application process is not the same for foreign schools and US colleges, and different regulations apply for attendance at foreign schools.
There are several steps to making a loan application. They are all easy and quick but we won't know if you have completed all the processes for all the loans you intend to borrow unless you tell us which you do by sending us the correct documents as pdf files, and the institution does not know how much you wish to borrow until you tell us using the Cost of Attendance (COA) spreadsheet.
You will need to:
- Sign the MPN for Direct (Stafford) Loans and have the pdf file of the MPN
- If you need a PLUS loan, sign, or your parents sign, the MPN for PLUS Loans and have the pdf file of the MPN
- Complete Entrance counseling and have the congratulations certificate to send us (as a pdf or jpeg file)
- You also need the Cost of Attendance (COA) for New Students or Continuing Students. Your COA will be sent to you by the usloans team after we receive your SAR. The COA will:
- tell you how much you can borrow
- let you tell us how much you want to borrow
- provide you with a checklist of the evidence you must include in your email to us.
It is important that you complete each step in order to avoid any origination fails which would lead to delays.
It is highly recommended that you read the flowchart carefully before you start as it will point out at which stages screenshots are required as evidence. Unfortunately, if you pass these stages the only way to return to them in order to take the screenshot is to start from the beginning and repeat the entire process. This could mean that you will have to wait 24 hours for the email from USDE and you may be credit checked again. Each application for a credit check is logged on your credit rating, it may affect your credit rating in the future.
When you have all the evidences please send them all together in one email as attachments. Unfortunately, we cannot accept anything sent to us by post. If anything is missing then your email will be rejected as incomplete as we cannot start the origination processes.
For priority treatment the subject field must start USL then SURNAME, forename like this example SMITH, Joanna:
Subject: USL SMITH, Joanna
Six step guide to applying for a US Federal student loan
Step 1 - Complete your FAFSA
Complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine your eligibility for Federal loans. If you are a continuing loan student, complete a renewal FAFSA (you will only be required to indicate any information that has changed since last year).
You will need to include a school code on your FAFSA. Ravensbourne's school code is 042535.
If you have not yet been allocated a college place, please do not complete your FAFSA yet.
Step 2 - Complete your PLUS loan request (if applicable)
If you are intending to apply for a PLUS loan, or your parent will be applying for a Parent PLUS loan, you, or the parent, will need to complete a PLUS loan request on StudentLoans.gov.
Use Ravensbourne's school code 042535 on the PLUS loan request.
The US Department of Education may also request some applicants complete an online PLUS loan counselling module.
Step 3 - Complete your Master Promissory Note(s) (MPNs)
Undergraduates: Complete an MPN for the Subsidised and Unsubsidised loans and, if applicable, your parent should complete a separate MPN for the Parent PLUS loan.
Postgraduates: Complete up to two MPNs: one for the Unsubsidised loan and one for the Grad PLUS loan.
MPNs are completed on StudentLoans.gov. Use Ravensbourne's school code 042535.
As we are a foreign school, new MPNs must be completed for each year of study. Please complete an MPN for each type of loan you are taking.
Step 4 - Complete entrance counselling (if applicable)
You must complete entrance counselling if you are a Federal Direct Loan first-time borrower who has not yet completed entrance counselling. If you have completed entrance counselling in a previous year of study at any institution, you do not need to complete this step.
Complete entrance counselling on StudentLoans.gov. Use Ravensbourne's school code 042535.
Step 5 - Complete Ravensbourne's Cost of attendance (COA) worksheet
The Federal Aid loan team will send you a COA spreadsheet relevant to your status once it has been completed. Please remember the COA is the maximum amount you can borrow. For further information email: [email protected]
Step 6 - Submit your loan application to Ravensbourne (includes submission deadlines)
Once you have completed steps 1 to 5, please email your pack of documents to [email protected]. We will only be able to start processing your loan once we receive your email and all of the above steps are complete. Continuing students please note you must provide your UK bank account details. This information needs to be provided to us every year as it is not retained between academic years.
Submission deadlines: Your completed application must be received by mid-August in order for it to be processed for payment on the first disbursement date. Applications made throughout the year must be received a minimum of one calendar month before the next disbursement date in order for us to process your application in time for that disbursement.
Please note: We cannot guarantee that applications will be approved within these timescales if there are outstanding issues with your loan.
What next?
We will email you to either confirm that your loan application has been approved, or to clarify any queries with you regarding your application.
Once approved on the US systems, we will send you an award letter which will detail your loan amounts and disbursement information. The wording and format of the letter has been agreed with UK Visas and Immigration as acceptable proof of funding for visa applications.
For information on how and when loan funds are disbursed, please see the receiving your loan page.
When will I receive my federal loan disbursements?
Federal loans originated by Ravensbourne will be disbursed in two equal instalments for undergraduate students and three equal instalments for postgraduate students, one at the beginning of each semester.
The actual GBP sterling you receive will vary as it is dependent upon the exchange rate from USD $ to GBP £ at the time of disbursement.
Expected disbursement dates for 2024/25
For Undergraduates:
23 September 2024
20 January 2025
For Postgraduates:
23 September 2024
20 January 2025
26 May 2025
Please note these dates are subject to change, we will aim to update students of any change to the advertised schedule.
If you are a first year, first time borrower, your first payment will be delayed by 30 days.
Please ensure you have sufficient funds to cover two weeks of maintenance costs should your loan be delayed for any reason.
All disbursements are subject to the following conditions
- You are making satisfactory academic progress
- You are enrolled at least part time
- You are not in USA
- You have not violated any federal compliance regulations (repayment default, fraud, drugs, etc)
- You will be advised by email that a disbursement is due and its value and how much is due to be deducted from it. When you receive this email, you may contact us to reduce or cancel the disbursement.
Warning: if you don't warn us in advance not to draw down your disbursement, then you will be responsible for all interest charges and for its repayment.
Deadlines: To ensure your loan is disbursed in time the Ravensbourne US Loans Office must have received your completed application by 8 August 2020. Any applications received after this date will be deemed late applications and as such disbursements will fall outside of the advertised dates. If you fall into this category we will email you to advise of the next available disbursement dates.
When your loan payment will be available
All email correspondence will be via your Ravensbourne email address. When your payment has been transferred to your UK bank account you will be notified via email.
When we initiate disbursement, if there is anything which blocks yours, we will immediately contact you by email and tell you what to do.
If you did not get your complete application pack to Ravensbourne before 8 August 2020 your loans may not be available until the end of October 2020.
If your loan disbursement is not enough to cover one third of your tuition, then there may not be a bank transfer.
Opening a bank account in the UK
It takes up to 10 days to open a bank account in the UK. You can't start to open an account until you are enrolled and have a proved address.
How much money you will get and in which currency
Ravensbourne will deduct one third of the tuition fee each term. You will only get one third of your loans each term, this is a USDE regulation, there are deductions taken from that value.
The government deducts an 'Origination Fee' from each disbursement. The COA spreadsheet you completed at application showed how much you can borrow and how much you actually receive after the government deducts an 'Origination Fee' from each loan disbursement. The value you are going to receive is shown on the letter sent to you by Ravensbourne when we originated your loan.
The money is transferred to the UK and converted into sterling (£). The school is not allowed to charge any fee or receive any commission for processing your loan, so the money received by you is exactly what the school received in sterling.
The balance is paid to you by bank transfer to a UK bank account
If the value of your disbursement does not cover all the deductions, you will not receive a transfer. If you have only applied for Sub/Unsub loans, it is unlikely that you will receive a transfer but will have to pay the shortfall in tuition yourself.
Deferments
If you have previous loans which need repayment deferment, then you will need to request a deferment form from [email protected]. This is a document which we issue on request and are not able to sign any deferment forms until after you have enrolled.
You must email [email protected] to request a form.
We will advise you by email when it is ready for collection from the Information Desk on level 4, requests are completed within 3-5 business days.
Any changes to your loan must be requested at least two weeks before the next scheduled disbursement.
Increase your loan
If you wish to increase your loan, please update your Cost of Attendance (COA) worksheet. Send your updated COA to us with a brief explanation of the changes you have made. If the increase is approved, the additional funds will be spread across your remaining disbursements for the year.
Please note that if you have an endorser on your PLUS loan, you will only be able to increase the loan up to the endorsed amount. If your endorser is willing to increase the endorsed amount to allow you to borrow a higher PLUS loan, please email [email protected]. Your endorser will have to complete a new application and we will send you instructions on how to do this.
Decrease or cancel your loan
If you wish to decrease your loan, please update your COA worksheet. Send your updated COA to us with a brief explanation of the changes you have made. The reduction will be spread across your remaining disbursements.
If you wish to cancel your loan, please email [email protected] at least two weeks before the next disbursement date.
Whilst we strongly advise that you notify us of loan cancellations and reductions within this timescale, there is a short period after receipt of your disbursement during which you can ask Ravensbourne to send federal loan funds back to the US. We will email you prior to each federal disbursement with details of the deadline for returning funds through Ravensbourne. However, you may need to pay fees and bank charges associated with returning the funds if the payment has already been requested.
If you wish to cancel your federal loan and the time frame for doing so through Ravensbourne has passed, you can still make a repayment directly to your lender. Your lender's details can be found on the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS). If you make a repayment within 120 days of loan disbursement, then your lender will treat this as a partial or full cancellation, with the appropriate adjustment of the loan fee and interest.
If you cancel your federal loan after receiving a disbursement you will be required to complete exit counselling via StudentLoans.gov.
The US government requires institutions which offer federal student loans to disclose the following consumer information.
If you require any further information about the content, please email US Loans.
Activity 1: Institutional and financial assistance information for students
For information about all need based and non-need based federal, local, private and institutional student financial assistance available to students at Ravensbourne, please see our tuition fees and scholarships pages.
Please contact [email protected] for more information.
Activity 2: Drug and alcohol prevention program certification
The drinking of alcohol is not normally permitted within the Ravensbourne building, except at licensed events organised by the Institution. Ravensbourne reserves the right to exclude a student who breaches this policy.
The use of controlled substances is illegal. Ravensbourne reserves the right to inform the Police immediately of all cases of possession or use of controlled substances. We reserve the right to exclude students from Ravensbourne in relation to any drug related activity.
The US Department of Education provides information on the penalties associated with drug-related offences under the US Higher Education Act. Should you lose eligibility for your US student loan as a result of these penalties, we will provide you with a written notice which notifies you of your loss of eligibility and advises you of the ways in which to regain eligibility.
Please contact [email protected] for more information.
Activity 3: Student right-to-know Act
All Ravensbourne students can see their student record. As a public authority, Ravensbourne is obliged to meet the requirements of the Freedom of Information (FoI) Act 2000.
The Act makes two basic provisions:
- That Ravensbourne should maintain a list of the information it makes available as a matter of routine, called the Publication Scheme
- That from 1 January 2005, any person making a request for information is entitled to be informed in writing whether Ravensbourne holds the information specified in the request, and if that is the case, to have that information communicated to them.
The FoI Act complements the Data Protection Act 1998, which makes provision for the access and proper management of information relating to living people. There are also the Environmental Information Regulations which cover information relating to how the School interacts with the environment.
Please note, that Ravensbourne requires all students to keep their contact details up to date at all times.
Activity 4: FERPA (Family Education Rights and Privacy Act)
Your rights under the Data Protection Act 1998 are outlined in our Student Handbook. For information on how to make a request for access to personal data under the Act, please email us at [email protected]
Should you have a complaint about the processing of your US loan, you have the right to file complaints with the US Department of Education, although it would be preferable that you contact us first so that we can try to resolve the problem for you.
Activity 5: Safeguarding customer information
Ravensbourne requires a certain amount of personal information for the administration of your studies, and to ensure the proper completion of your chosen course(s) or degree. All personal information provided by you will be treated strictly in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998. This means that confidentiality will be respected, and that all appropriate security measures will be taken to prevent unauthorised disclosure. The data that you provide will be used for stated purposes only. You would be advised about any further uses.
Ravensbourne is equally required to process some data which legislation refers to as sensitive personal data (for example racial or ethnic origin, marital status, health records etc.). Again, appropriate security will be in place to ensure that documents such as medical certificates (possibly required by examination boards) are retained confidentially and that they are retained no longer than is necessary. In signing the enrolment form, you are signifying that you understand and agree that Ravensbourne may process such sensitive information as it requires for the administration of your studentship.
The administration of studies may extend beyond Ravensbourne’s central administration. Examples include the transmission of data to academic staff, the Study Zone, IT services, halls of residence, or Ravensbourne’s validating partner(s) who accredit our courses. In other words, it may include all aspects of student progress through to eventual graduation. Results of assessment will be published, by using your student number, on Ravensbourne’s Virtual Learning Environment. You may be contacted directly via mobile phone and on occasion Ravensbourne may text you information related to your studies or events at the Institution. Like other higher education institutions, we archive student records for a limited number of years after graduation, in order to be able to confirm requests from prospective employers etc. Details may also be passed to Ravensbourne Officers who may communicate with you as an alumnus.
Under certain circumstances prescribed by the Act we might have to make data available without your consent. For example, in common with all other universities, we are obliged to pass information to the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), the funding councils and other government bodies. From time to time, these agencies may request your contact details from Ravensbourne so that they can contact you directly. For instance, you may be contacted as part of the HEFCE National Student Survey (NSS) and after you graduate during the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey (DLHE). HESA’s Student Collection Notice is published on the agency’s website. Other exemptions include national security, crime and taxation or a life-threatening situation.
If you are under 18 years of age, Ravensbourne may disclose information about you to your parents or guardian without consent until you reach the age of 18. Personal information may also be supplied to the Students Union and to other higher education institutions or employers should you be involved in a placement or exchange programme. Limited information about you may be supplied to third parties who have been contracted by Ravensbourne to deliver services to its student body. Limited information is supplied to sponsors, loan organisations and scholarship schemes to enable these bodies to assess whether financial support should continue. If you fall into debt with Ravensbourne we may disclose information to a third party in order to recover the debt from you (for example, a solicitor or a debt recovery agency), including the costs incurred from any such action. In signing the enrolment form, you signify your assent to this.
At various times during your studies you will be asked for personal data by academic staff or Ravensbourne services. You will have full rights under the Data Protection Act, and may, if you wish, withhold personal data from publication.
Should you have a complaint about the processing of your US loan, you have the right to file complaints with the US Department of Education, although it would be preferable that you contact us first so that we can try to resolve the problem for you.
Activity 6: Misrepresentation
Ravensbourne strives to provide accurate, honest, and clear information in its print, online and oral presentations. The College makes every effort to avoid misrepresentation in its communication to students and others.
Activity 7: Loan disclosures
It is stated clearly on the US loans and other loans pages that most students at Ravensbourne are eligible for federal loans and that these are normally much cheaper than private loans.
A self-certification form for private education loans may be of use to students. If you require information on how to complete the form, please email [email protected].
Activity 8: Missing student notification policy
A missing student is a cause for concern when they go missing from his/her residence without notice and their absence gives rise to serious concern and/or other people express serious concern.
Bear in mind that it is not necessarily a straightforward task to determine whether or not a student is missing. Students do not always notify relevant fellow residents about absences. Usually there are quite simple explanations why a student is ‘missing’ , for example, they may be visiting family or friends without having told someone.
Where a student is reported as missing by fellow students/parents or other members of Ravensbourne staff, the following steps will be followed:
- Initial report – Ravensbourne staff will try to contact the Student, taking necessary steps to report them as missing to the authorities, as well as the Dean if required.
- Follow Up Actions – Key people relating to the student will be notified and liaised with. A missing person incident report will commence within 24 hours of the missing person report being received, or sooner if there is serious cause for concern or risk. Once a missing person report has been filed with the Police, Ravensbourne staff would act in accordance with police advice, updating staff and records, as appropriate. Contact details provided by a Student are registered confidentially and any information provided by Ravensbourne to assist the police in locating the individual must be in accordance with the Data Protection Act (DPA). Next of kin details provided by a Student are classified as personal data. However, if a Student has gone missing and is in potential danger it may be necessary to disclose details to a police service investigating the disappearance. This would be covered by an exemption in the DPA relating to disclosures to the police. There is a code of practice released by the National Policing Improvement Agency, which can be found here.
- Written Report - an incident report will be filed and updated concerning the missing person report.
For further information regarding missing student policies, please consult our international department at [email protected].
Activity 9: Student Support Services
Ravensbourne has a Student Services team on site who are here to support you to develop your professional skills and prepare you for employment, working freelance and running your own business.
The Destination of Leavers from Higher Education (DLHE) survey is available from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA). The timeframes and methodology associated with this survey are also explained on this website.
Further Information
Refund policy, requirements for withdrawal and return of Title IV financial aid
Ravensbourne is required by federal regulations to recalculate federal financial aid eligibility for students who withdraw, drop out, are dismissed, or take a leave of absence prior to completing 60% of a payment period or term – returning any unearned loans to the US Department of Education. The institution must return the amount of Title IV funds for which it is responsible no later than 30 days after the date of the determination of the date of the student’s withdrawal.
For further information, please see Ravensbourne's Return of Title IV Federal Aid Policy.
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
While in receipt of direct loan funds for the loan period outlined on your loan application, you are required to be enrolled in your programme, as well as maintaining 'Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)'. SAP means that you are required to maintain an indicated passing grade average in each term.
For further information, please see Ravensbourne's Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy.
If you are taking US student loans at Ravensbourne, we will report your enrolment so that repayment of any previous US student loans can be deferred.
If you are not taking US student loans whilst at Ravensbourne, please email the [email protected] to ask us to report your enrolment. You will need to provide your Social Security Number and date of birth so that we can add your details to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS), which is used by most guaranty agencies and Federal loan servicers, as well as the US Department of Education, to check student enrolment information. Enrolment information is sent to loan servicers with NSLDS access on a weekly basis.
We will only complete paper deferment forms for federal loans students in exceptional circumstances. To complete paper deferment forms for federal loans students, we require written confirmation from the lender that they are not registered to use NSLDS.
If you withdraw from your course, suspend status, drop below half-time enrolment, or otherwise become ineligible for US federal loans, you must email [email protected] immediately.
Under US federal law, Ravensbourne is required to report any changes to your enrolment within tight timescales and, if necessary, to complete a Return to Title IV (R2T4) calculation and arrange for any 'unearned' loan funds to be returned to the US Department of Education.
Full information is available in the Return to Title IV Policy on our consumer information page, but the key facts are summarised below.
Key facts
Earned assistance
- The US loans team will calculate the amount of Title IV program assistance that has been earned, using a formula provided by the US Department of Education. This formula divides the total number of calendar days in the payment period into the number of calendar days completed in that period, as of the student's withdrawal date. For example, if the payment period is 100 days and the student has completed 45 days, they will be eligible to receive 45% of the total aid for that payment period.
- Once you have completed more than 60% of the payment period, all the assistance that you were scheduled to receive for that period is considered to have been earned. As an example, if you have completed 30% of the payment period, you have earned 30% of the assistance you were originally scheduled to receive within that loan period. If you have completed 60% of the payment period, you have earned 100% of the assistance you were scheduled to receive.
- If you received more assistance than was earned, the excess funds must be returned to the US Department of Education by you and/or Ravensbourne. If you received (or the University received on your behalf) less assistance than the amount earned, you may be able to receive those additional funds as a post-withdrawal disbursement.
Withdrawal date
- The withdrawal date is the last date of academic attendance according to the University's records.
- The requirements for Title IV program funds when you withdraw are separate from the University's refund policy. Therefore, you may still owe funds to the University to cover unpaid institutional charges. Ravensbourne may attempt to collect any Title IV program funds from you that Ravensbourne is required to return.
Leave of absence
- Under specific conditions, a leave of absence (LOA, or suspension of studies) for less than 180 days in a 12 month period may qualify as an 'approved' leave of absence. If you are granted an 'approved' LOA, you are not considered to have withdrawn, and no return calculation is required. During the LOA, the University will not charge you any additional institutional charges, your financial need will not increase, and therefore, you will not be eligible for any disbursements of federal student aid. If you are granted an approved LOA you will maintain in-school status for Title IV loan repayment purposes. A student taking an approved LOA must be able to return to the same point in their studies.
- However, as a Student Route visa holder, Ravensbourne’s policy governing this may affect your ability to take a leave of absence from your studies.
Deferral of studies
- While students are normally expected to complete their course within the timeframe specified on their Course Handbook and CAS, Ravensbourne will whenever possible try to accommodate requests from students to defer their studies (up to a maximum of one academic year).
- Applications for deferral of studies must be made in consultation with the student’s Subject Leader by submitting a Deferral of Studies form to the International Development Department. Students who wish to defer their studies at Ravensbourne for more than 60 days will be advised to leave the UK and will be reported to the Home Office/UKVI and visa sponsorship will be withdrawn.
- Students who have deferred their studies but wish to return to Ravensbourne following the withdrawal of sponsorship may be able to return subject to Ravensbourne’s Deferral of Studies Policy. In addition they must meet the requirements to be issued with a new CAS from Ravensbourne and will be required to apply for a new student route visa.
Suspended from study
- Student Route visa holders who are suspended by Ravensbourne from their course for a period lasting more than 60 days will be reported to the Home Office/UKVI within 10 working days of the change. In these cases Ravensbourne will normally withdraw visa sponsorship, which will result in the student’s immigration permission being curtailed and the requirement to obtain fresh immigration sponsorship and/or a new visa.
- If you do not even attend initial lectures or seminars you are ineligible to receive any Title IV funds and all loan proceeds will be returned to the US Department of Education. You will be liable for any fees or outstanding balances owed to the University.
Please arrange repayment of federal loans directly through your loan servicer.
You can check who your loan servicer is on the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS). You should always keep in contact with your loan servicer to make sure that you are up-to-date with loan repayment information.
It is your responsibility to:
- Notify your loan servicer of anything that affects your ability to repay your loan
- Notify your loan servicer of any changes in your status, including graduation, and any changes to your name, address, or telephone number
- Notify your loan servicer if you fail to enrol for the period covered by your loan
- Notify your loan servicer and the College of any change in your address.
You can also make an early repayment directly to your loan servicer. If you make a repayment within 120 days of loan disbursement, then your lender will treat this as a partial or full cancellation, with the appropriate adjustment of the loan fee and interest.
Your student loan must be repaid – you will risk going into default if you do not make your loan payments as required by your loan servicer. Federal student aid offers full guidance on understanding default. Our loan types and loan amounts sections above provide some information on how repayment works and when you should expect repayments to start for the different loan types. You may also find the federal student aid website useful.
Important information
All US student financial aid is regulated by US federal laws enforced by the US Department of Education. Ravensbourne University London is responsible for the implementation of these regulations and has little or no discretion therein.
Ravensbourne University London makes no guarantee that US student financial aid once approved will not be removed in full at any time either by action of the US Department of Education or by the university in implementing US federal regulations.
Important note: All scholarship and student funding schemes are subject to availability of funds, and details given here are subject to change at any time. Potential applicants are urged to check information regularly to ensure they are aware of current procedures, deadlines etc.
FAQs
These FAQs have been compiled to help you with the process but if you still have unanswered questions please get in touch with us.
We begin processing loans for the new academic year in May. Applications for federal loans need to be received a minimum of one calendar month before the next disbursement date in order to receive funds on that date.
Please see the Receiving your loan section above for more information.
We can normally process your loan in around two weeks; however, during our peak application season (June–October) the process can take longer. Therefore, if you need your application to be processed for a particular deadline, please ensure you apply in plenty of time (we recommend applying at least five weeks before a deadline). It is your responsibility to ensure that a complete loan application is submitted in a timely manner.
It is also possible to apply for or adjust your loans during the year.
You must apply for your US loan each year.
There are several other steps to completing a loan application at Ravensbourne, other than the FAFSA.
You must complete all of the steps on our how to apply section above in order to notify us that you are applying for a loan.
Your COA refers to the costs of completing your study at Ravensbourne for one academic year. This, minus any other financial aid you may be receiving (such as scholarships), is used to calculate the level of US loan funds that you are eligible to borrow.
These costs must relate only to you, the student, and can include: course and college fees; living costs; transport expenses; child care costs; fieldwork costs; and loan origination fees.
The COA cannot include costs for partners or children (other than child care/nursery costs).
Your COA can include return flights to and from the US (for you only).
For the 2025/26 academic year, Ravensbourne will use the exchange rate of 1.4 to calculate the cost of attendance. However, the actual amount that you will receive in GBP(£) will depend upon the exchange rate available to the university's bank (or currency exchange service provider) on the date that the loan funds are disbursed.
EFC stands for 'Expected Family Contribution' and is shown on your Student Aid Report (SAR) which is generated once you complete your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). We ask undergraduates to add the EFC to their cost of attendance worksheet.
The EFC is used to determine 'need' and therefore it limits the amount that you can borrow as a direct subsidised loan; it is not required for postgraduate loan applications as this loan type is not available to postgraduates. You may still borrow up to the full cost of attendance, even if you have a high EFC, using the Unsubsidised and PLUS loans.
Please note that although the EFC stands for 'expected family contribution', essentially it is used to determine financial need, rather than reflecting whether or not your family will be contributing to the cost of your studies. The EFC cannot be amended by the university if your family are not contributing to your studies.
This is the fee charged by the US Department of Education to cover initial administrative charges related to federal loans.
Entrance and exit counselling are short online courses which will help you understand the responsibilities and obligations associated with a federal loan.
It is a US Department of Education requirement that you undertake entrance and exit counselling (accessed at StudentLoans.gov) at the start and end of your studies.
PLUS counselling is a short online course which will help you understand the responsibilities and obligations associated with a federal loan.
You are only required to undertake PLUS counselling (accessed at StudentLoans.gov) if you are informed by the US Department of Education that you have an adverse credit history and have obtained an approved endorser or documented to the satisfaction of the US Department of Education that there are extenuating circumstances related to your adverse credit history.
For more information, please visit the federal student aid website.
This is an organisation approved by the US Department of Education to guarantee Direct Loans; generally a state-operated organisation or non-profit agency. They are required to maintain a reserve to cover defaulted loans, and to conduct default prevention activity.
Guarantors also serve as the security or collateral on these loans, so students are not required to obtain co-borrowers. You can check your guarantor details at StudentLoans.gov.
Once your federal loans have been processed, the US loans team at Ravensbourne will send you an award letter which will detail your loan amounts and disbursement dates. The wording and format of the letter has been agreed with UK Visas and Immigration as acceptable proof of funding. The original award letter (with signature) must be available when you apply for a student visa, but not everyone will have to submit the letter with their application.
Please visit GOV.UK to confirm whether you are required to submit your award letter with your student visa application.
The Ravensbourne website also gives detailed information about the student route visa application process.
You will normally receive your federal loan disbursement in equal amounts at the beginning of each semester. You can see our academic calendar on our semester dates page. Please also see our receiving your loan page for more information.
Following several cases of fraud in the US, the US Department of Education decided to make multiple payments or 'disbursements' common practice for all federal loans. This means that you can only receive loan disbursements in equal amounts at the beginning of each academic term.
Ravensbourne is required by US federal law to define and enforce standards of satisfactory academic progress (SAP) on students who wish to access US federal funds. The guidelines have been established to encourage students to progress and complete the course successfully for which aid is received.
If you fail to make satisfactory academic progress (SAP), you will be placed on financial aid probation for six months. If you have been placed on probation and subsequently meet the requirements in the next term, you will be placed back into good financial aid standing.
Students who have been placed on probation and do not meet the requirements applicable to their degree and level will be suspended and ineligible to receive aid until such time as they achieve the required standard.
Students who transfer to a new course will also transfer with any SAP warning or sanction and will still need to meet the specified criteria for their new course before re-establishing eligibility to receive financial aid.
