Direct Loan eligibility

An overview of Direct Loan general eligibility, programme eligibility, and continued eligibility when receiving loans at the University.

General eligibility

The University of Auckland has had to withdraw from the United States (US) Title IV Federal Student Aid (FSA) programs.

For more information about this change, please see US Financial Aid overview.

Information for current FSA students only

To be eligible for the US Department of Education’s William D. Ford Federal Direct Loans (Direct Loans), students must:

  • Be US citizens or eligible non-citizens
  • Complete a High School Diploma or a General Education Development test (GED)
  • Not be in default or owing a return repayment on a US federal student loan
  • Students must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) which determines their general eligibility and analyses their need for financial aid

A FAFSA does not directly result in receiving aid. The Financial Aid Coordinator at the University determines the types of aid and award amounts for which a student is eligible based on the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) and the Cost of Attendance that is developed by the University.

Programme eligibility

  • A student must have been enrolled continuously in their programme of study from 31 March 2023 to retain eligibility. Loans for students that weren’t approved/processed prior to 31 March 2023 cannot be considered
  • A student must be enrolled at least half-time in a bachelors, masters or doctoral programme
  • A student must not complete any component based in the United States
  • Regardless of whether the course is optional or required, a student must not enrol in any online or correspondence course(s). For more information, please check out Courses.

The programmes listed below are not eligible to receive US Financial Aid. They are eligible for Private Loans only. These include:

  • Bachelor of Nursing
  • Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery
  • Transitional certificates, graduate diplomas, postgraduate diplomas and postgraduate certificates.

Satisfactory Academic Progress

Students receiving financial aid must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress. Before disbursing financial aid funds, the University must determine and document that a student remains eligible to receive them.

The requirements for Satisfactory Academic Progress for US financial aid recipients may differ from the minimum requirements set out by the University of Auckland Academic Standing regulations.