Students receiving US loans can now take online courses up to and including the 2021 Summer Session (May 2021 – Aug 2021) and the 2021 Winter Session (Sep 2021 – Apr 2022).
UBC is an approved Title IV institution, allowing UBC students from the US to access Direct Loans.
At UBC, the Direct Loan Program includes
UBC can provide Direct Loan funding to students who meet the basic eligibility requirements.
Maximum funding amounts depend on whether you’re classified as a dependent or independent student by the answers you provided on your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Available to undergraduate students in school with at least 6.0 credits per terms and have financial need.
Financial need is determined by the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) from your FAFSA.
The US Department of Education pays the interest on a Direct Subsidized Loan
During school
Throughout your grace period
During your deferment period after graduating
Find more information on Direct Subsidized Loans.
Find more information on Direct Unsubsidized Loans.
Parent PLUS and Grad PLUS Loans both require a credit check. Interest is charged starting from the disbursement date.
PLUS loans have a higher interest rate than Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans and interest builds up during your course of study.
Parent PLUS Loans can help parents pay for the educational expenses of dependent children studying at the undergraduate level.
Find more information on Parent PLUS loans.
Graduate PLUS Loans are a good option for graduate students if
Find more information on Grad PLUS loans.
UBC students from the US are not eligible for Pell Grants and Perkins Loans because UBC is considered a foreign school.
Sallie Mae Smart Options
Sallie Mae loans are a useful option for undergraduate and graduate students who are not eligible for Direct Loans.
Alternative Sources of Funding for US students
Browse more options for US students to fund their studies at UBC.
Find out how UBC calculates your eligible funding. If you have questions about your funding eligibility or assessment, please contact an Enrolment Services Advisor.
In addition to your basic eligibility requirements, there are additional program requirements that you must meet in order to receive (and maintain) your loan funding while at UBC.
You must:
You must:
You may be eligible for Canada Student Loans through your home province. If you have any residency affiliation, through you or your parents, to the province of Ontario, you may be an exception. Please contact your Enrolment Services Advisor for more information
The CARES Act has been extended to June 2022. Under the temporary CARES Act, US students are allowed to take online courses during the 2020 Winter Session (Sep 2020 – Apr 2021), and the 2021 Summer Session (May 2021 - August 2021) without it having a negative impact on their eligibility for Direct Loans.
During regular sessions that are not covered by the CARES Act, students participating in any ineligible courses (such as distance education, online, and flexible learning classes) will lose Direct Loan eligibility for the duration of their degree.
You can apply for a Direct Loan and submit a US Loan Request Form up to 2 weeks before the end of your study period.
We recommend applying for your Direct Loan at least 4 weeks before the start of the term. This will qualify for a one-month tuition deferral and ensures you receive your funding for the start of the term.
Any late payment may result in a financial hold being applied to your tuition account. Visit Paying tuition for details.
If you have a Canadian bank account, we recommend you set up direct deposit. Direct deposit allows the Direct Loan amount that exceeds your fees to be deposited directly into your bank account.
| October | FAFSA opens for the next academic year |
|---|---|
| June - July | Winter Session Registration opens |
| UBC starts to process Winter Session US loan applications — you must be registered to receive an assessment letter | |
| August | Tuition deferrals are applied for students who submitted a complete US loan application at least 4 weeks before the start of school |
| September |
First week of Term 1 classes |
| First loan disbursement for the Winter Session appears on Student Service Centre (SSC) | |
| January |
First week of Term 2 classes |
| Second loan disbursement for Winter Session appears on SSC |
| March |
Summer Session Registration opens |
|---|---|
| April | Tuition deferrals are applied for students who submitted a complete US loan application at least 4 weeks before the start of school |
| May | First week of summer session term 1 |
| Summer Session loan disbursement appears on SSC | |
| July | First week of summer session term 2 |
See what you may be eligible for in Direct Loans and plan your finances in advance, as your assessment letter won't be available until 2-3 months before the school year starts.
Applying for a US Direct Loan at UBC is different than for students attending a school in the US.
When you complete your FAFSA, the Department of Education will indicate that they'll notify your university of your application. As a foreign school, UBC does not receive these email notifications. You must submit the US Loan Request Form below for UBC to consider you for Direct Loans.
Submit your FAFSA and be sure to select UBC from the school list.
UBC's school code: G08369Submit a UBC US Loan Request Form
This form is required because UBC is not notified when you submit your FAFSA. Submit the form so we can access your FAFSA online.
If you make changes to your FAFSA after submitting your request form, please email usloans.inquiry@ubc.ca so we can see if the updates will affect your affect your assessment.
If you are going to apply for PLUS Loans, complete your application at studentloans.gov. There are separate tabs for Graduate students and Parents.
If you are applying for Parent PLUS funding, have your parent(s) complete the Agreement to Release Funds form.
Fill out a Master Promissory Note (MPN) at studentloans.gov for each type of loan you wish to receive. There are separate MPNs for Direct Subsidized/Direct Unsubsidized Loans and Parent/Grad PLUS Loans.
If this is your first Direct Loans application at UBC, complete Entrance Counselling at studentloans.gov.
Verify your email: Log in Student Service Centre (SSC) and make sure UBC has your current email address in Personal Info > Contact Summary. All US loan updates and information will be emailed to you at this email address.
Co-op is a great way to gain work experience as you study. Most co-op placements arranged through your undergraduate program are eligible for Direct Loan funding.
If you're considering doing your Co-op in the US, please connect with an Enrolment Services Advisor first to fully understand the financial implications for your future Direct Loan eligibility. Co-op placements in the US will make you ineligible for future Direct Loan funding.
If you're a graduate student, please check with an Enrolment Services Advisor to confirm if your co-op is loan-eligible.
There are many opportunities offered by Go Global for students to spend a term or entire year studying abroad.
If you're considering going on exchange and are eligible for US loans, contact an Enrolment Services Advisor to understand your financial options before you apply for exchange.
Check the US Federal School Code Search (under Foreign Country) to confirm that your partner university is also eligible to provide Title IV funds.
If you choose to do an exchange at a school in the US, you will lose your eligibility for Direct Loans for the rest of your program. We do not recommend going on exchange to a US school if you require federal loans.
If your partner university is Title IV and not located in the US, UBC can assess you for Direct Loans while you’re on exchange.
If your partner university is not Title IV, you will not be eligible to receive Direct Loans for the period of your exchange. You may want to consider private loans like Sallie Mae instead.
If you're an undergraduate student, please contact your Enrolment Services Advisor directly. To find your advisor’s contact information, log into your Student Services Centre (SSC) and select “UBC Contacts” under Personal Info.
Graduate, postgraduate, and all other students can contact an Enrolment Services Advisor by calling 604 822 9836 or submit your question through the online form.
