About the calculations
UBC uses the following calculations to determine how much funding US Direct Loan applicants are eligible to receive for each study period.
Direct Subsidized Loan
A Direct Subsidized Loan only applies to dependent undergraduate students who have financial need. It is calculated through the following equation:
Cost of Attendance (COA) – Student Aid Index (SAI) – Other Financial Assistance (OFA) = Financial Need
Determining financial need
If you’re a dependent undergraduate student, your financial need is determined by the Student Aid Index (SAI) generated by the answers provided in your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Direct Unsubsidized Loan and Parent/Grad Plus Loan
These loans are calculated with the following equation:
Cost of Attendance (COA) – Other Financial Assistance (OFA) = Eligible Funding
Cost of Attendance
Cost of Attendance is determined by UBC and consists of:
- Tuition and fees (determined by your program)
- Books, Course Materials, Supplies, and Equipment (determined by your program)
- Transportation (includes average travel costs from US to UBC & local transportation in Vancouver)
- Miscellaneous Personal Expenses (based on the Moderate Standard of Living ‘Miscellaneous’ category for a single student away from home determined by BC’s student loan provider)
- Living Expenses (food and housing), based on your situation:
- On campus with a UBC Housing meal plan
- On campus without a UBC Housing meal plan
- On campus with dependent(s)
- Off campus
- Off campus with dependent(s)
- Dependent student residing at home with parent(s)
Other Financial Assistance (OFA)
Other Financial Assistance (OFA) refers to aid from the Title IV programs, as well as other grants, scholarships, and loans that you can reasonably anticipate to receive during the study period, whether the assistance is awarded by the school or by an individual or organisation outside the school. This includes any awards, scholarships, and other loan funding you are receiving, such as Canadian Student Loans or Private Loans. Your financial support does not include the income you have earned.
It’s important to report all of your scholarships and awards to avoid having your Direct Loans audited, reduced or returned.
Eligible funding
When calculating your eligible funding, UBC uses the yearly loan limits as well as lifetime (or aggregate) limits set by the US Department of Education to determine your eligibility for Direct Subsidized and Direct Unsubsidized Loans.
To offer you the best possible student loan package, UBC will first assess you for Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans, followed by Parent or Grad PLUS Loans, as long as you’ve applied for a PLUS Loan. You may consider applying for private loans like Sallie Mae to fill any unmet need up to your full unmet financial need.
Additional resources
If you have questions
If you have questions, please contact your Enrolment Services Advisor directly.
For general questions, please call 604 822 9836 or submit a question through the online form.