U.S. Federal Direct Student loans and U.S. based private education loans - U.S. Financial Aid

What US Financial Aid at Manchester Met gives you

As a US student at Manchester Metropolitan University (Manchester Met) in England, you can fund your studies with US federal student loans. These are loans that you will repay later, rather than grants, so you do not need to provide any of your own funds initially. How much you can borrow depends on your year of study and your level of study, and for Master’s students it amounts to up to around 17,500 euros (approximately $20,500) per year. Dependent Bachelor’s students can borrow around 4,700 to 6,400 euros (approximately $5,500 to $7,500) per year. The university is authorised by the US Department of Education to award loans under the ‘William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Programme’ (institution code G30333), meaning you receive the loan directly from the US government. The funds are usually paid directly to the university to cover your tuition fees and accommodation costs; any remaining balance will be transferred to your UK bank account.

Who can apply

• Nationality: You are a US citizen or are otherwise eligible for US government student financial aid and can complete the FAFSA (the free application for federal student aid in the US).
• Where you study: You are studying at Manchester Met in the UK, or will be studying there soon.
• Type of course: Your degree programme is a face-to-face course at Bachelor’s, Master’s or PhD level.
• Study load: You are enrolled on at least a part-time basis and are making satisfactory academic progress.
• Field of study: Most degree subjects are eligible, but nursing is not.
• Excluded courses: This does not apply to a PGCE, postgraduate diplomas or certificates, standalone foundation years, online or partially online programmes, or programmes in which more than 25% is spent on work placements or periods of study abroad.

How to apply

First, complete the FAFSA application at fafsa.gov, entering Manchester Met’s school code: G30333. Then send an email with your loan application to the university’s financial aid team. The university will determine how much you are eligible to borrow and confirm this. You will then sign a Master Promissory Note (your loan agreement) and complete the online induction session. You must repeat these steps for each year in which you wish to receive funding, as the process is not renewed automatically.

How realistic are your chances?

As this is not an award granted by a committee, there is no selection process that you need to go through. If you are a US citizen, are enrolled on an eligible full-time degree programme at Manchester Met and meet the eligibility criteria for government student grants, you are eligible for these loans. Timing is particularly important: Submit your FAFSA application and contact the university in good time before the start of the relevant academic year. Please note that new lending rules apply to federal loans taken out for the first time from 1 July 2026 onwards.