US Government - United States Student Loans

What you get

This is not a scholarship that you can win, but a loan scheme. The Student Funding Office at King’s College London (KCL) processes and administers US Federal Direct Loans on your behalf, enabling you to study in London with the help of student loans from the US government. These loans must be repaid and are subject to interest and fees. The amount you can borrow depends on your level of study, your year of study and whether you are eligible for means-tested funding. As a rough guide, postgraduate students can borrow up to 20,500 USD (approximately 18,000 EUR) per year in non-subsidised loans. Undergraduate students who are dependants can take out several thousand dollars a year in a combination of subsidised and unsubsidised loans. The lender is the US Department of Education; KCL merely administers the process. The money is paid out in British pounds into a UK bank account, with tuition fees deducted first.

Who can apply

• Nationality: You are a US citizen or an eligible non-citizen.
• Where you study: You are enrolled on an eligible degree programme at King’s College London.
• Study load: You must be studying at least part-time and on campus. Distance learners are not eligible for these government loans, but may apply to a private lender such as Sallie Mae.
• Study level: Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programmes, as well as PhD programmes, are all eligible for funding.
• Field of study: All degree programmes are open to applicants, with the exception of Medicine (MBBS) and Nursing.
• Course type: Courses below Bachelor’s level, such as the International Foundation Year, postgraduate certificates or postgraduate diplomas, are not permitted.
• Financial need: You only need to prove your need for funds in the case of subsidised loans. This is not required for non-subsidised loans.
• 2026 rule change: If you have already studied at KCL with federal loans between 2025 and 26, you can still take out loans under the old rules for up to three further years. If you start your studies in September 2026 or later, new borrowing limits will apply, and you will no longer be able to take out Graduate PLUS loans.

How to apply

First, submit a FAFSA application (the US application for federal student aid) via studentaid.gov. The KCL Student Funding Office will then assess whether you are eligible for funding for the degree programme and will contact you. Finally, complete the loan documentation and a loan application form. A credit check is also required for PLUS loans. The application deadline for the academic year 2026/27 is approaching.

How realistic are your chances?

This is not a competition in the traditional sense: there is no selection panel to choose the winners. If you are a US citizen, are studying on an eligible degree programme at KCL, meet the eligibility criteria for a federal loan and submit the required documentation, you will be awarded the loan. The real question is not whether you meet the eligibility criteria, but whether taking on interest-bearing US government debt to study in London fits in with your plans.