The University of Birmingham participates in the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program.
Federal Direct Stafford Loans
Direct Subsidized Stafford Loan
The subsidized loan is awarded on the basis of financial need. If you're eligible, the government will pay (subsidize) the interest on your loan whilst in university and for the first six months after you leave (known as a grace period).
Please note, the Budget Control Act 2011 prevents any graduate or professional student from receiving a subsidized loan after July 1 2012. Consequently, students on a postgraduate or professional program such as Law or Teacher Training will need to borrow the whole of the Stafford Loan as an unsubsidized element.
Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan
You will be responsible for the interest on an unsubsidized loan from the time the loan is disbursed, until it is repaid in full.
For both types of loan, you can claim in-school deferment whilst enrolled at least half-time (part-time) in a degree or certificate program of study.
Federal Direct PLUS Loans
Direct Grad PLUS Loan
The loan is an unsubsidized federally guaranteed educational loan with no annual or aggregate limits. However, you may only borrow as much as you need (as determined by your cost of attendance). The loan is only available to students studying on a graduate or professional (law or teacher training) program.
A credit check will be performed during the application process. If you have an adverse credit history, you may be able to obtain a suitable endorser allowing you to obtain the loan.
There is no grace period and the loan enters repayment as soon as the funds are disbursed to the borrower. It has the same deferment and forbearance options as the Federal Stafford Loan.
As such, graduate and professional students can postpone repayment using in-school deferment whilst enrolled at least half-time (part-time) in a degree or certificate program of study.
Entrance counselling specifically for Graduate/Professional PLUS borrowers is available online, which includes a calculator to estimate monthly repayment amounts.
Direct Parent PLUS Loan
The Direct Parent PLUS Loan helps parents pay for the cost of education for a dependant who is enrolled as an undergraduate at the University. The interest rate is fixed for the life of the loan.
A credit check will be performed during the application process. If you have an adverse credit history, you may be able to obtain a suitable endorser allowing you to obtain the loan. The endorser cannot be the child on whose behalf you are borrowing.
Entrance counselling specifically for Parent PLUS borrowers is available online, which includes a calculator to estimate monthly repayment amounts.
Federal Loans are only available for students who have a physical presence at the University Distance Learning programs are ineligible, but you may be considered for a Private Loan.
For more information about general eligibility criteria, please visit who is eligible for a loan.