How to apply for a US federal loan

Federal loans application process

If you intend on applying for a US federal student loan to Study at Ravensbourne please read this information carefully before making your application.

The loan application process is not the same for foreign schools and US colleges, and different regulations apply for attendance at foreign schools.

There are several steps to making a loan application. They are all easy and quick but we won't know if you have completed all the processes for all the loans you intend to borrow unless you tell us which you do by sending us the correct documents as pdf files, and the institution does not know how much you wish to borrow until you tell us using the Cost of Attendance (COA) spreadsheet.

You will need to:

  • Sign the MPN for Direct (Stafford) Loans and have the pdf file of the MPN
  • If you need a PLUS loan, sign, or your parents sign, the MPN for PLUS Loans and have the pdf file of the MPN
  • Complete Entrance counseling and have the congratulations certificate to send us (as a pdf or jpeg file)
  • You also need the Cost of Attendance (COA) for New Students or Continuing Students. Your COA will be sent to you by the usloans team after we receive your SAR. The COA will: 
    • tell you how much you can borrow
    • let you tell us how much you want to borrow
    • provide you with a checklist of the evidence you must include in your email to us.

It is important that you complete each step in order to avoid any origination fails which would lead to delays.

It is highly recommended that you read the flowchart carefully before you start as it will point out at which stages screenshots are required as evidence. Unfortunately, if you pass these stages the only way to return to them in order to take the screenshot is to start from the beginning and repeat the entire process. This could mean that you will have to wait 24 hours for the email from USDE and you may be credit checked again. Each application for a credit check is logged on your credit rating, it may affect your credit rating in the future.

When you have all the evidences please send them all together in one email as attachments. Unfortunately, we cannot accept anything sent to us by post. If anything is missing then your email will be rejected as incomplete as we cannot start the origination processes.

For priority treatment the subject field must start USL then SURNAME, forename like this example SMITH, Joanna:

To: usloans@rave.ac.uk

Subject: USL SMITH, Joanna

Six step guide to applying for a US Federal student loan

What next?

We will email you to either confirm that your loan application has been approved, or to clarify any queries with you regarding your application.

Once approved on the US systems, we will send you an award letter which will detail your loan amounts and disbursement information. The wording and format of the letter has been agreed with UK Visas and Immigration as acceptable proof of funding for visa applications.

For information on how and when loan funds are disbursed, please see the receiving your loan page.