U.S. Federal Student Aid for Continuing Students

Before requesting new loans, please take the time to review your current loan situation so that you are aware of your current debt status and can make informed choices for the new year. The US Department of Education website here also contains a lot of useful information and tools to help you understand your loans. We advise you to also read through Being Loan Smart.

The process for continuing students is almost the same as for first-time applicants. Students should always refer to the latest 2025-2026 Federal Aid Handbook to see how to apply each year.

From the start of April each year, the link to upload your documents for U.S. Financial Aid will become available on SISweb. You should upload your SAR, Cost of Attendance, Award Letter, MPNs and Entrance Counselling through this link.

Eligible Programmes

The U.S. Department of Education has approved UCD to certify federal aid for eligible programs at the following levels:

• Undergraduate: Bachelor’s degree programs
• Graduate Taught: Master’s degree programs (MA, MSc, MEng, MBA, LLM)
• Graduate Research: PhD and MLitt degree programs
• Graduate Entry Veterinary Medicine*

*to be eligible for loans a student must have completed at least three years of full time post-secondary education

UCD is not currently eligible to certify loans for students on Medicine programmes due to USMLE rates for the 2023 year. We are in the process of applying for reinstatement following the rates for the most recent year however, due to changes within the U.S. Department, this process may take several months. 

The following kinds of programs are always ineligible for federal aid at UCD:

• Distance / Online: If any part of a program is not taught through in-person instruction, it is ineligible for federal aid
• Nursing
• Graduate Diplomas, Higher Certificates etc.

If you have concerns about programme eligibility, please contact federalaid@ucd.ie.

Satisfactory Academic Progress

UCD is required by USDE Regulations to ensure that all students receiving Federal aid (subsidized, unsubsidized and Plus loans) are making satisfactory academic progress (SAP). If you fail to meet SAP you will become ineligible for US Direct Loans.

Read UCD’s Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy

UCD students studying abroad or on exchange at a US institution or another foreign institution not eligible to receive Title IV aid will not be eligible to receive loans while at that institution. An exception will be made for PhD students conducting research at a US institution where that research cannot be conducted in UCD.

Students convicted of violating any federal or state drug possession or sale law will become ineligible for Federal Title IV financial aid.