University of Limerick is approved by the US Department of Education to certify loans under the Willian D. Ford Load Program. Eligible students can obtain federally supported Subsidized & Unsubsidized Direct loans and Direct Plus loans. The federally supported loans are made by the US Department of Education rather than by a private bank or lender. 

Information on Subsidized and Unsubsidized from the US Department of Education

Information on Direct Plus loans from the US Department of Education

New Applicants

The process of applying for Federal Aid is different for students at universities outside of the U.S. Unlike U.S. universities, University of Limerick requires that all students who intend to take out U.S. Federal Student Aid loans notify UL Global by emailing usfederalaid@ul.ie

Students are strongly advised to allow plenty of processing time for Federal Aid application - it can easily take up to six weeks at schools outside the U.S.

The annual deadline for submitting all required documentation for Semester 1 is 31 July. Any documentation submitted after this date may result in the first loan disbursement being delayed by up to a month.

Please note that Federal Aid regulations for universities outside the US differ from those in the US. UL Global liaises with the US Department of Education to ensure that it follows all appropriate regulations for universities outside the US.

UL Global recommends that students prioritise their loan options as follows:

  1. Subsidized Direct Loans
  2. Unsubsidized Direct Loans
  3. Graduate / Parent PLUS Loans
  4. Credit-based Private Loans

Remember: the higher your interest rate, the more you will pay back.

Students applying for Certificates, Diplomas and distance-learning programmes are not eligible for US. Federal Loans. Students studying these types of programmes, who require financial assistance, must investigate private loans. 

On Friday 27 March 2020, the US Senate passed the Third Covid 19 Coronavirus Bill (H.R 748). Among other provisions, the Bill allows for eligible programmes that would normally be taught in a traditional classroom setting to be taught through online learning for the duration of the Covid-19 emergency. The Bill will be applied retroactively to all programmes that have moved online since 1 March 2020 and will cover programmes until the end of the state of emergency. Accordingly, recipients of US Federal Loans studying at the University of Limerick may continue to be in receipt of their loans even though their programmes have temporarily moved to online teaching and learning.

If you have any concerns about the eligiblity of your programme please contact UL Global on usfederalaid@ul.ie

Students can avail of most types of private education loans, however, some lenders restrict availability of certain loan products to US schools only. You should consult the lender.

Sallie Mae Student Loans 
https://www.salliemae.com/student-loans/

Continuing Students

Students who are attending University of Limerick for more than one year and want to continue to take out loans to cover their costs must apply for the US Federal loans each year.

It is very imporant that students check their current loans before requesting new loans. Students can do this by visiting the US Federal Student Aid website 

The process for applying for your US Federal loans is almost the same as first time applicants. The first step is to complete your new FAFSA on the US Federal Student Aid website 

Once you have this step completed you will receive your Student Aid Report and you need to complete the following steps

  1. Cost of Attendance calculator 
  2. Award Letter (in COA 2020-2021)
  3. MPNs
  4. Completed Loan Entrance Counselling

Returning students are recommended to start this process in March each year. 

Students applying for Certificates, Diplomas and distance-learning programmes are not eligible for US Federal Loans. Students studying these types of programmes, who require financial assistance, must investigate private loans. 

On Friday 27 March 2020, the US Senate passed the Third Covid 19 Coronavirus Bill (H.R 748). Among other provisions, the Bill allows for eligible programmes that would normally be taught in a traditional classroom setting to be taught through online learning for the duration of the Covid-19 emergency. The Bill will be applied retroactively to all programmes that have moved online since 1 March 2020 and will cover programmes until the end of the state of emergency. Accordingly, recipients of US Federal Loans studying at University of Limerick may continue to be in receipt of their loans even though their programmes have temporarily moved to online teaching and learning.

If you have any concerns about the eligiblity of your programme please contact UL Global on usfederalaid@ul.ie

Students can avail of most types of private education loans, however, some lenders restrict availability of certain loan products to US schools only. You should consult the lender.

Sallie Mae Student Loans 
Apply URL: https://www.salliemae.com/student-loans/

US Taxes

University of Limerick cannot issue a 1098-T since –

  • UL does not have a Federal Tax Identification Number (TIN)
  • UL is not a US tax-deducter for US employee income.
  • UL is not a US tax-payer.
  • UL does not have a genuine SSN number.

To assist students preparing tax returns the UL Global office issue a Statement of Fees Paid for the relevant Tax Year. This statement will contain the same information as a 1098-T form.