Financial Information for International Students
In order that you may enter the UK as an International Student you need to be able to demonstrate to the Immigration authorities that you have sufficient funds to meet all of your costs which include Tuition Fees, Accommodation and Living Costs. Students are strongly advised not to embark on a course of study unless they have adequate funding to support themselves and any dependants for the duration of the course. Before you leave home please ensure that your financial matters are in order and that any form of sponsorship has been arranged well in advance of the start of your course.
Tuition Fee Deposits
International (non EU/UK) students enrolling at Trinity University College will have to pay a pre-arrival deposit in order to secure their place on an undergraduate or postgraduate course. For September 2009 entry all overseas applicants are required to pay a deposit of £1000 by the 31st July 2009. Once you have accepted your place on the course and have paid the deposit we will issue a “Letter of Acceptance” and “Receipt of Deposit Letter” both of which will help support your visa application.
Deposit Refunds
Trinity University College will be pleased to refund your deposit if circumstances beyond your control prevent you from travelling to the UK to study. Please note that we reserve the right to retain a £100 administration fee from your refund.
Payment Schedule of Tuition Fees
All students are required to pay the full balance of their Tuition Fees upon enrolment.
You may pay by cash, cheque, and banker’s draft, VISA or MasterCard. Cheques and bankers drafts should be made payable to the Trinity University College.
Payment of Additional Fees
- Accommodation Bond to be paid on enrolment.
- Accommodation Fees to be paid at beginning of each term/semester.
- Cultural Programme, Orientation Fee and the Airport Collection Fee are to be paid on enrolment.
International Student Loan Programme
The International Education Finance Corporation (IEFC) has developed the International Student Loan Programme (ISLP) and the Canadian Higher Education Loan Programme (CanHELP) to provide financial assistance for international study for those from the USA and Canada who wish to study in foreign countries. In order to assist you with the funding of your education in the United Kingdom, Trinity University College has been approved by the IEFC to participate in both the ISLP and CanHELP programmes. Our School code is 999664.
For further information on both the ISLP and CanHELP loans please contact the IEFC at :
IEFC World Headquarters222 Forbes Road, Suite 406
Braintree, MA 02184
Tele: (781) 843-5334
Toll: (888) 296-4332
(US and Canada)
Fax: (781) 849-4000
E-mail: contact@iefc.com
Or visit http://www.iefc.com/
Stafford Loans - U.S. Students
Students from the USA are entitled to take out loans to fund their studies whilst attending an overseas institution. Trinity College Carmarthen is recognised by the Department of Education in Washington for the purpose of receiving financial aid for U.S. Students, and therefore eligible to certify loan applications for the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP).
Trinity College Carmarthen’s school code is 03993400.
Please note that the system for administering Stafford Loans in the UK is different to that in the U.S. and we would recommend that you follow the step by step by step guide detailed below.
How to apply:
Step 1 - Complete a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)
Any U.S. student wishing to apply for a Stafford Loan must first complete a FAFSA. Details of how to complete a FAFSA can be found on the US Department of Education website www.ed.gov.
You can either complete the FAFSA on-line at www.fafsa.ed.gov or request a form to be sent to you by contacting the Federal Student Aid Information Centre:
Federal Student Aid Information Centre
P.O.Box 84
Washington
D.C. 20044
Tel 1-800-433-3243
If you have applied previously for a Stafford Loan, you should complete the Renewal Free Application for Federal Aid (Renewal FAFSA). With this form you will only be required to update your details indicating any information that has changed since last year.
Step 2 – Submit your Student Aid Report (SAR)
To process your Federal Stafford loan, we need the original eight page Student Aid Report (SAR) which is produced on completion of your FAFSA.
When you complete your FAFSA online do not list your email address and the eight page SAR will be mailed to you. If you want to list your email address, once the FAFSA is processed you can telephone +1-800-4FEDAID and request the full eight page SAR from the U.S Department of Education. Once received please sign and date where requested on page 8 and then mail it to the Financial Aid Administrator at the contact address below.
Please note that, as we are an institution located outside the United States, we are unable to receive any FAFSA information or documentation such as the SAR electronically. The College will not be able to complete your loan paperwork until it receives a copy of your SAR.
Step 3- Find a Lender
Once a FAFSA has been completed the next step is for you to find a lender and complete a Master Promissory Note (MPN). If you have not previously borrowed from the Stafford Loan Programme, and require assistance in finding a lender, you should contact your Local State Guarantor Agency for advice on lenders. Contact details for all Local State Guarantor Agencies can be found on the Department of Education's web site at www.ed.gov/Programs/bastmp/SGA.htm. Please note that the College cannot recommend any individual lender. We recommend that you should emphasise to your lender that you are intending to study at an overseas institution.
Your chosen lender will provide you with a MPN, or may ask you to complete the form on-line. Remember that if you complete a MPN on-line, keep a printed copy for your own records as well as a copy to send to the College. We would ask that you ask your lender to make cheques co-payable to you and the Trinity College Carmarthen. This will mean that we can allocate funds to your account immediately.
Step 4 – Complete your Loan Entrance Counselling
It is a legal requirement that all applicants who are receiving funds from the Stafford Loan Programme complete entrance counselling prior to taking out a loan. The entrance counselling is to advise you on the different types of loans available, repayment methods/schedules as well as making sure that the applicant is aware of the legal requirements of participating in the programme.
To complete the entrance counselling please visit the Mapping Your Future web site. Go to www.mappingyourfuture.org and follow the link to 'Student Loan Counselling Interview'. An e mail will be sent to the Loans Administrator confirming that you have done this.
Step 5- Send your Loan Application to the College
You should send your loan application to the College as soon as possible to allow time to process it and have your funds ready for collection once you have registered. Before the College can process your application you must provide the following documentation:
1) A full eight page Student Aid Report (SAR).
2) Completed and signed Master Promissory Note (MPN) including details of your lender.
3) School Certification Form which can only be completed by the Financial Aid Officer at the College.
4) Confirmation that you have accepted an offer of a place to study at Trinity College Carmarthen.
Please ensure that all these documents are sent, along with a copy of your MPN (Master Promissory Note) to the following address:
Financial Aid Administrator
Student Services
Trinity College
Carmarthen SA31 3EP
UK
Tel: 011 44 1267 676947
Fax: 011 44 1267 676766
Email: d.rees@trinity-cm.ac.uk
Step 6- Receiving your Loan Funds
The loan is specifically for your education costs. Loans are typically made out jointly to the College and the student. As of 1 July 2006, US Federal Aid requires that all Stafford and PLUS loan funds be disbursed in multiple disbursements based on your program’s terms or semesters.
When your loan has been approved, the lender's disbursement agency in the US will send you confirmation of the amount you will receive and the disbursement dates. The disbursements will be sent by cheque directly to Trinity College’s Finance Office. When your loan cheque arrives at the College we will contact you via email to advise you of this as we require you to endorse the cheque. It is College policy to allocate the funds to your student account and any surplus after all fees have been deducted, will be refunded to you in £ sterling.
Refund payments take approximately 10 days minimum to arrange through the College's Finance system.
Please note that your cheque cannot be released until you have completed online counselling.
PLEASE NOTE
It cannot be guaranteed that students will receive their Federal Stafford loan cheques for the start of their course although students are encouraged to apply as early as possible to mitigate against this. Students should ensure that they have funds to cover travel to Trinity College Carmarthen plus living expenses for a minimum of 8 weeks after their arrival.
What assistance may be given :
The Stafford Federal Loan offers two types of Loan:
Subsidised Loan - is awarded to students based on financial need. The U.S. Government subsidises interest on these loans while you are studying at least half time, or during a grace or deferment period.
Unsubsidised Loan - is not based on financial need. You are responsible for payment of interest for the full period of the loan. Whilst studying at least half time, or during deferment or grace periods you have the option of paying the interest or having it capitalised and added to the total value of the loan.
The interest rate on Stafford Loans is reviewed annually on the 31 July. The current law states that the interest rate should not exceed 8.25% pa.
PLUS Loans
There are two types of PLUS loans: Parent PLUS and Graduate PLUS
Parent PLUS Loans are available to parents of dependent students pursuing full or part-time undergraduate study. Your dependency status is determined by FAFSA and will be shown on your SAR.
Graduate PLUS Loans are available to students pursuing full or part – time graduate study.
Further Information
Private Loans
You may require funds in addition to or instead of a Stafford Loan. Top Up Loans refer to additional Federal loans and Private loans. Before applying for a Private Loan, students are encouraged to apply for the maximum amount they are elegible for in Stafford loans. (Total borrowing can not exceed the total Cost of Attendance).
Please note that the Stafford Loans are public US funds and Trinity College Carmarthen is audited by the US government. It is essential that the university authorises only what is essential, in terms of fees and maintenance. If we are found to be in breach of this we will have our permission to authorise loans removed.
Satisfactory Academic Progress
While in receipt of FFELP loan funds, for the loan period outlined on your loan application you are required to be enrolled in your programme of study as well as maintaining satisfactory academic progress. Satisfactory academic progress means that you are required to maintain an average of at least C grades over the current academic year. Please see the Satisfactory Academic Progress policy for details.
Withdrawal and return of FFELP Loan Funds
If you withdraw from your course, you MUST inform the Financial Aid Administrator and Registry Departments at Trinity College Carmarthen. You are also required to inform your Guaranty Agency/lender. This must be done no later than 5 working days after withdrawal.
FFELP students who withdraw from the course of study are not eligible for the refund of tuition, or indeed any fees or costs that have been drawn from FFELP funds.
If you do not attend classes after enrolment, you are deemed to have withdrawn and any "unearned" loan funds disbursed to you directly must be returned to the Loan Company.
Exit Counselling
It is a legal requirement that you complete exit counselling before you graduate. The exit counselling is to advise students of the methods of repayment, deferment and the consequences of defaulting. Please visit the site Mapping Your Future and complete the exit counselling at least 3 months before you graduate. Please note that you will not be able to graduate until you have completed exit counselling
Repaying your loan
Please note that Trinity College Carmarthen accepts no responsibility whatever for the repaying of your loan. It is your responsibility to repay your loan. If in doubt about the terms of your loan please contact your lender.It is also your responsibility to :
- Notify your loan provider of anything that affects your ability to repay your loan
- Notify your loan provider of any changes in your status, including graduation, and any changes to your name, address telephone number
- Notify your loan provider if you have not enrolled for the period covered by your loan
- Notify the College of any change in your address
