Terms and Conditions

Institutions that offer US federal loans are required by the US government to disclose Consumer Information. We will include a link to this page in the e-mail we send once a student's US federal loan(s) process has been completed by our office. In the e-mail we will include a statement that a paper copy can be sent upon request.

Please email StudentLoans@admin.cam.ac.uk you require further information about the contents on this page or if you require a paper copy.

List of contents

• Institutional and Financial Assistance Information for Students
• Student Financial Aid Information
• Information and advice on Disability
• Academic Information (Programs, Departments and Faculties)
• Entrance requirements, changing department (postgraduates), course (undergraduates) and affiliate students information
• Programs ineligible for Federal Student Aid
• Cost of Attendance
• Textbook information
• Copyright infringement Policies and Sanctions (including computer use and file sharing)
• Data Protection (Safeguarding Customer Information)
• Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA)
• Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (information for US Federal Student Loan Borrowers) 
• Freedom of Information
• Rules and Legal Compliance
• Degree Accreditation and Licencing Information
• Completion/graduation rates
• Placement rates
• Refund Policy, withdrawing and return of Title IV financial aid Policy
• Loan Disclosures and Information
• Students Rights and Responsibilities
• Health and Safety
• Vaccination
• Missing Student Notification
• Gainful Employment Disclosures
• Written arrangements (consortium and contractual agreements) with other institutions
• 1098T Forms

Institutional and Financial Assistance Information for Students

These pages provide information about paying your student fees at the University of Cambridge. It is very important that before you start, you will have sufficient funds available to pay for your studies, from initial registration through to completion. These pages explain why, and what you need to do if your circumstances change. If you are in receipt of US Federal Aid, a US private student loan and/or Veteran Affairs (GI Bill) funding, please visit our US loans webpages.

Information about all funding (need-based and non-need based) internal and external for postgraduate students can be found on the Funding page of Postgraduate Admissions. Information about funding (need-based and non-need based) internal and external for undergraduate students can be found on the Financial support page of Undergraduate Study.

General institutional information can be found on the University of Cambridge's main website, which includes links to Study at Cambridge and information on How the University and Colleges work.

Admissions information (including links to further information) for postgraduate students can be found on the Postgraduate Admissions webpage including Finance where there is information on the cost of studying at the University of Cambridge. Admissions information for undergraduate students (including links to further information) can be found on the Undergraduate Study webpage. 

Information to help with searching for funding for your course can be found in Funding. On these pages you can also find information on scholarships and bursaries, student loans and fees for current students administered by the Student Registry's Fees and Graduate Funding team.

Information relating to US Federal Direct Loans and Private Loans is on the US loans webpage.

Student Financial Aid Information

Queries regarding US Financial Aid can be directed to Caroline Brown, our Student Loans Administrator.

Please refer to the StudentAid.gov website for information on US Federal Student Aid.

The procedure to follow to to apply for US Direct Loans is detailed on the Application Procedure page. In order to apply for Direct Loans you need to complete a FAFSA Application and include the appropriate School Code for  the College you will be attending. You will find a list of all our School Codes on the Application Procedure page. If you have not yet been accepted at a College at the time of completing your FAFSA, please use the designated code for the University of Cambridge. This is so that we know that you are planning on applying for a Direct Loan. Upon receipt of a student's FAFSA, we will contact the student by e-mail with the information required to support processing of their Direct Loan application.

Before you apply for a loan, you should think about whether you can afford to make the repayments. StudentAid has a repayment estimator to help you plan your educational loans and repayment options. The US Department of Education has produced some helpful video guides about the types of loans that are available, including eligibility, guidance on responsible borrowing and repayments, along with their own Facebook page.

Criteria for selecting recipients, determining the award amount and approving students for US Federal Student Aid is dependent upon the recipient satisfying the Federal Student Aid rules for eligibility, and the University of Cambridge's rules for admission and continuation of study.

Eligibility requirements for applying for Federal Student Aid are available on our US loans webpage. 

The determination of the maximum amount of combined Federal Student Aid and/or private student loans is capped at the value detailed on the Cost of Attendance page.

Information on how US Federal Student Aid is disbursed and the frequency is detailed on the Disbursement page of the US loans website.

Students have a right to cancel all future disbursements at any point within the academic year prior to the relevant future disbursement dates. In accordance with Federal Student Aid regulations, students will be reminded that the disbursement is due at least 14 days before the disbursement date and will be given the opportunity to cancel or reduce disbursements. Where a disbursement date has already passed, the University of Cambridge will not be able to reduce the amount disbursed, however the student can return unrequired funds to their loan servicer or the US Department of Education within 120 days of the disbursement date without incurring interest or other fees. Students are solely responsible for doing so and should contact their Direct Loan Servicer for guidance on how to return funds that aren't required.

Students have the responsibility to remain in 'good-standing' with the University of Cambridge. Good-standing means that the student has: a) maintained appropriate conduct within the student disciplinary regulations and does not have disciplinary procedures outstanding; b) ensured their fees are paid. Non-payment of fees to your College constitutes grounds for the University to withdraw you from your programme of study or research; c) kept appropriate conduct within student academic regulations.

Students have an obligation to progress at a satisfactory academic rate within the US Federal Aid program, and as detailed on the University of Cambridge's policy, explained on the terms and conditions page.

The terms and conditions of Title IV HEA (Higher Education Act) loans are available to all students through their Master Promissory Notes (MPN). The Entrance Counselling requirements are available on the Entrance and Exit Counselling page.

The University of Cambridge requires:

A) New MPN's to be completed during each year of access to US Federal Student Aid. B) Entrance Counselling to be completed by all first-time borrowers (other than Parent PLUS loans whereby it's recommended but not required), at the beginning of each academic year of study where applicable and prior to the first disbursement. At the University of Cambridge, entrance counselling is required to be completed via StudentAid.gov before a loan will be approved. The student will be provided with comprehensive information on the terms and conditions of the loan and of the borrower's responsibilities through entrance counselling. C Exit counselling to be completed by all borrowers (other than for Parent PLUS loans whereby it is recommended but not required) during the final semester in the student's final year of study. Or shortly before/or as soon as, the Federal Aid office (Student Loans team) become aware that the student borrower has ceased at least half-time study with the University of Cambridge. At the University of Cambridge, exit counselling should be completed via StudentAid.gov. This ensures students are informed of the US Federal Aid Terms and Conditions of their US federal loans, provided with a sample loan repayment schedules, and counselled in the necessity of repaying their loans. Any student who fails to complete exit counselling via Student.Aid.gov will be e-mailed a copy of the exit counselling web link, explaining the importance of its completion. D) PLUS counselling for student borrowers: prior to the first disbursement, borrowers who are informed by the US Department of Education that they have an adverse credit history (and have obtained an approved endorser or documented to the satisfaction of the US Department of Education that there are extenuating circumstances related to the adverse credit history), will be required to undertake PLUS counselling.

All US Citizens and eligible non-US nationals receiving Federal Student Aid at the University of Cambridge are obligated to meet the requirements of the following organisations to maintain their entitlement to US Student Federal Aid: University of Cambridge, Federal Student Aid and the US Department of Education; UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) and the UK Home Office.

Information and advice on Disability

The Accessibility and Disability Resource Centre (ADRC) provides advice and guidance for prospective and current disabled students. Disability related costs can be included in the cost of attendance when applying for federal or private loans.

Academic Information (Programs, Departments and Faculties)

Prospective and enrolled students can obtain the latest information about instructional laboratory, and other physical facilities relating to the academic program, as well as information on the Department/Faculties and instructional personnel, plus any plans by the institution for improving the academic program of the institution, through visiting the Colleges/Department/Faculties webpages. For information about current degree programmes and other educational and training programmes available at the University of Cambridge, please visit our main website.

Entrance requirements, changing department (postgraduates), course (undergraduates) & affiliate students information

Refer to the following links for information on entrance/entry requirements:

• Entrance requirements | Undergraduate Study (cam.ac.uk)
• Entry Requirements | Postgraduate Admissions (cam.ac.uk)
• Mature student applications | Undergraduate Study (cam.ac.uk)

Refer to the following links for information on changing department (postgraduates), course (undergraduates) and affiliate students information:

• Changing your department/faculty | Cambridge students (postgraduates)
• About our courses | Undergraduate Study (cam.ac.uk) (undergraduates)
• Second undergraduate degrees | Undergraduate Study (cam.ac.uk) (affiliate students)

Due to the scope and flexibility of the courses at the University of Cambridge, most students stay on the same degree course. However, it’s possible to change course after one or two years. Applicants for a second undergraduate degree may apply for the full course or as an affiliate student. Affiliate students take the course in a year less than usual.

If you are in receipt of US Direct Loans you cannot change your College during a term for which you are in receipt of your loans.

Programs ineligible for Federal Student Aid

The University of Cambridge is only authorised to provide Federal Student Aid for full Bachelors, Masters, and Doctoral programmes with study entirely at the University of Cambridge or shared between the University of Cambridge and another higher education institute that is also authorised to provide Federal Student Aid, including institutions outside the UK.

Clinical Medicine, Veterinary Medicine/Science, Diploma, Certificate, EMBA and MAC (Master of Accounting) are programs at the University of Cambridge that are not eligible for US Federal Student Aid. If you are based in the US part-time courses such as the MSt will also not be eligible for US Federal Student Aid. If you are studying any of these courses and require a loan a Private Loan may be an option.

Programs studied in part at another higher education institution that is not authorised to provide Federal Student Aid are not eligible for Federal Student Aid for any part of the program, including the part studied at the University of Cambridge regardless of the proportion of time spent at the other institution. 

If undertaking any study in the US we require confirmation that the period in the US will not be more than 25% of your program of study. This information is required in order that we can ensure that your eligibility for Federal Student Aid will not be affected.

If your program involves a Study Abroad element contact Caroline Brown, the US Loan Administrator, for advice before making any arrangements. She will be able to advise on whether your program is eligible for Federal Student Aid.

Programs offered in whole or in part by telecommunications or correspondence (including distance education and/or self-directed; or by direct assessment) are not eligible for Federal Student Aid. Eligible programs and courses may use telecommunications technologies only to supplement and support instruction that is offered in a classroom located in the country where the students and instructors are physically present.

Cost of Attendance

The total cost of attendance and therefore the maximum amount of funding available is the calculated cost of tuition fees plus expected living costs for the current academic year of study converted into US $. Information on the cost of attendance relevant to US students taking US federal loans at the University of Cambridge can be found on the Cost of Attendance page.

The University of Cambridge's tuition fees vary depending on the course being followed, the student's residency status and other criteria. Information on fees can be found on the Fee Schedules page of the Academic and Financial Planning and Analysis webpage.

Living costs are assessed according to a local average for room rental, board (food and utilities costs), course books and stationery, travel and personal costs. Students with exceptional additional essential costs (due to disability for example) can request that these also be taken into consideration by e-mailing Caroline Brown, your Student Loans Administrator.

Textbook information

Information concerning textbooks and any supplemental materials required will be supplied by your department.

Copyright infringement Polices and Sanctions (including computer use and file sharing)

Unauthorized distribution of copyrighted material, including unauthorised peer-to-peer file sharing, may subject you to civil and criminal liabilities.

Our Legal Services office provides information on copyright compliance. Copyright protects a wide range of original materials, including literary, artistic, musical and dramatic works, broadcasts and film. The University of Cambridge is a major holder and user of copyright works and operates within the legal and regulatory environment governing copyright established by international treaties and conventions, statute and case law, and custom and practice.

UK legislation at www.legislation.gov.uk includes information on copyright at Copyright, Designs & Patents Act 1988. Other useful links are:

• Research Best Practice
• Use and Misuse of Computing Facilities.

Data Protection (Safeguarding Customer Information) 

The UK has legislation to protect personal data called the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and Data Protection Act 2018. The University of Cambridge's Data Protection policies fulfil our requirements under the GDPR. Other useful links are:

• UK Government's Data Protection Act
• UK Government's guide to GDPR.

Data protection legislation sets out rules and standards for the use and handling (processing) of information (personal data) about living identifiable individuals (data subjects) by organisations (data controllers). It is based around the notions of principles, rights and accountability obligations.

Data subjects are given various rights which are free to exercise:

• The right to be informed of how their personal data are being used - this right is usually fulfilled by the provision of 'privacy notices' as described above.
• The right of access to their personal data - accessing personal data in this way is usually known as making a 'subject access request'.
• The right to have their inaccurate personal data rectified.
• The right to have their personal data erased where appropriate - also known as the right to be forgotten.
• The right to restrict the processing of their personal data pending its verification or correction.
• The right to receive copies of their personal data in a machine-readable and commonly-used format - known as the right to data portability.
• The right to object: to processing (including profiling) of their personal data that proceeds under particular legal bases; to direct marketing; and to processing of their data for research purposes where that research is not in the public interest.
• The right not to be subject to a significant decision based solely on automated decision-making using their personal data.

A response to a rights request normally needs to be sent within one month. However, nearly all of these rights are qualified in various ways and there are numerous specific exemptions (for example, nearly all the rights may not apply if the personal data are being processed solely in an academic research context).

Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA) 

The University of Cambridge stays in compliance with the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA) for purposes of US Federal Loans. 

Our designated qualified individual at the University of Cambridge is David Hill, Chief Information Officer and Director.

Risk assessments, safeguarding and incident response plans are looked after by UIS (University Information Service) team under David Hill.

All University staff undergo cybersecurity training on a regular basis.

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (information for US Federal Student Loan Borrowers) 

The Federal Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) does not apply within the UK. However the UK has similar legislation called the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA). The UK also has legislation to protect personal data called the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and Data Protection Act 2018.The UK Government's Data Protection Act is summarised on its webpage.

Freedom of Information Act 2000

The Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA) applies to all 'public authorities' as defined in the Act, including the University of Cambridge. Each Cambridge College is a separate public authority under the FOIA. It gives a general right of access to all types of recorded information held by public authorities and sets out exemptions from that right. A public authority has two main responsibilities under the FOIA:

• producing a guide to the information it makes publicly available
• dealing with individual written requests for information and providing the information if it is not already published, or exempt from release.

Publication Scheme

The FOIA requires the University to adopt a Publication Scheme. This details the categories of information made available on a routine basis.  The University has adopted the latest Model Publication Scheme produced by the Information Commissioner, the independent authority responsible for compliance with the FOIA.  A Guide to Information has been produced in accordance with the Information Commissioner's Definition Document for Universities and other Higher Education Institutions.

Individual requests

The FOIA provides a general right of access by an individual to the information held by the University.  Any person wishing to exercise this right must make their request in writing. The University must state whether it holds the information and, subject to any applicable exemptions and to the levying of any charges as permitted under the FOIA, must normally supply the information within 20 working days. The information must be supplied in a format acceptable to the applicant (e.g. by email or in hard copy) so far as reasonably practicable. The University also has a duty to provide reasonable advice and assistance to anyone seeking information.

Data Protection

The University of Cambridge's Data Protection policies fulfil our requirements under the GDPR. Other useful links are:

• UK Government's Data Protection Act
• UK Government's guide to GDPR.

The UK Data protection legislation sets out rules and standards for the use and handling (processing) of information (personal data) about living identifiable individuals (data subjects) by organisations (data controllers). It is based around the notions of principles, rights and accountability obligations. Data subjects are given various rights which are free to exercise:

• The right to be informed of how their personal data are being used - this right is usually fulfilled by the provision of 'privacy notices' as described above.
• The right of access to their personal data - accessing personal data in this way is usually known as making a 'subject access request'.
• The right to have their inaccurate personal data rectified.
• The right to have their personal data erased where appropriate - also known as the right to be forgotten.
• The right to restrict the processing of their personal data pending its verification or correction.
• The right to receive copies of their personal data in a machine-readable and commonly-used format - known as the right to data portability.
• The right to object: to processing (including profiling) of their personal data that proceeds under particular legal bases; to direct marketing; and to processing of their data for research purposes where that research is not in the public interest.
• The right not to be subject to a significant decision based solely on automated decision-making using their personal data.

A response to a rights request normally needs to be sent within one month. However, nearly all of these rights are qualified in various ways and there are numerous specific exemptions (for example, nearly all the rights may not apply if the personal data are being processed solely in an academic research context).

Degree Accreditation and Licensing Information

The University of Cambridge is recognised as a higher learning institution degree-awarding body in its own right as listed by the UK Department of Education.

Refund Policy, withdrawing and return of Title IV financial aid Policy

Should a student withdraw from their programme of study, they will only be entitled to a refund of fees paid if they have not yet reached the 21st day of the start of 'full term'. For further details and information on withdrawing from the University of Cambridge, please refer to Withdrawing from the University. On this page there is information on Timing of withdrawal/Fee liability, where it states if you submit an application to withdraw within the first 21 days of the start of a 'full term' you will not be considered liable for fees for that term unless you have already paid the maximum fees required for your course. The amount of Title IV funds due for return as a result of a withdrawal is calculated independently of the tuition fee liability charged by the University.

Students with Direct Loans need to refer to withdrawing and return to Title IV Policy's section on the Terms and Conditions page, where there is full information on the University of Cambridge's withdrawing and return to Title IV policy.

The withdrawing and return to Title IV policy includes information on what you need to do if you withdraw from your course, also information on unapproved intermission, unofficial withdrawals and students that never attended. Information on this page also states that when considering US Federal Loans the University is classed as an attendance taking institution. Schools/institutions that are attendance taking must make a determination within 14 days of student's non-attendance if he/she should be withdrawn or not. The day of withdrawal is counted as a complete day. Direct Loans is earned if 100% if the R2T4 calculation results in more than 60% earned (a student attended 60% or more of a loan payment period). There is also information on Post-withdrawal Disbursements and should loan funds be required to be returned, and information on the order that loan funds are returned to the US Department of Education.

Loan Disclosures and Information

Further information, Including a student's rights and responsibilities whilst repaying Direct Loans can be found on the US Department of Education website.

National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS)

NSLDS is the U.S. Department of Education's central database for student aid. If you take a Title IV, HEA loan, it will be submitted to NSLDS and will be accessible by servicers and schools determined to be authorized users of the data system. We are required by US regulations to regularly confirm/update NSLDS with your enrolment status.

Information on the Basic Eligibility Criteria

Information to qualify for US federal student aid can be found at Eligibility Requirements | Federal Student Aid. This includes the requirement of having a high school diploma or recognized equivalent such as the General Education Development (GED) certificate.

Entrance Counselling for Student Loan Borrowers

This explains the obligations you agree to meet as a condition of receiving a Direct Loan. We ask all students taking out a Direct Loan to complete entrance counselling at StudentLoans.gov.

Exit Counselling for Student Loan Borrowers

Students who have received subsidized, unsubsidized or PLUS loan(s) under the Direct Loan Program or the previous FFEL Program must complete exit counselling before they graduate, drop below half-time attendance or withdraw. We ask all students required to complete exit counselling to do this at StudentLoans.gov.

A student's enrolment in a program of study abroad approved for credit by the home institution may be considered enrolment at the home institution for the purposes of applying for assistance under the title IV, HEA programs.

Mature Student Applications

The application process for mature students is the same as that for standard-age students. Please refer to Mature student applications | Undergraduate Study (cam.ac.uk) for further information.

Courses not eligible for Direct Loans

Some courses such as Clinical Medicine, Veterinary Medicine/Science, Diploma, Certificate, EMBA and MAC (Master of Accounting) are not eligible for US Federal Student Aid. If you are based in the US part-time MSt courses will also not be eligible for US Federal Student Aid. If you are studying any of these courses and require a loan, a Private Loan may be an option. 

Private Loans

A statement relating to checking interest rates, comparing terms and conditions and thoroughly investigating the possibility of taking out federal loan(s) before applying for a Private Loan is in our US Loans section. A link to a Private Education Loan Applicant Self-Certification form is available on the Private Loan page.

Code of Conduct for Education Loans

Conduct in relation to US loans prohibits a conflict of interest with the responsibilities of an agent of the school with respect to the previous FFEL Program or private education loans. All agents with responsibility for loans are informed annually of the provisions of the code which prohibits:

• Revenue-sharing arrangements with any lender
• Receiving gifts from a lender, a guarantor, or a loan services
• Contracting arrangement providing financial benefit from any lender or affiliate of a lender
• Directing borrowers to particular lenders, or refusing or delaying loan certifications
• Offers of funds for private loans
• Call centre or financial aid office staffing assistance
• Advisory board compensations.

Sallie Mae is an organization experienced in lending to and dealing with US students studying outside the US. It is also the only lender we are aware of that will lend funds for private loans to US students studying outside the US. We therefore do not have a preferred lender list.

Students Rights and Responsibilities

Please refer to Rights and Responsibilities as a Borrower on this page for information regarding terms of any US federal loan received by a student as part of the student's financial assistance package. You can also find the criteria for continued eligibility under each program.

Students should maintain satisfactory academic progress through their program to continue to be eligible for Federal Student Aid. Information on satisfactory academic progress including the criteria by which a student who has failed to maintain satisfactory progress may re-establish his or her eligibility for financial assistance, is on this page, above this section.

Vaccination

The University's Advisory Group on Communicable Diseases has produced advice for newly arriving university students on vaccine-preventable infections as well as a checklist for vaccinations. Links to this information can be found on the Student Wellbeing health pages.

Missing Student Notification

Please contact your College concerning procedures they have in place in relation to missing students.

Gainful Employment Disclosures

The University of Cambridge is approved only to provide federal lending for students on a degree programme. There are therefore no Gainful Emplyment Discosures to report.

Written arrangements (consortium and contractual agreements) with other institutions

The University of Cambridge doesn't have any written arrangements (consortium or contractual agreements) with any other institutions.

1098T Forms

The University of Cambridge does not currently complete 1098T tax forms for its students.