US Federal Student Loans

New students (starting from September 2026)

The US Government has introduced significant changes to federal student loans, which will apply to students beginning a new course at Trinity Laban from September 2026.

Key changes include:

• Graduate PLUS Loans will no longer be available for new postgraduate students

• Postgraduate students may borrow up to $20,500 per year through Direct (Stafford) Loans

• Parent PLUS Loans for undergraduate students will be capped at $20,000 per year, with a lifetime limit of $65,000 per dependent student

Continuing students (progressing from 2025/26)

Students continuing on the same programme from the 2025/26 academic year into 2026/27 will be subject to transitional arrangements:

• Loans approved before 1 July 2026 may continue under current regulations if there is no interruption to study
• Any break in study may affect eligibility under existing arrangements
• The Parent PLUS Loan cap will not apply to continuing undergraduate students

Students starting a new course in September 2026 (including progression to a new programme) will be treated as new students under the updated regulations.

New students (from September 2026)

Eligible for:

• Direct Subsidised Loans
• Direct Unsubsidised Loans
• Parent PLUS Loans (undergraduate only, capped at $20,000 per year)

Graduate PLUS Loans will not be available.

Continuing students (from 2025/26)

Eligible for:

• Direct Subsidised Loans
• Direct Unsubsidised Loans
• Graduate PLUS Loans
• Parent PLUS Loans (no cap applied under current arrangements)

This guidance applies to students who started their course in the 2025/26 academic year or earlier and who are: 

• currently enrolled at Trinity Laban 

• already receiving US Federal Aid 

Eligible continuing students may remain eligible for the US Federal Aid provisions available prior to July 2026 for up to three years, or until the expected end date of their current programme, whichever is sooner. 

The amount of US Federal Aid you may apply for depends on your dependency status for Federal Aid purposes (dependent, independent, or postgraduate student). The table below outlines the current borrowing limits. 

Students may also be able to apply for additional funding through a PLUS Loan to help cover the full Cost of Attendance. Please note that PLUS Loans are subject to credit checks and approval, and are not guaranteed. 

For more information about the “Dependent/Independent” status please see the FSA Website. 

Interest rates for each loan type can be found on the US Department of Education page about interest rates. 

Please note that all Federal Loans are subject to origination fees, which are deducted by the US government at the point of disbursement. Subsidised and Unsubsidised Loans currently carry an origination fee of 1.057%, while PLUS Loans are subject to a higher origination fee of 4.228%. 

Undergraduate Lifetime Loan Aggregates

• Dependent students:

  Up to $31,000 total, of which no more than $23,000 may be subsidised. 

• Independent students:

  Up to $57,500 total, of which no more than $23,000 may be subsidised. 

Graduate and Professional Lifetime Loan Aggregates

Up to $138,500, of which no more than $65,500 may be in subsidised loans. The graduate aggregate limit includes all federal loans received for undergraduate study. 

Students are not able to borrow more than these amounts. However, where applicable, Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loans and Graduate PLUS Loans* may be used as supplementary funding once the maximum Subsidised and Unsubsidised Loan entitlement has been reached. 

The total amount a student may borrow in any academic year is also limited by their calculated Cost of Attendance, minus any other financial support or funding received. 

* Graduate PLUS Loans are only available to eligible continuing (“legacy”) graduate students. 

This guidance applies to students who: 

• are starting their studies at Trinity Laban from September 2026 onwards; or 

• began a course in 2025/26 or earlier but are not currently receiving US Federal Aid. 

Federal loan borrowing limits vary depending on a student’s status for US Federal Aid purposes, including whether they are classified as a dependent undergraduate, independent undergraduate, or postgraduate student. The table below outlines the current borrowing limits for each category. 

Where eligible, students may also be able to supplement their funding through PLUS Loans or private educational loans to help meet the full Cost of Attendance. Please note that these loans are not guaranteed entitlements and are subject to credit checks and lender approval. 

For further information about dependent and independent student status, please refer to the FSA Website. 

Interest rates for each loan type can be found on the US Department of Education page about interest rates. 

Please note that all Federal Loans are subject to origination fees, which are deducted by the US government at the point of disbursement. Subsidised and Unsubsidised Loans currently carry an origination fee of 1.057%, while PLUS Loans are subject to a higher origination fee of 4.228%.

Undergraduate Lifetime Aggregates

• Dependent students:

  Up to $31,000 total, of which no more than $23,000 may be subsidised. 

• Independent students:

  Up to $57,500 total, of which no more than $23,000 may be subsidised. 

Graduate and Professional Lifetime Aggregates

• Up to $138,500, of which no more than $65,500 may be in subsidised loans. The graduate aggregate limit includes all federal loans received for undergraduate study. 

Students are not permitted to exceed these aggregate borrowing limits. However, once the maximum Subsidised and Unsubsidised Loan entitlement has been reached, additional funding may be available through Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loans and private educational loans, subject to eligibility and approval. 

The total amount a student may borrow in any academic year is also capped by the calculated Cost of Attendance, minus any other financial aid or funding already received. 

Undergraduate Dependent borrowers 

From 1 July 2026, parents of dependent undergraduate students may borrow up to a maximum of $20,000 per academic year through Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loans. In addition, the total lifetime (aggregate) borrowing limit for Parent PLUS Loans will be capped at $65,000 per dependent student. 

Where a student’s financial need is not fully covered by available Federal Loan funding, additional support may be sought through private educational loans, subject to lender eligibility criteria and approval. 

Graduate borrowers 

From 1 July 2026, Graduate PLUS Loans (Grad PLUS) will no longer be available to new borrowers. 

However, students who have already received either a Direct Unsubsidised Loan or a Grad PLUS Loan for their current programme before this date may continue to access Grad PLUS funding under transitional (“legacy”) arrangements. This continued eligibility will apply for up to three additional years, or until the completion of their current programme, whichever occurs sooner. 

Where Federal Loan funding does not fully cover a student’s financial need, additional funding may be available through private educational loans, subject to lender eligibility requirements and approval. 

The Cost of Attendance (CoA) is set by Trinity Laban in accordance with U.S. Department of Education Title IV regulations. It represents the estimated and reasonable costs associated with studying on your programme and is used to determine the maximum amount of US Federal Aid you may borrow for each academic year. 

The Cost of Attendance may include: 

• Tuition fees 

• Accommodation costs 

• Living expenses 

• Study materials and equipment 

• Travel costs 

• Student visa fees (where applicable) 

More details about cost of living in London: https://www.trinitylaban.ac.uk/fees-your-finances/cost-of-living/ 

The CoA form will allow you to see the maximum amount you are eligible to borrow and indicate how much funding you wish to request. In order to complete the form, you will need your Student Aid Index (SAI) – previously known as the Expected Family Contribution (EFC). 

Students may borrow up to the maximum Cost of Attendance amount, but may also choose to borrow less if preferred. 

Once we have received your FAFSA information, usually from early June onwards, we will contact you by email with the CoA form and further instructions. 

Please note that Trinity Laban originates US Federal Loans from early July, with loan processing typically taking place during July and August. 

Disbursements will be made three times a year at the beginning of each term – usually in October, January, and April.  

All disbursements are made under the following conditions:
• Satisfactory Academic Progress
• At least half-time enrolment
• Compliance with US regulations 

Your loan award letter will list each disbursement date, along with the relevant funding for each instalment. You will be advised by email in advance when a disbursement is due, its value, and how much will be deducted from it. 

It is your responsibility to contact the institution if you wish to reduce or cancel a disbursement. 

The institution will deduct any fees due, including tuition and accommodation (where applicable, if you have booked Ironworks House via Trinity Laban), as well as any other charges incurred. 

The remaining balance will be transferred directly to your bank account, provided your details have been shared with the institution. Our Finance Office will contact you before the start of the new term to collect your bank details. 

Please be aware that payments to student bank accounts may take up to 10 working days after the disbursement has been received by the institution. 

If you need assistance opening a UK bank account, please contact Registry – Academic Admin to request a status letter. The bank you choose will require this letter as proof that you are an enrolled student. Please note that you can only request a status letter once you have completed in-person enrolment in September. Please contact Admissions if you need any further guidance. 

Tuition fee balance:

All new students will receive an invoice from Finance for the upcoming term’s tuition fees, usually in August. Please note that you are not required to make payment at that point, particularly if you plan to use your loan funds to cover these fees. 

If there is any outstanding balance relating to unpaid tuition fees, you may receive an updated invoice or notification from Finance after each disbursement requesting payment. 

Please note that loans cannot be disbursed prior to the start of term, and students should budget to cover their living costs for at least the first month of study without access to loan funds.

Students in receipt of US Federal Student Aid are required to meet Trinity Laban’s standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP), as defined in institutional regulations and in accordance with US Federal requirements. This includes maintaining appropriate academic performance and engagement with the programme of study. 

Failure to meet SAP requirements may result in the suspension or withdrawal of financial aid. Trinity Laban reserves the right to assess academic engagement, including attendance and participation, when determining ongoing eligibility. 

A private loan is a non-federal education loan provided by a private lender, typically in the student’s name and often requiring a co-signer. All arrangements are made directly between the borrower and the lender. The institution’s role is limited to setting disbursement dates and certifying that the requested loan amount does not exceed the Cost of Attendance.  

Please note that private student loans, like Direct Loans, are limited to your Cost of Attendance. You may hold both federal and private loans; however, the combined total cannot exceed your Cost of Attendance. 

Trinity Laban is authorised to administer Title IV loans to eligible US students and is also able to work with private lenders such as Sallie Mae. 

Students may consider private loans if:
• they are not eligible for Federal Aid; or
• Federal Aid does not cover the full cost of study;
• they are undertaking programmes not eligible for Federal Aid (e.g. Foundation or Diploma courses). 

Students who are eligible for US Federal Student Aid are strongly encouraged to complete the FAFSA and consider all available federal loan and scholarship options before applying for a private educational loan. In many cases, Federal Student Loans offer more favourable repayment terms, protections, and benefits than private lending options. 

Trinity Laban does not endorse or maintain a preferred lender arrangement for private education loans. Students and parents may choose any private lender, provided that the loan does not place any obligation, liability, or administrative burden on the institution. 

References to lenders such as Sallie Mae or other private loan providers are included for information purposes only and should not be interpreted as recommendations or endorsements. Trinity Laban has no affiliation with, and receives no financial benefit or incentive from, any private lender. The institution is unable to advise students on selecting a loan provider, and applicants are encouraged to carry out independent research to identify the most appropriate funding option for their individual circumstances. 

Return of Funds by Trinity Laban

The US Department of Education is the “Lender”. A student “earns” aid on a daily basis and therefore if a student withdraws, any unearned aid for that payment period needs to be returned to the lender. Once the conservatoire has determined the amount of unearned aid, the funds will be returned to the lender, and the student will be notified if they are required to repay any funds. 

Loans are returned in the following order.
– Federal Unsubsidised Stafford
– Federal Subsidised Stafford
– PLUS Loan 

Loans must be repaid in accordance with the terms of the borrowers Promissory Note. 

There are some Title IV funds that students are scheduled to receive that cannot be earned once a student withdraws because of other eligibility requirements. For example, a new student receiving aid for the first time who withdraws within the first 30 days of a programme will be deemed not to have earned any aid. 

Trinity Laban will determine any adjustments to the loan within the 30 days of the students’ withdrawal and will return funds within 45 days of that calculation. 

Students should note that this policy uses a different calculation from Trinity Laban’s withdrawal policy which may mean that the student owes Trinity Laban once money has been returned to the lender. Students will be notified if this is the case. 

Determining the date of Withdrawal

The date of withdrawal from a programme will be determined by the Registry in discussion with the relevant Head of Programme once the student has determined an intention to withdraw. In the case of the students withdrawing without notifying Trinity Laban, the date of withdrawal will be the date on which the student was last known to have attended. 

Return of Funds by Student

If the student is notified that there are loan funds that must be returned by the student, the student should repay in accordance with the terms of the promissory note signed by the student at the time of making the application for funds. 

The US Department of Veterans Affairs offers education and training benefits to eligible veterans through various GI Bill programmes. However, because of the revised VA regulations and requirements, we will no longer be processing Veterans Affairs Benefits and you should find an alternative source of funding for your studies. 

 As a foreign institution, Trinity Laban is unable to provide IRS Form 1098-T for US tax purposes. However, students who require evidence of tuition fee payments for their US tax filings may request supporting documentation, such as invoices or payment receipts, from the Finance Office.