![The arranged for US loans to Germany The arranged for US loans to Germany](https://images.ctfassets.net/q33z48p65a6w/3j5liORNoAqaQuiSw8igU0/51f57fcc0953c4ed0d08cd8c3b8fca7c/n26-blog-credit-en-1.jpg)
in the UK, Netherlands, etc.) offer some scholarship funds for international students. Scholarships: Many universities abroad (e.g.If you aren’t eligible, or if the university you plan to apply to is not recognised for FAFSA aid, there are other creative ways to fund your plans to attend university in Europe: United Kingdom: University of Oxford (loan), University of Edinburgh (loan), LSE (loan)Īre there alternatives to FAFSA to get a degree abroad?įAFSA is not your only option to finance your studies abroad.Sweden: Uppsala University (loan), Lund University (loan).Netherlands: University of Amsterdam (loan).Ireland: Trinity College Dublin (loan), University College Dublin (loan).Germany: LMU Munich (deferment only), Heidelberg University (deferment only).France: Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne (deferment only).Here is a smattering of the top universities in Europe, along with their FAFSA status (approved for loans, or approved only for loan deferment):
![The arranged for US loans to Germany The arranged for US loans to Germany](https://ischoolconnect.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Artboard-75.png)
To find the best institutions, have a look at the Times Higher Education rankings (THE), the QS rankings, or the US News Best Global Universities.Ī good rule of thumb (if rankings are important to you) is that your university should appear in the top 750 overall and/or within the top ranking within your academic field. Which are the best FAFSA-eligible universities in Europe?Įurope is home to some of the world’s leading universities, and many of them are eligible for FAFSA. Also, inquire if you are required to pay any interest during the time of deferment/forbearance, as each type of loan has a different repayment policy. However, check in advance with your loan servicer to confirm. If your university abroad is FAFSA eligible or if it appears on the “deferment only” category, you should be able to defer most student loan payments while you work on a graduate degree, assuming you follow all guidelines. Can I defer loan payments while getting a Master’s degree abroad? As a best practice for any loan you agree to take, always inquire regarding the interest rate and terms of repayment, so there are no surprises later. Private Loans: In contrast, private loans usually have higher interest rates and may be more expensive to pay back, so where possible try to use federal loans. Direct Plus Loans are federal loans that graduate students or parents of dependent undergraduate students can use to help pay for university. To qualify for a subsidized federal loan, you must demonstrate financial need, while unsubsidized federal loans do not require demonstration of financial need. government pays the interest on the loan while you are studying at a university, whereas an unsubsidized student loan’s interest is always your responsibility even while attending university. Federal loans generally have a more favorable interest rate than private loans.įederal loans: Subsidized federal student loans are loans in which the U.S. Loans can be federal (either subsidized or unsubsidized) or private. Pell grants) are not eligible abroad, however, nearly 600 institutions in Europe are approved for US students to use their FAFSA loan awards to pay for the degree abroad, or at least to defer study loan payments. There are a lot of different types of financial aid, some of which will work abroad and some not. The official list of recognised international schools is updated every quarter:Ĭheck out the full list of FAFSA-eligible universities in Europe Do FAFSA grants and loans work abroad? Whether or not foreign universities are accepted for FAFSA is decided by the US Department of Education. Which universities abroad are eligible for FAFSA? Yes, you can use FAFSA to get a degree abroad! Around 750 institutions abroad, and of those around 600 in Europe, are approved by the US Department of Education to use FAFSA loans abroad or to defer other study loan payments. Every academic year, thousands upon thousands of US students and US permanent residents complete FAFSA forms to see if they are eligible for grants (meaning, free money) and/or loans (which you must pay back) for higher education options. Learn all about how it works: What is FAFSA?įAFSA ( “Free Application for Federal Student Aid”) is the Federal Student Aid process run by the US Department of Education. If you are a US student, you may be eligible for financial support through the FAFSA programme, making it substantially easier to finance your studies abroad.