US private student loans, including Sallie Mae and Earnest loans
If you are ineligible for U.S. federal loans, you may be able to use a U.S. private student loan to support your studies. Additionally, you can use a combination of U.S. Federal Aid and Private Loans, provided the combined loans total does not exceed your cost of attendance.
Before applying for a Private Loan, students are encouraged to apply for the maximum amount they are eligible for in Federal Stafford loans, as federal loans are often cheaper, and most American students are eligible for them. We strongly advise that you investigate US federal loans fully, before applying for a US private student loan. Please refer to our US Federal Loans section for further information.
US private loans do not enable you to borrow more funds than US federal loans as the total borrowing for any combination of loans cannot exceed the total of the standardised Swansea University Cost of Attendance for your chosen program at Swansea University.
Note: Private student loans will be included in your total cost of attendance and are subject to credit checks.
Swansea University will work with whichever private lender you decide to use, however, please be aware that Sallie Mae Student Loans and Earnest Loans are the only lenders we are currently aware of that are willing to lend to students at a foreign school(a School outside of the United States).
Sallie Mae: No more than 365 days can pass from the loan period end date to the first disbursement of the loan through Sallie Mae Student Loans. For loan applications for the new academic year (which will normally have an earliest disbursement date of 2nd October), please do not make an application to Sallie Mae Student Loans any earlier than the 1st May, but please do get in contact with the team if you have any queries at all before this date.
Sallie Mae is not a preferred lender and this does not represent a preferred lender arrangement.
Earnest also lend to international students who have a US citizen or permanent resident of the US as co-signer. You can access further information about this loan here.
To apply you will need to contact Sallie Mae or earnest directly.
You can contact Earnest by submitting a request here. You can contact Sallie Mae here.
Swansea University will be required to certify both Earnest and Sallie Mae student loans. If you are successful with your loan application, the loan funds will be disbursed by Swansea University.
Global Education Management Services (GEMS) can also offer support in applying for the right Sallie Mae or Earnest loan for you. Their site is specifically designed for students at foreign schools, and they now have new products available, including the parent loan for undergraduate and graduate students.
Sallie Mae
Loans for Graduate Students:
Global Education Management Services (GEMS) announces a new financing option for graduate student pursuing general Graduate programmes, law, health profession, and other degrees.
The new graduate student loans offer competitively priced fixed or variable interest rates and extended repayment terms, have no origination fees or pre-payment penalties, and can cover up to 100 percent of the school-certified cost of attendance. Interest rates may be lower if applied with a creditworthy co-signer but is not necessary. Approval requires a credit check and analysis.
Loans for Parents of Undergraduate and Graduate Students:
Parents or other family members can now access loans to assist their child with study, and not just in undergraduate programmes, but also with graduate studies.
Loans for Undergraduates on their brand new website:
Their traditional range of undergraduate loans is also featured.
It’s all on their new look website. Sallie Mae Smart Option Student Loan for GEMS.
If you wish to apply for a private US student loan, email the University’s US Loan Officer, Sarah Charles for a Cost of Attendance worksheet and other instructions, before applying to your chosen loan provider.
US federal and private student loans for all US students are administered by the US loans Officer Sarah Charles.