Eligibility for US financial aid

To apply for US financial aid you must:

• be a citizen, national permanent resident or eligible non-citizen of the United States
• never have defaulted on a student loan of any type
• never have been convicted of an offence in relation to the sale or possession of a controlled substance
• be in compliance with Selective Service registration requirements if you are male and aged 18 - 25
• file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
• pass a credit check for PLUS loans
• be enrolled at least half time in an award course
• maintain satisfactory academic progress
• comply with requests for documents that are listed on your Student Aid Report
• submit all documentation required by Monash University to check your eligibility.

Borrowing limits

The amount you can borrow is based on:

• your status as a dependent or independent student (see dependency status)
• the year and level of your course
• previous outstanding federal loan amounts
• the cost of your course
• your recent income.

Dependency status

The information you provide on the FAFSA will determine whether you are a dependent or independent student. This affects the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) and the types of aid that you may be eligible to receive.

You are an independent student if you are one of the following:

• at least 24 years old by December 31 of the award year
• working on a masters or doctorate program at the beginning of the award year
• married (including separated but not divorced) from the date the FAFSA is completed
• have children who receive more than half their support from you
• have dependants (other than children or spouse) who live with you and receive more than half of their support from you now and through the award year
• an orphan or ward of the court or were a ward of the court until age 18
• a veteran of the US armed forces.