Eligibility

To be eligible for U.S. financial aid at Monash University, you must meet the following criteria:

• Be enrolled at least half time in an eligible program, i.e. a degree program or other recognised educational credential offered by Monash University
• Agree to maintain satisfactory academic progress, whilst simultaneously adhering to Monash statutes and regulations regarding academic progress and to the relevant Australian Immigration / visa legislation
• Be a citizen, national permanent resident or eligible non-citizen of the United States.
• Not be in default on a Stafford, PLUS, or any other student loan
• Not have been convicted of any offence under state or federal law involving the sale or possession of a controlled substance
• Be in compliance with Selective Service registration requirements if you are male and between the ages of 18-25
• File a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
• For PLUS loans, your parents must pass a simple credit check
• Comply with requests for documentation if selected for verification by the U.S. Department of Education, as indicated on your Student Aid Report
• Submit all documentation required by Monash University to verify your eligibility and determine your financial need.

The amount you can borrow is determined based on a number of factors including:

• Whether you are a dependent or independent student (see below)
• What level or year you are studying
• Whether you have previous outstanding federal loans
• The cost of attendance
• Recent income (as assessed during the loan application process).

A student’s dependency status is determined from information provided on the FAFSA. It affects the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) and types of aid that you may be eligible to receive. For the majority of undergraduate students, your Student Aid Report (SAR) generated from your FAFSA will classify you as a dependant student. However, if you can answer YES to at least one of the following conditions, you will be considered an independent student:

• You are at least 24 years old by December 31 of the award year 
• You are working on a masters or doctorate program at the beginning of the award year for which the FAFSA is completed
• You are married (if you are separated but not divorced, you should answer YES) as of the date the FAFSA is completed
• You have children who receive more than half their support from you 
• 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 
• You are an orphan or ward of the court or were a ward of the court until age 18 
• You are a veteran of the U.S. armed forces.

Please note that the University requires documentation to support any YES replies above.