Other Sources of Financial Aid

A Private Loan is a non-federal education loan, through a private lender, typically in the student’s name and requiring a cosigner. Approval and interest rates are based on the creditworthiness of the borrower and cosigner. Each alternative lender has different eligibility requirements, loan rates, terms, and conditions.

Students who are eligible for federal student aid should complete the FAFSA and exhaust all federal loans and scholarship opportunities, before applying for a private alternative loan. Federal student loans generally have more favourable terms and conditions than private loans. We recommend that you utilise all federal loan eligibility before turning to private loans.

Please be aware you must make contact with the US Financial Aid Team in order for your Private Loans to be processed. Please email the team.

The University is willing to work with any lender who offers alternative educational loans to students enrolled at Foreign Institutions. Currently we are aware of two such lenders, Sallie Mae and Earnest, but students are advised to explore all options available to them and can opt to use any lender.

Sallie Mae offer a Smart Option Student Loan for Undergraduates and a Graduate School Loan for Postgraduate Study.

Northumbria University works closely with Global Education Management Services. Look on their website to find the most suitable student loan for your field of study. 

The Cost of Attendance and Disbursement process for Private Loans works very similarly to that of Federal Loans.

The US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Education Service provides benefits and resources to help US service members, Veterans and their eligible dependents pay for their education.

If you are eligible for VA educational assistance, you may be able to use your Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) or Survivors and Dependents Education Assistance (Chapter 35) benefits at Northumbria University

Northumbria University is approved by the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to process VA Benefits for students studying on campus. Eligibility for GI Bill benefits is determined by the US Department of Veterans Affairs.

As a foreign school, there are some important exceptions to the use of your benefits at the Northumbria University including the specific programme of study that you'll be studying with us, needs to be approved by VA.

Northumbria University’s school page can be found on the VA website.

Ineligible Programmes

• Any element of online, blended or distance learning
• Certificate and Diploma Programmes
• Any programme that includes placement/study abroad

- VA education benefits cannot be used for student exchange programmes or programmes including study abroad
- Courses which require completion of practical training are not approved for the use of VA education benefits, this includes work placement years.

• Any programme studied at a partner institution including joint, double, or dual programmes.
• Yellow Ribbon Benefits

Applying for VA Benefits

Register with www.va.gov/education to determine your eligibility for benefits and to check if your programme of study is on the VA approved list for Northumbria University.

If the programme is showing on VA systems as approved, follow the guidance for in the How to use your VA benefits at Northumbria University section.

How to plan for studying at Northumbria University

It is important that you contact us as soon as your Certificate of Eligibility letter is sent to you, as the VA will not inform Northumbria University. In addition, to receive VA funding for studying overseas, the programme of study you are applying for needs to be approved by the VA. The list of programmes already approved at the Northumbria University can be found in the Current Approved Programmes section below.

It is important to note that while some programmes may have similar names and/or content, each specific programme must be individually approved.

Please note that if studying a degree that lasts multiple years, you'll need to confirm before each year of study that you want to continue using your VA benefit entitlement.

Approved Programmes (Updated 30 April 2026)

(List approved programmes here)

If your programme of study is not listed on the VA website as approved, we can request approval provided that you have successfully enrolled on that programme at Northumbria University. You must contact us as early as possible to ask us to proceed with the programme approval process.

The VA advise that their approval process is taking up to 6 months for new programmes to be added to their approved list. We strongly advise that you do not start your programme of study until the VA has granted approval or be prepared to self fund tuition fees and your own living costs.

Without formal VA programme approval, you will become liable for tuition fee payments.

You can use private or Federal loans to pay your tuition if your programme is not approved on time. Any additional funds paid to your tuition fees can be refunded to you when your VA benefits are received by Northumbria University.

How to use your VA Benefits at Northumbria University

Step 1 - Check your eligibility for VA funding.

Step 2 - Submit your application on the VA Website. If your application is approved, the VA will send you a Certificate of Eligibility letter.

Step 3 - Check whether the programme you plan to study is listed in our Currently Approved Programmes above. If not, please see the guidance in the section.

Step 4 - Ensure that your programme of study is 100% based on campus in Newcastle and does not include any off-campus periods for placements/study abroad or online elements.

Step 5 - Email your Certificate of Eligibility (issued by VA) to us. Include your SSN and UoA applicant/student ID number in the message.

Step 6 - If your programme is approved by the VA and you have completed the registration process at Northumbria University, we will submit a Certification of Enrolment using VA systems. It is important to note that Certifications can take several weeks to process through the VA at peak times.

Please note that if studying a degree that lasts multiple years, you'll need to confirm before each year of study that you want to continue using your VA benefit entitlement.

You must notify the Northumbria University if you make any changes to your study pattern, programme of study or attendance.

How and when will funds be received

Once your attendance at the Northumbria University has been confirmed at the start of the academic year, we will submit an enrolment certificate to the VA.

The VA does not provide a timeframe of when students will receive their funding once the enrolment certificate has been submitted. Due to data protection laws, the VA will never share your funding details with Northumbria University. As such, we will not be able to assist you if you have specific queries about your funding.

If you have any questions about the payment of your benefits, you will need to contact the VA directly.

The VA can only pay your personal maintenance benefits into a US bank account. It will be your responsibility to transfer them to a UK bank account so that you can access them while at Northumbria University.

If you receive financial support for tuition, your tuition payments will be made directly to the Northumbria University by the VA. They will convert the GBP amount into USD using the rate provided by Convera at the time the funds are received.

You will be regarded as personally responsible for tuition fee payment and your tuition fee charge invoiced to you directly. The VA will pay tuition fees directly to the University after the Certificate of Enrolment has been processed:-

Payment released in 2 instalments for Undergraduate and PhD students

Payment released in 3 instalments for Postgraduate Taught students

There is a maximum dollar value that the VA will pay for tuition and after conversion to £GBP, the value that they pay may not cover the full cost of your tuition charges. In all cases, where there is a shortfall it is your responsibility to pay the outstanding balance.

How Much Funding Could You Receive

The GI Bill Comparison Tool can help you estimate how much you could receive. To find out exactly what you are entitled to, please contact the VA directly.

Chapter 33 benefits may include financial support for tuition, fees, books, supplies, and housing.

The VA sets a maximum value for the tuition fee contribution each year. Further information about benefits can be found at www.va.gov/education/benefit-rates/post-9-11-gi-bill-rates/future-rates

• 2024/25 - The rate is capped at $28,937.09
• 2025/26 - The rate is capped at $29,920.95

Chapter 35 benefits are a monthly payment made directly to the dependent (spouse or child) of a US Veteran. They do not cover tuition fees.

As a Title IV institution the Northumbria University is approved to accept funds from 529 Savings Plans.

As a Title IV institution Northumbria University is approved to accept Americorps National Service Awards

Students who have completed certain types of national service in the US may be eligible to receive a National Service Award (Segal Education Trust).

To manage your award please use the MyAmericorps portal.

For eligible students, payment of an award is made directly to Northumbria University for tuition fees but the university must first confirm details of the student’s programme of study and enrolment period through the online Americorps system.

Please note that Americorps National Service Awards are released in two equal installments, one at the start of the relevant enrolment period and one at the mid-point, unless the date of authorisation is past the mid-point of the enrolment period.

For further assistance please contact fc.financialaid@northumbria.ac.uk.