Brandeis Graduate Professional Studies

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for this loan, a student must meet all of the following requirements:

1. Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident;
2. Be accepted, and have matriculated, into a degree program within GPS;
3. Be enrolled in at least two courses (six credits) in the term for which they want the loan;
4. Have a valid Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on file with Brandeis University and a completed Federal Direct Stafford Loan Application for GPS on file with Student Financial Services.

The Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan is a student educational loan. It is not based on need. Loan capital is supplied directly by the federal government, which also serves as the guarantor. Interest begins to accrue the day of disbursement and may be deferred and capitalized.

To review the current interest rate for this loan during this academic year, please review at Federal Direct Stafford Loan | Office of Student Financial Services | Brandeis University.

Students may borrow up to $20,500 per academic year, not to exceed the cost of attendance minus scholarship and any other aid received. Repayment begins six months after a student has ceased at least half-time enrollment (six credits) in a degree program.

Step-by-Step Federal Loan Application Instructions

1. Register for a Federal Student Aid ID. Your will need your FSA ID to electronically sign your FAFSA.
2. Complete the FAFSA for the appropriate academic year of enrollment.
3. The federal code for Brandeis University is 002133. This number is required on the FAFSA. Be sure to electronically sign your FAFSA using the FSA ID.
4. You will receive a Signed Aid Report (SAR) within three to five days after completing the FAFSA. Check the SAR for accuracy. If corrections are needed, you can make them online and selecting "Make Corrections to a Processed FAFSA." — Be sure to electronically sign your FAFSA using your FSA ID.
5. Complete the Master Promissory Note and Entrance Counseling. (You will need your FSA ID to log in). You only need to do this once during your academic career at Brandeis, and if you have previously completed this at another school, it may be transferable to Brandeis.
6. Complete a GPS Stafford Loan Application. The application can be found by logging in to Workday and clicking the Financial Aid Dashboard from your homescreen. Please note that in order to receive a loan for a particular term, you must enroll in at least two courses that term. The loan amount will be divided evenly among each term you select unless you instruct otherwise.

The other type of federal loan for U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents is the Graduate PLUS (GPLUS) loan. Students again will need to fill out the FAFSA as mentioned above, and must use their Unsubsidized Stafford Loan eligibility first. Eligibility requirements for the GPLUS loan are the same as the Stafford Loan with an additional credit check requirement. If you are denied for this loan, and choose to pursue an appeal of this decision and/or add an endorser, please notify the Office of Student Financial Services so that they can monitor the status of your loan.

To review the current interest rate for this loan during this academic year, please review at Federal Direct Stafford Loan | Office of Student Financial Services | Brandeis University.

Students may borrow up to their cost of attendance per academic year minus all other forms of financial aid received. Repayment begins six months after a student has ceased at least half-time enrollment (six credits) in a degree program.

Step-by-Step Federal Graduate PLUS Application Instructions

1. Go to the Department of Education's website, select the "Apply for Aid" button in the header tab. You will need your FSA ID and password to sign in.
2. Select the "PLUS Loan" option from the column. This will run a credit check to confirm eligibility for a Graduate PLUS loan. Be sure to choose the Brandeis University option and NOT Brandeis University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (this is a difference graduate school).
3. Select the "Complete Entrance Counseling" option. You will receive information regarding the terms and conditions associated with the Graduate PLUS Loan program, and you will need to complete a short quiz regarding what you have learned from this introduction.
4. Select the "Complete MPN" option. You will be required to confirm your name and address, supply two references, and sign this form electronically.

Note: Steps 2 and 3 will only need to be done the first time you borrow a Graduate PLUS loan, as your promissory note is valid for up to 10 years.

Students who are not eligible for Federal Direct Stafford Loan or Graduate PLUS Loan may apply for a private student education loan. For available loan options, please visit the ELMSelect website. After you enter your enrollment information, the website will provide you with lender information and list the loans for which you qualify. You will then need to apply directly through the lender and pass a credit check. The funds will come directly to us from the lender.