US Direct Loan Consumer Information
The US government requires institutions which offer federal student loans to disclose the following consumer information.
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Student loan information published by the US DoE
The University will provide information published by the US Department of Education to students at any time that information regarding loan availability is requested, including the rights and responsibilities of students and schools under Title IV HEA (Higher Education Act) loan programs.
National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS)
If you take out a federal loan at Goldsmiths, we will submit the details of your loan to NSLDS and this data will be accessible to guaranty agencies, lenders and schools determined to be authorised users of the data system.
Entrance counselling for student loan borrowers
Prior to the first disbursement, first-time borrowers (other than for Parent PLUS loans) will be provided with comprehensive information on the terms and conditions of the loan and of the borrower’s responsibilities through entrance counselling. At Goldsmiths, entrance counselling is required to be completed via StudentLoans.gov before a loan will be approved.
Exit counselling for student loan borrowers
The University will provide exit counselling to borrowers of loans (other than for Parent PLUS loans) shortly before the student borrower ceases at least half-time study at the school. At Goldsmiths, exit counselling should be completed via StudentLoans.gov. Any student who fails to complete exit counselling via StudentLoans.gov will be emailed a copy of the exit counselling guide, produced by the US Department of Education.
PLUS counselling for student loan borrowers
Prior to the first disbursement, borrowers who are informed by the US Department of Education that they have an adverse credit history (and have obtained an approved endorser or documented to the satisfaction of the US Department of Education that there are extenuating circumstances related to the adverse credit history) will be required to undertake PLUS counselling.
Third-Party Debt Relief
Students and Alumni should be aware that some third party debt relief companies are misusing University and Department of Education logos and seals, attempting to give the impression that they are working with or on behalf of your University, and charging fees to help you manage your debt, in some cases without payments being made to reduce your balance. The Department of Education do not charge for debt relief or advice and students should contact their loan servicer for further advice regarding their repayment options, loan deferment or forebearance. You can find your servicer by logging on to nslds.ed.gov. Goldsmiths does not partner with any debt management company.
We are not aware of this affecting any Goldsmiths students but you should remain vigilant and wary of communications of this nature. If you have any concerns you should contact your loan servicer in the first instance.
Private education loan disclosures
If you wish to consider a private education loan, please see our private loan pages.
A self-certification form (Word) for private education loans may be of use to students. If you require information on how to complete the form, please email financialaid@gold.ac.uk.
Code of conduct for education loans
Goldsmiths' code of conduct for US education loans is as follows:
In order to prohibit a conflict of interest with the responsibilities of an agent with respect to private education loans, all agents at Goldsmiths with responsibility for US loans are prohibited from:
- revenue-sharing arrangements with any lender;
- receiving gifts from a lender, a guarantor, or a loan servicer;
- contracting arrangements providing financial benefit from any lender or affiliate of a lender;
- directing borrowers to particular lenders* or refusing or delaying loan certifications;
- offers of funds for private loans;
- call centre or financial aid office staffing assistance; and advisory board compensation.
All agents with responsibility for US loans are reminded at least annually of the code.
* If you are applying for a private US student loan, Goldsmiths will work with whichever private lender you decide to use, if they are willing to work with us. Please note that we are only aware of one lender currently offering such loans, which is Sallie Mae. Sallie Mae is not a preferred lender and this does not represent a preferred lender arrangement.
Price of attendance
For information about the price of attendance, including tuition and fees, books and supplies, room and board, transportation costs, and any other additional costs, please see our Tuition Fee pages and our Cost of Attendance pages.
Refund policy, withdrawal and Title IV financial
For information about Goldsmiths’ refund policy, please see our Withdrawal pages.
Requirements for the return of Title IV funds are published in Goldsmiths' Return to Title IV (R2T4) Policy.
1098T Forms
If you require any further information about the content, please email financialaid (@gold.ac.uk).
Student financial aid information
Schools outside of the US administering Federal Direct Loans are required to provide the following consumer information to its students.
For information about all need-based and non-need based federal, local, private and institutional student financial assistance available to students at Goldsmiths, please see our Financial Assistance pages.
For the following information about US federal student loans, please see our Federal Loan pages:
- Terms and conditions of the Title IV HEA (Higher Education Act) loans
- Criteria for selecting recipients and determining the award amount
- Eligibility requirements and procedures for applying for aid
- Methods and frequency of disbursements of aid
- Rights and responsibilities of students receiving Title IV HEA student financial aid, including the criteria for continued student eligibility and standards for satisfactory academic progress
- Terms of loans received as part of the financial aid package, and the necessity for repaying loans
- Procedures and forms by which students apply for assistance
- A statement that enrolment in a program of study abroad approved for credit by the home school may be considered enrolment in the home school for the purposes of applying for federal student financial aid
- The exit counselling information the University collects and provides to services
Facilities and services available to students with disabilities
Students should be aware of disability support and that any related costs can be included in their Cost of Attendance when applying for Federal or private loans.
Academic programme information
For information about current degree programmes and other educational and training programmes available at the University, please see our information pages:
Privacy of student records
Your rights under the Data Protection Act 1998 are outlined on the university's Data Protection pages. This includes how to make a data access request.
Should you have a complaint about the processing of your US loan, you have the right to file complaints with the US Department of Education, although it would be preferable that you contact us first so that we can try to resolve the problem for you.