United States of America

Citizens of the United States of America can fund their Bond University degree in a variety of ways, these include:

Home Government Programs

Bond University participates in the William D Ford Direct Loan program, which offers Stafford and PLUS loans to U.S. Citizens. Students applying for loans are required to pay a deposit of one subjects worth of fees to accept their offer to study at Bond University. Upon receipt of this payment, a Confirmation of Enrollment form (CoE) will be issued, allowing students to apply for their student visa.

For other programs please contact the Financial Aid Officer.

The types of loans that are available include:

Direct Subsidized Stafford Loans

Direct Subsidized Stafford Loans are awarded to Undergraduate students who demonstrate financial need. The federal government pays your interest while you are in school at least half-time, during the grace period and any periods of deferment. Although you are not required to make payments whilst you are studying, you will enter repayment six months after you graduate, leave school, or drop below half-time enrolment.

For more information on eligibility, interest rates and repayment details visit http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/studentloans.jsp

To be eligible, students will need to have received an official letter of offer from Bond University.
To complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), students can visit www.fafsa.ed.gov. List Bond University (School Code G30954) as one of your preferred schools. Alternatively, students can contact our Bond Financial Aid Officer who can assist in the completion and lodgment of the application. The Financial Aid Officer (financial.aid@bond.edu.au) will advise as to the status of your application. Turnaround times may vary, it is advised to confirm at point of application.

Please note that, effective July 1st 2012, Subsidized Stafford Loans are no longer available to Postgraduate or Professional students.

Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans

Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans are available to all eligible students, regardless of income. Unlike the subsidized Stafford Loan, you are responsible for paying the interest whilst you are in school at least half time. Interest accrues from the time of the first disbursement; however, you have the option of deferring your interest and principal payments until you enter the repayment period (at which point this interest is ‘capitalized’). Alternatively, you can opt to make a minimum repayment of $50 per month or the unpaid balance including interest, whichever is less.

For more information on eligibility, interest rates and repayment details visit
http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/studentloans.jsp

To be eligible, students will need to have received an official letter of offer from Bond University.
To complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), students can visit www.fafsa.ed.gov. List Bond University (School Code G30954) as one of your preferred schools. Alternatively, students can contact our Bond Financial Aid Officer who can assist in the completion and lodgment of the application. The Financial Aid Officer (financial.aid@bond.edu.au) will advise as to the status of your application Turnaround times may vary, it is advised to confirm at point of application.

Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students (PLUS)

Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students (PLUS) are federally guaranteed loans that allow parents to borrow funds to pay for the educational expenses of their dependent student. The program does require the borrower to pass a simple credit check though. Interest begins to accrue when funds are disbursed. The borrower has the option of beginning repayment either sixty days after the loan is fully disbursed or waiting until six months after the dependant student ceases to be enrolled at least half time.

For more information on eligibility, interest rates and repayment details visit http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/parentloans.jsp

To be eligible, students will need to have received an official letter of offer from Bond University.
To complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), students can visit www.fafsa.ed.gov. List Bond University (School Code G30954) as one of your preferred schools. Alternatively, students can contact our Bond Financial Aid Officer who can assist in the completion and lodgment of the application. The Financial Aid Officer (financial.aid@bond.edu.au) will advise as to the status of your application. Turnaround times may vary, it is advised to confirm at point of application.

PLUS Loans for Graduate Students

PLUS Loans for Graduate Students are federally guaranteed loans that allow graduates to borrow funds to pay for educational expenses on their own signature. The program does require the borrower to pass a simple credit check. Before applying for this loan the borrower must apply for and the school must determine their eligibility for the maximum annual Stafford loan amount. Interest begins to accrue when funds are disbursed and repayment begins within 60 days after the loan has been fully disbursed.

For more information on eligibility, interest rates and repayment details visit
http://studentaid.ed.gov/students/attachments/funding/PlusLoansQA.pdf

To be eligible, students will need to have received an official letter of offer from Bond University.
To complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), students can visit www.fafsa.ed.gov. List Bond University (School Code G30954) as one of your preferred schools. Alternatively, students can contact our Bond Financial Aid Officer who can assist in the completion and lodgment of the application. The Financial Aid Officer(financial.aid@bond.edu.au) will advise as to the status of your application. Turnaround times may vary, it is advised to confirm at point of application.

Cohort Default Rate

The US Department of Education calculates a cohort default rate (CDR) annually to determine the percentage of Federal Loan borrowers at each university who default on their loan repayments. The latest CDR for Bond University for the 2009 fiscal year is 3.4%.

Private Loans

Eligible students may also apply for a Private Loan to help finance their studies.

For further information please visit the following link:
http://www.myglobaled.com/StudentLoan/studentLoans.html

U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs Education Benefit Program

Eligibility for GI Bill Educational benefits can be extended to veterans, members of the Selected Reserves or National Guard; and children or spouses of service-connected deceased or totally and permanently disabled veterans. Each U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (DVA) education program has distinct eligibility requirements under specific chapters of Title 10 and 38, U.S. Code (USC).

All students who feel they may be eligible for education benefits should submit an application. Even if a student appears to be ineligible, the DVA should review the application and officially grant or deny benefits.

US Constitutional & Citizenship Day

September 17 has been designated as Constitution and Citizenship Day in United States of America. This day of celebration was chosen for its significance because delegates to the US Constitution Convention met for the final time to sign the Constitution on September 17, 1787. US citizens are encouraged to celebrate this day each year. Information regarding celebrations and activities can be found at The National Archives  

Scholarships

Diversity Abroad

Diversity Abroad, in cooperation with the American Institute for Foreign Study (AIFS) offers twenty $1,000 scholarships to prospective American students interested in studying in Australia during the spring (6), summer (8) and fall (6) intakes.

For more information, please visit http://www.diversityabroad.com/study-abroad-australia-scholarships

To apply, please view the DiversityAbroad.com Study Abroad Scholarship form (PDF 146Kb).

Fulbright Program

The Fulbright Program is one the largest and most prestigious educational exchange programs in the world. The Australian-American Fulbright Commission is one of over 50 Fulbright Commissions in the world who work with the United States Department of State to facilitate the Fulbright Program between the United States and over 150 countries worldwide.

For a full list of Fulbright Scholarships Available for American citizens please see here http://www.fulbrightonline.org/

For details on how to apply, please visit http://us.fulbrightonline.org/applynow.html

The Gilman Scholarship Program

The Gilman Scholarship Program seeks to diversify the kinds of students who study abroad and the countries and regions where they go. Established by the International Academic Opportunity Act of 2000, the Gilman Program offers scholarships for students who have been traditionally underrepresented in education abroad and provides awards for U.S undergraduate students who are receiving Federal Pell Grant funding at a two-year or four-year college or university to participate in study abroad programs worldwide.

For more information, please visit:
http://www.iie.org/en/Programs/Gilman-Scholarship-Program.aspx

For details on how to apply visit:
http://www.iie.org/en/Programs/Gilman-Scholarship-Program/Apply.aspx

Bond University Scholarships

Bond University welcomes scholarship applications from prospective American students with outstanding academic achievements.

For more information and details on how to apply, please visit the Scholarships page.

PLEASE NOTE: Only full degree programs (Bachelor, Masters and PhD) are eligible programs for Stafford and PLUS loans. US Federal Aid is not available for online programs, the Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery program, Graduate Certificate and Postgraduate Diploma programs.