New applicants

The first step toward applying for US Federal Aid is to complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Make sure you complete the one relevant to the study period you are applying for.

If you are applying to commence study at JCU anytime between July 2025 or June 2026 you will need to complete a 25/26 FAFSA. If you are applying to commence study at JCU anytime between July 2026 and June 2027, you will need to complete a 26/27 FAFSA.

To allow JCU to receive your FAFSA, you must add the JCU school code (G12206) to your application.

JCU will receive a copy of your FAFSA, and provided you have received a JCU offer to study (Letter of Offer) for an eligible program, the Financial Aid Offer will be sent to the email address listed on your FAFSA.

The Financial Aid Offer will include the type and amount of eligibility, as well as the steps you need to complete to apply.

Financial Aid Offers cannot be issued too far in advance therefore if you have applied early you will not receive your Financial Aid Offer until closer to commencement. If you have not received your Financial Aid Offer, please contact financialaid@jcu.edu.au.

Please note, timeframes  and deadlines apply!

If you are a new student, you must formally accept your Letter of Offer and make an Advance Payment before your loan application will be processed any further.  US Federal Aid cannot replace the Advance Payment - all students are required to pay an amount upfront.   However, US Federal Aid eligible students may be eligible to reduce the course fee deposit.

The "Advance Payment" generally includes the following components:

1. Course fee deposit. The full deposit will be based on the first trimester course fees (the equivalent of 9 credit points).  US Federal Aid applicants (if approved), may be eligible to reduce this deposit based on the amount of aid due to be received. This will be confirmed once your Federal Aid offer is issued.
2. Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC).OSHC is a requirement for Student Visa applicants, this amount must be paid in full with the Advance Payment and cannot be reduced unless you have arranged suitable alternative OSHC.

Your US Federal Aid must be disbursed in accordance with strict US Dept. of Education guidelines. Disbursements will be released directly to JCU, usually in line with the commencement of classes in each of the main study periods.  For trimester based programs, this will be January, May, and September. 

JCU will first deduct any course fees due for the study period, and then if a credit balance remains, we will arrange a refund to your nominated bank account.

New students are required to attend a face-to-face loan counselling session when you first arrive at JCU, which is where all aspects of the loan will be discussed to ensure you only borrow what is required.  This is a good time to ask any questions you may have, as this will be your opportunity to adjust the loan amount, cancel the loan, or make any changes necessary to ensure you are comfortable with the process.  No loan fees or disbursements will occur until after this step has been completed.

Once you have borrowed federal aid, whether through JCU or another school previously, you will have a record in the US Department of Education’s National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS).

When you apply for federal aid through JCU, we will report your enrolment status and estimated completion date to NSLDS.  If you change your enrolment status, such as withdraw, complete early, or your estimated completion date changes, this will be reported to NSLDS.

As long as you are enrolled at least ‘half time’, you are eligible for deferment of loan repayments.  At JCU the definition of half-time is 6 credit points in each of the main study periods. 

If you have had Perkins loans in the past or a private student loan, you may need to obtain a ‘deferment application form’ from the Servicer for those loans. Check with your lender.

As the US Government has strict guidelines that all universities have to follow to remain eligible participants in the Federal Aid program, all queries and/or paperwork relating to US loans must be signed by the authorised JCU Financial Aid Administrator.