Loans |
Who is eligible |
Additional information |
---|---|---|
Subsidized Direct Loans |
Awarded to student who demonstrate financial need |
Awarded to students based on financial need. No interest is charged while studying at least half time, during the grace period or deferral periods. |
Unsubsidized Direct Loans |
Awarded to students who demonstrate financial need |
Awarded to students based on financial need. Interest is charged during all periods, including the time the student is in school as well as the grace period and deferral periods. |
Direct PLUS Loans for Parents |
Enables parents to borrow on behalf of their dependent child |
Students must be enrolled in an eligible program at least half time. Interest is charged during all periods, including the time the student is in school as well as the grace period and deferral periods. *Only parents of undergraduate dependent students can receive PLUS Loans. |
Direct PLUS Loans for Graduate/Professionals |
Awarded to graduate and professional students enrolled full-time. |
Graduate/Professional students must be enrolled in an eligible program. Interest is charged during all periods, including the time the student is in school as well as the grace period and deferral periods. |
Citoyens américains
Si vous avez la citoyenneté américaine et que vous étudiez à plein temps à l’Université d’Ottawa, il se peut que vous soyez admissible au William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program.
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William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program
American students studying full time at the University of Ottawa can apply for student loans through the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program.
- Direct Loan- Undergraduate students (subsidized/unsubsidized)
- Direct Loan- graduate & professional students (unsubsidized)
- Grad PLUS Loan- graduate & professional students
- Parent PLUS Loan- Dependent undergraduate students
Note: US Pell Grants are not available to students attending a foreign institution.

Types of loans
Applying for the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program
U.S. citizens, or eligible non-U.S. citizens as defined by the U.S. Department of Education, may apply for federal student aid from the U.S. Federal Direct Loan Program if they are accepted in an eligible program at the University of Ottawa
Dual citizens of the U.S. and Canada: Students who are eligible to apply for U.S. federal loans and Canadian Provincial/Territorial financial aid loans must explore and determine the federal loan program that is best suited to support their financial need. A student cannot obtain both federal loans from the U.S. and Canada at the same time.
Programs of instructions offered via telecommunication methods are not eligible.
Online education
On March 27, 2020, the CARES Act was signed into U.S. law. This law allows the Department of Education to waive the distance education prohibition for foreign institutions. The U.S. Congress passed a one-year extension of the waiver of the Higher Education Act prohibition on the use of online teaching for students receiving U.S. Direct loans at eligible foreign institutions. It was signed into law on 15 March by President Biden. Consequently, for Fall 2022, Winter 2023 and Summer 2023, you are allowed to have your US federal loans even if you are required to take any uOttawa course(s) offered fully or partially online.
Non-approved programs
- All nursing programs
- Medicine
- Canadian-American Dual JD Program (Washington College of Law)
Student status
- Enrollment under the ‘special student’ status is not permitted as this is not recognized under any approved programs of study
- Undergraduate students must be enrolled at least half-time in an approved program. See table for further details:
Status |
Units/term |
Full-time |
Minimum 12 units/term |
Three-quarter time |
9 units/term |
Half-time |
6 units/term |
- Graduate students must maintain a full-time status.
Study abroad and exchange programs
Study abroad: Students participating in a study abroad program are not eligible to received Direct Plus Loans via the University of Ottawa. Students in a study abroad program will be paying their tuition fees to the host institution and not the university. Students must, therefore, reach out to the host institution to inquire about possible federal student aid or other financial assistance.
Exchange programs: Students completing an approved exchange program by the can be considered for US Direct Loans through the University of Ottawa. Students enrolled in an approved exchange:
- Pay their tuition fees to the University of Ottawa.
- Apply for US Direct Loans following the University of Ottawa procedures.
- Are enrolled in an exchange program where the host institution is not located within the United States.
- Are enrolled to the exchange program at a host institution that is Title IV approved as outlined by the US Department of Education. A list of the approved institutions can be found via the Federal School Code List of Participating Schools.
We recommend that students reach out to the Financial Aid and Awards Service to discuss their eligibility and financial options prior to their application and acceptance in the exchange program.
