Step 1

Apply for your FAFSA (Free Application for Student Aid) / obtain a SAR (Student Aid Report)

• Completing a FAFSA application will allow you to obtain a SAR.
• Make your FAFSA application here.
• If you are applying for the first time, you will need to create a username and password.
• Note: Trinity College Dublin’s school code is: G06842.
• Once you have completed your online application, within a few days FAFSA will email you a Student Aid Report (SAR). The SAR calculates your EFC (expected family contribution) towards your cost of study.
• Note: a new FAFSA application must be made each year to obtain an up-to-date SAR as there could be changes in income or other elements used to determine financial aid eligibility.

Step 2

Supply Documentation to Trinity College Dublin.

New Student Applications
If this is your first time applying for financial aid at Trinity College Dublin you will need to submit the below documentation via email; (PLEASE INCLUDE ALL ITEMS IN ONE EMAIL AS ATTACHMENTS) academic.registry@tcd.ie FAO Federal Aid Officer

1. FASFA (formeley SAR) Report (obtained via your FAFSA application as detailed in Step 1). This will not be automatically shared with TCD even though you get a message stating that it is. More information about FAFSA can be found here.
2. Official offer letter/acceptance to Trinity College Dublin or screenshot of acceptance screen.
3. Copy of current valid passport.
4. Copy of high school transcripts and academic transcripts from previous universities if you attended a third level institution.
5. A signed/completed MPN (Master Promissory Note) and, if applicable, a signed/completed MPN for your Parent Plus application (see Step 3 below for more detail on MPNs). 
6. Completed entrance counselling (see Step 4 below for more detail on Entrance Counselling).

Continuing Student Applications
Students who have had previous US Federal loans administered through Trinity College Dublin are only required to submit the following items;(PLEASE INCLUDE ALL ITEMS IN ONE EMAIL AS ATTACHEMENTS) academic.registry@tcd.ie FAO Federal Aid Officer

1. FASFA (formeley SAR) Report (obtained via your FAFSA application as detailed in Step 1). This will not be automatically shared with TCD even though you get a message stating that it is. More information about FAFSA can be found here.
2. Copy of current valid passport. (If original passport submitted has changed or expired)
3. A signed/completed MPN (Master Promissory Note) and, if applicable, a signed/completed MPN for your Parent Plus application (see Step 3 below for more detail on MPNs). 
4. Completed entrance counselling (see Step 4 below for more detail on Entrance Counselling).

Master Promissory Note Explained
The MPN is a legal document in which you promise to repay your loan(s) and any accrued interest and fees to the Department of Education.

It also explains the terms and conditions of your loan. For more information please visit the student loans website.

• Your MPN is valid for 1 year from issue.
• A new MPN must be completed annually.
•  You must have a separate MPN for a Parent PLUS Loan – click on ‘Complete PLUS Request Process’ to complete this. Credit checks are undertaken on parents and this can take some time. If you have an adverse credit history, you may still receive a parent plus loan if you obtain an endorser who will guarantee the loan on your behalf.

Entrance Counselling Explained
Entrance Counselling is required by all students undertaking a federal loan to help them understand the responsibilities of their loan.

• You need to complete entrance counselling for both your direct loan and, if applicable, your parent plus loan.
• For information on Entrance Counselling, please visit the student loans website.
• If you fail to complete online Entrance Counselling, it may delay the payment of your loans.

Step 3

Trinity College Dublin Supplies to Student
Once Trinity College Dublin is satisfied you have completed step 2 above adequately your financial aid package will be calculated, and you will be emailed 2 documents:

• A Cost of Attendance Spreadsheet (COA) – this indicates the maximum amount which can be borrowed.

• A Loan Declaration Form – once you decide how much you want to borrow (not to exceed the COA) you enter the amount of funding you wish to borrow on the Loan Declaration and return signed document to financial aid officer.

NOTE – OUTSIDE SCHOLARSHIP/GRANT RECIPIENTS

• If you are in receipt of an outside Scholarship/Grant or a Trinity College award, you must notify the Trinity College Dublin in advance by email.
• Any payments from grants/scholarships or awards will be noted on your Cost of Attendance and will reduce your financial need.
• If you are awarded a scholarship/grant after you have submitted your loan declaration to Trinity College Dublin, you must notify the financial aid officer by email once awarded.
• If you fail to declare this information, Trinity College Dublin will reduce any further disbursements of funds due to you.

Return of Title IV Funds (R2T4)

Timing of Calculation:
Regulations require Trinity to perform calculations within 30 days from the date we determine a student has withdrawn. We must return the funds within 45 days of the calculation and the calculation must be performed within 30 days of the date of determination of withdrawal. Once the R2T4 calculation has been undertaken, TCD will issue a copy to the student by email.

Calculation Method:
The following formula is used to determine the percentage of unearned aid that has to be returned to the federal government:

• The percent earned is equal to the number of calendar days completed up to the withdrawal date, divided by the total calendar days in the payment period (less any scheduled breaks that are at least 5 days long).

The percent unearned is equal to 100 percent minus the percent earned.

The assumption is that a student will attend the university for the full period in which the aid was awarded. If a student who is in receipt of US Federal Funding withdraws (officially or unofficially) from the university, we will determine on a pro-rata basis the amount of loan money to be returned to the Federal Student Aid Program.

The student has earned 100% of financial aid if the R2T4 calculation results are more than 60% earned.

Credit balance refund for withdrawn student must be put on hold until R2T4 is calculated. Regulatory timeframe for any credit balance resets to 14 days from the day you perform an R2T4 calculation.

A withdrawal from the Federal Loan Programme may affect your future financial aid eligibility and your personal finances.
When a student withdraws, the college is required to calculate the amount of “unearned” funds to be returned. Unearned funds are calculated pro-rata, based on the number of days attended during the loan period, up to the official date of withdrawal. We will calculate the number of days attended as a percentage of the total number of days in the loan period. This determines the amount of “earned” funds, and any remaining “unearned” funds must be returned to the US Federal government.

Post Withdrawal Disbursements

• Total Disbursed Aid – Earned Aid = Unearned Aid to be Returned

If the amount of aid already disbursed is less than the earned aid, TCD will calculate a post-withdrawal disbursement
If eligible, TCD will send email notification of the action required to either accept or decline a portion, or all of the late disbursement.  If no response is received within two weeks the award will be cancelled.

TCD must offer the student (or parent in the case of a Parent Plus loan) the PWD within 30 days of the Date of Determination and request confirmation that the PWD is accepted.

TCD must within 30 days of the date of determination notify the student and parent in the case of a PLUS loan of the following points:

• The borrower may decline all or a portion of the loan disbursement.
• The School may request confirmation of any amount to be credited to the student’s account or directly disbursed to the borrower.
  • Advise the obligation to repay the loan.
  • Require a response of 14 days.
  • The School reserves the right to not disburse if the response is late.
  • If the school decides to not disburse, the borrower will be advised by email.
  • If the event of no response from the borrower, no disbursement of the PWD will be processed and the PWD will be returned to the Department of education.

 

A Leave of Absence (LOA) should be only a temporary interruption to a student's programme of study. For the purposes of US Federal Aid a LOA is considered to be the equivalent of a withdrawal from TCD if it exceeds 180 days (6 months) in any 12-month period. The borrower will be considered as withdrawn from TCD for loan repayment purposes if they fail to return within the 180 day timeframe and at that point, the university is required to calculate the amount of financial aid the student earned and the amount of financial aid that must be returned.

NOTE: If students cannot resume their education at the point they left off on approved/unapproved LOA irrelevant if it is within 180 days, the borrower will be considered as withdrawn from TCD for loan repayment purposes and the R2T4 is calculated if they withdraw within the term.

Information on the Trinity College Dublin LOA policy can be found on the Academic Registry student cases webpage.

Example of return calculation:
If a term last 60 days excluding any scheduled breaks and a students received €10,000 for the entire term but only attends 20 days they have only completed 33.3% of the term (€3,333 entitlement) and 66.7% of the funds are to be returned (€6667).
This calculation is applied to the total amount disbursed for the loan period. Therefore, a student who received a refund (for living expenses etc.) from the college after tuition was deducted will be required to repay the “unearned” portion themselves.
If a student never takes up attendance in Trinity we must return the monies which were due for disbursement.

Institutional Refund Policy

When a student withdraws, the college is required to return any “unearned” funds, up to the net amount disbursed from each source, in the following order:

• Unsubsidized Direct Loans
• Subsidized Direct Loans
• Direct/Parent PLUS Loans

The university return via G5 and you as the student may be required to return your own living expenses portion.
TCD will notify students if they owe federal funds back to the U.S. Department of Education (ED). Amounts that must be returned by the student will first be applied to federal loans. The student/parent will be permitted to repay loans based on the terms of the Master Promissory Note (MPN) which usually consists of scheduled payments to the holder of the loan over a period of time. Any overpayment the student has to return to the federal government must be repaid within 45 days after the student receives notification from TCD. If the overpayment cannot be paid in full, a repayment plan may be arranged with the U.S. Department of Education.

Exit Counselling

You are required to undergo Exit Counselling during your final year, before you graduate.

Also, if you withdraw from the college, or drop below half-time attendance, you are required by law to have Exit Counselling beforehand.

Once complete you must send confirmation of exit counselling to the university.

You can complete your Exit Counselling at the following link; https://studentloans.gov/myDirectLoan/index.action

1. Overview

Satisfactory Academic Progress 668.34 (a) Satisfactory Academic Progress policy.

Trinity College Dublin must establish a reasonable satisfactory academic progress policy for determining whether an otherwise eligible student is making satisfactory academic progress in his or her educational program for each academic year and may receive assistance under the Title IV, HEA programs.

Students wishing to apply for and receive Title IV assistance (Direct Subsidised, Unsubsidised, Grad PLUS and Parent PLUS loans) must meet specific academic progress requirements in order to maintain Title IV financial aid eligibility.

Note: The same academic standards apply for (SAP) for students in receipt of US Federal Student Aid as apply for other students who are not in receipt of US FSA. The policy provides for consistent application of standards to all students within categories of students, e.g. full-time, part-time, undergraduate, and graduate students, and educational programs established by the school.
Satisfactory academic progress requires a student to accumulate a minimum number of credit hours over a maximum timeframe and a minimum cumulative grade point average for each period of attendance. The standards apply to undergraduate and postgraduate students in receipt of Federal Student Aid and studying at Trinity College Dublin on full-time and part-time programmes.

Courses where a portion is based in the USA. An exception may be made for PhD students conducting research at a US institution where that research cannot be conducted in Trinity College Dublin.
Satisfactory Academic Progress is determined by:

1. Quantitative Measurement
1. Pace of Progression (Credit Hours)
2. Qualitative Measurement (Grade %)
1. Maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average
3. Maximum Timeframe

2. (Quantitative Measurement)

Students must complete attempted hours according to the following

1. Completion of 67% of cumulative hours attempted

*i.e. 12 hours attempted, 8 hours must be completed (8/12 = 67%)

2. Grades of “I”, “W”, or “F” are considered as attempted hours
3. Transfer credit hours accepted by Trinity College Dublin will count as both attempted and completed hours
4. Once a student completes coursework for an “I” grade, or a grade is changed, academic progress will be reviewed again to determine Satisfactory Academic Progress
5. Students who are required to repeat failed courses or modules are permitted to retake a failed examination before the commencement of the following academic year. Students who pass the examinations are deemed to have satisfied the SAP policy.

3. (Qualitative Measurement)

Students must maintain a minimum cumulative grade of Third Class Honors III between 40% and 49%.

Information on grading guidelines can be found on the Trinity College Dublin study options page.

For undergraduate programs of more than 2 academic years, the student must at the end of the second academic year have a minimum grade scale of 40% - 49% as is consistent with the grading guidelines requirement for graduation in order to meet SAP.

4. Maximum Timeframe

The Maximum timeframe will be measured at each evaluation point. A student is ineligible at the evaluation point where indicated will exceed max timeframe NOT at the point when they reach the max timeframe.

Undergraduate Degree requirements must be completed within a Maximum Timeframe. Federal law requires a Maximum Time frame of no more than 150% of the published length of the academic program in undergraduate programs. For undergraduate programs, 150% will be measured by credit hour. At each evaluation period (end of trimester), TCD will determine whether it is mathematically possible for a student to complete the program within maximum timeframe. This evaluation depends on number of credit hours left to complete within the remaining time or credits allotted for within the student’s maximum timeframe.

Graduate Degree requirements - TCD determines the Maximum Time Frame for Graduate programs and follows the same principle of 150% of the published length of the academic program.

Note: The Quantitative measure is tied to the maximum timeframe.

Published length of degree programme	Credits in degree programme	Maximum timeframe to complete programme while receiving US Direct Loans
1 year (Postgraduate)	90 to 120 credits	1.5 years or 135 to 180 credits
2 years (Postgraduate)	180 to 240 credits	3 years or 270 to 360 credits
4 years (Undergraduate)	240 to 270 credits	360 to 405 credits
PhD	270 to 360 credits	6 years or 405 to 540 credits

Hours earned at Trinity College Dublin and accepted transfer hours are included  in the calculation.

• 1 year degree – eligibility for aid 1.5 years
• 2 year degree – eligibility for aid 3 years
• 3 year degree – eligibility for aid 4.5 years
• 4 year degree – eligibility for aid 6 years
• 5 year degree – eligibility for aid 7.5 years

The maximum timeframe is used to determine the pace of completion required to ensure that a student completes the program within the maximum timeframe:

The Maximum timeframe will be measured at each evaluation point. A student is ineligible at the evaluation point where indicated will exceed max timeframe NOT at the point when they reach the max timeframe.

For an undergraduate program that requires 120 credit hours for completion, the maximum attempted hours would be 180 (120 x 150% = 180). For a graduate program that requires 60 credit hours for completion, the maximum hours would be 90 (60 x 150% = 90).

If you have exceeded the maximum time-frame to complete your degree program, you are not eligible for a Financial Aid Warning semester. You are no longer eligible to receive financial aid unless you win an appeal.

5. SAP Monitoring

Trinity Academic Year is divided into 3 terms. Michaelmas (autumn), Hilary (spring), and Trinity (summer).

A student’s SAP will be evaluated at the end of each term. All periods of attendance will be included in this evaluation regardless of whether the student received financial aid. This evaluation will include a measurement of student’s progress set forth in the qualitative standards (Grade %) and quantitative standards (credits). A student who fails to meet SAP standards at the end of the term will be notified by email that they are being placed on Financial Aid Warning.

6. Financial Aid Warning

If a student fails to meet the minimum requirements as stated in the qualitative and quantitative section, the student will be placed on financial aid warning. Financial Aid Warning is a status assigned if you were previously meeting SAP policy standards, however at the last SAP review, you failed to make satisfactory academic progress. This is an alert to inform you that if the SAP policy standards are not met during the warning semester, you will no longer be eligible for future financial aid. Students cannot be placed on a Financial Aid Warning for two consecutive periods.

The SAP status is checked at the end of each semester, including summer. At the end of your Financial Aid Warning semester, your SAP status will be re- evaluated to determine if the requirements of the SAP policy have been met. You must be meeting the SAP policy requirements to continue to receive financial aid. Otherwise, you will be placed on Financial Aid Suspension and will not be eligible to receive financial aid.

Good Standing – eligible to receive financial aid If the overall SAP Policy requirements are met at the end of the probationary semester, your SAP status will be updated to ‘good standing’ (making satisfactory academic progress) beginning with the next semester. You will be eligible to receive federal aid.

Financial Aid Suspension – not eligible to receive financial aid if the overall SAP Policy requirements are not met at the end of the Financial Aid Warning semester, then you be placed on Financial Aid Suspension and you will be suspended from receiving any financial aid beginning with the next semester and for future semesters until the SAP Policy requirements have once again been met. Any federal student aid previously awarded for the upcoming semester will be cancelled. You may submit a SAP Appeal to request to have you financial aid reinstated.

7. Appeal

A student has the right to appeal if he/she feels that he/she has complied with the requirements of the satisfactory academic progress policy or believes that there are extenuating circumstances that occurred.

Examples of extenuating circumstance are the death of a relative, an injury or illness to an immediate family member or student, or similar special circumstances that could affect the academic performance. To appeal a financial aid suspension, the student must submit a written appeal within 10 calendar days of receipt of the notice of suspension. Written appeals should be sent to the Financial Aid Officer at Acadreg_fedaid@tcd.ie and include all supporting documentation. Students may appeal ineligibility by providing information on extenuating circumstances which may have caused a deterioration in academic performance, and by indicating what has changed in order to bring about SAP. In this event, extenuating circumstances must be serious in nature and documentary evidence must be provided. Submission of an appeal is not an automatic approval. If the appeal is denied, the student will be ineligible to receive Title IV aid until the academic requirements are met. Appeals will be acknowledged as received within 48 hours of receipt of the appeal, and the appellant will receive a decision within 5 working days of the receipt of appeal date. Federal Student Aid funding will not be disbursed while an appeal is being considered.

8. Probationary Periods

If the student’s appeal is granted, the student will be placed on Financial Aid Probation and will have the next succeeding term of enrolment (semester) to meet the minimum requirements as stated above. At the conclusion of the term, the financial aid officer will ensure the student is now meeting the SAP standards in order to qualify for further federal financial aid funding. If the student is not making SAP standards again at that time, the student will be placed on financial aid suspension again and be required to submit a new appeal, including an academic plan.

9. Academic Plan

An academic plan will be completed between the student and Academic Advisor. Academic Plans are submitted each term that a student is approved to return resulting from a successful appeal of a financial aid suspension. The plan must include benchmarks that students will meet to ensure they are making progress to degree, and will render the student eligible for aid again under SAP rules (Qualitative and Quantitative measures).

10. Re-establishing Financial Aid Eligibility without Appeal

If the student is allowed to attend Trinity College academically, they may continue at their own expense to attempt to improve completion rates and/or grade issues. To re-establish financial aid eligibility a student must be meeting both components of the FA SAP policy.

What is the deadline to register my loan interest with the Trinity College Dublin Federal Aid Officer?

Documentation required to avail of federal loans for the coming academic year should be submitted by July 31st to the federal aid officer.

Do Trinity College Dublin provide scholarships?

Scholarships are managed locally at school level. Please enquire with your school regarding potential scholarships. The federal aid officer must be advised of any awarded scholarships you may receive.

Will I receive my funds before I begin my studies for rent or travel costs?

Loan funds may only be applied to your account 10 days before the start of the academic semester. Loans will be disbursed upon determination that you are registered and attending as per federal guidelines. Usually this determination is done once post 1st September. Please ensure you have sufficient funds to cover your short-term needs, especially if your loan application was late. While we try our best to make the loan process as smooth as possible, sometimes delays and problems occur that are out of our control.

How do I complete online registration as a federal aid student?

Trinity College Dublin requires all students to pay all levies and half of their fees prior to registering. Students who have submitted a signed loan declaration will have a flag raised on their account to reduce their required payment amount upon registration by the value being borrowed.

Upon entering Ireland how can I show immigration that my fees are being covered (fully/partially) by federal aid?

Please bring a copy of your loan declaration form in conjunction with your visa letter which you can print from your student portal. Your student bill will also show details of any federal aid pending. Please note your bill will no longer be available upon registration. Note the above is for guideline purposes only and you should consult the citizens information site to confirm all required documentation upon arriving in Ireland.

Do I need to open a bank account after I get to Ireland?

We recommend that all students open an Irish bank account upon arrival in Ireland. This will prevent delays in receiving your cost of living funds. Students using US bank accounts have experience considerable delays in the past. Students should pick up a letter from the Academic Registry to show proof of address and enrolment for the purposes of opening an Irish bank account.

What will the exchange rate be if I’m eligible for a refund of excess loan amounts?

Your funds will be converted to €Euro on receipt and currency conversion costs will apply. Although the COA uses a static exchange rate to calculate costs, the actual amount the University receives on be different as it will depend on the exchange rate on the date the funds are received.

What is the difference between a Dependent and Independent student?

All graduate/professional students are considered independent; otherwise to be considered independent you must fit into one of the categories below:

• Are older than 23 years at the time of completing the FAFSA
• Are currently or have been married at the time of completing a FAFSA
• Are a parent
• Are a veteran
• Are a ward of the court

The classification of your dependency status is used to determine how much of the Federal Stafford loan is available to you.

What is the Cost of Attendance (COA)?

The total amount of money that a student will require to attend school is known as the Cost of Attendance (COA). This is set annually by Trinity College Dublin. Federal law allows the value to include:

• Tuition fees and levies
• An allowance for books, supplies and transport (including airfares)
• An allowance to cover room and board (rent or hall charges)
• An allowance for dependent care if necessary
• An allowance to assist with any disability

What is a FAFSA?

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the form used by the US Department of Education to determine your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) by conducting a “need analysis” based on financial information, such as income, assets and other household information, which you (and your parents if you are a dependent student) will be asked to provide. The form is submitted to, and processed by, a federal processor contracted by the US Department of Education (ED), and the results are electronically transmitted to the financial aid offices of the schools that you list on your application. The FAFSA is the application used by nearly all colleges and universities to determine eligibility for federal, state, and college-sponsored financial aid, including grants, educational loans, and work-study programs.

What is a SAR?

The Student Aid Report is a compilation of all the information that was submitted on the FAFSA. The information will be used by the school to assess eligibility for Federal loans; therefore it is important that the information is accurate. Changes can be made by logging back into the FAFSA website.

What is an MPN?

A Master Promissory Note is a legally binding document under which the borrower promises to repay the loan and to comply with the terms and conditions of the agreement.

What is the EFC?

The Expected Family Contribution (EFC) is the amount that dependent students are expected to receive in financial support from their parents. EFC is determined by a Federal government calculation that examines the family resources available from a family’s income (less allowances for taxes and living expenses) and assets (less allowances for retirement) to assist a student in their studies. A percentage of these available amounts are earmarked as EFC.

What is the deadline to apply for my Sallie Mae loan with the Trinity College Dublin Federal Aid Officer?

Students should apply for a Sallie Mae Loan or Earnest Loan for the upcoming academic year by July 31st. Applications received after this date will be accepted but there may be a delay in funding being received and disbursed to the student.

Do Trinity College Dublin provide scholarships?

Scholarships are managed locally at school level. Please enquire with your school regarding potential scholarships. The federal aid officer must be advised of any awarded scholarships you may receive.

Will I receive my funds before I begin my studies for rent or travel costs?

Private loan funds are disbursed after you begin your program. Loans will be disbursed upon determination that you are registered and attending your course. Usually this determination is done once post 1st September.

Please ensure you have sufficient funds to cover your short-term needs, especially if your loan application was late.

While we try our best to make the loan process as smooth as possible, sometimes delays and problems occur that are out of our control.

Who can apply for Private?

Most US citizens and permanent residents of the U.S. enrolled on courses at TCD. Good credit history is likely to be necessary and a co-signer may be required.

What are the interest rates and fees?

Variable depending on your lender and credit rating. Typically higher than federal loan rates.

How do I receive my funds?

Your Private loan will be released as one disbursement directly to Trinity College Dublin. Your fees and levies will be deducted from your disbursement and the remaining balance will be refunded to you for cost of living expenses.

Upon entering Ireland how can I show immigration that my fees are being covered (fully/partially) by federal aid?

Please bring a copy of your Private loan approval form in conjunction with your visa letter which you can print from your student portal.

Your student bill will also show details of any financial aid pending. Please note your bill will no longer be available upon registration.

Note the above is for guideline purposes only and you should consult the citizens information site to confirm all required documentation upon arriving in Ireland.

Do I need to open a bank account after I get to Ireland?

We recommend that all students open an Irish bank account upon arrival in Ireland. This will prevent delays in receiving your cost of living funds. Students using US bank accounts have experience considerable delays in the past. Students should pick up a letter from the Academic Registry to show proof of address and enrolment for the purposes of opening an Irish bank account.

What will the exchange rate be?

Your funds will be converted to €Euro on receipt and currency conversion costs will apply. Although the COA uses a static exchange rate to calculate costs, the actual amount the University receives on be different as it will depend on the exchange rate on the date the funds are received.