US Direct Loans: Application process instructions

You can complete your FAFSA at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa and enter Bocconi school code G30787.

Your FAFSA will also show your Student Aid Index (SAI) which is used by the school to determine your eligibility and build your financial offer. 

You must check the “Next Steps” section on your FAFSA Submission Summary and verify if the information you shared in your FAFSA submission form are accurate. Remember that you can Edit your FAFSA.

Once you have completed your FAFSA form, you will need to log in to the “US Direct Loan Application” (insert link when available), which will be available starting from September 8, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. Italian Time. The online procedure is dedicated to Bocconi students; therefore, you must be formally enrolled and have completed the payment of your first installment advanced payment.

Typically, your loan will cover up the whole academic year. However, if you request your loan after the first semester has ended, you will not be able to request an amount covering the whole academic year. 

Please find below the deadlines to request your loan

1.For Bachelor and Master of Science students

Please note that you will not be able to request any loan after April 15. If you have already requested some loan and would like to receive more, provided that you do not go over the cost of attendance decided by Bocconi University, you must place your request by email at Funding@unibocconi.it by and no later than April 15.

2. For SDA Bcconi Students

Please note that you will not be able to request any loan after April 15 (May 31 for MAGER, MAFED and MSM students). If you have already requested some loan and would like to receive more, provided that you do not go over the cost of attendance decided by Bocconi University, you must place your request by email at Funding@unibocconi.it by and no later than April 15  (May 31 for MAGER, MAFED and MSM students).

Starting from Septemeber 2025, you will be able to use your Bocconi credentials to access the “US Direct Loan Application 2025-2026”:

1. Fill out the “contact details” section and click on “save” in the data section;
2. Fill out the “student’s details” section and click on “save” in the data section;
3. Upload the required documents in the dedicated upload fields.
4. Click on “submit data” and “submit application” on the top right hand corner (a green bar will appear).
5. Carefully complete the "Direct Loan Application & Student Agreement" data section and be sure that the information is consistent with what you have indicated in the paper version of the award letter;
6. Click on "save";
7. Upload the completed and signed award letter and all other required documents indicated in the upload section.
8. indicate an Italian telephone number (if available) and a European bank account in your name.

Your application and documents will be verified by the office in about one week after your submission and you will be notified in the online procedure about any missing information/documentation that you will be required to provide.

After you have followed the instructions indicated above, the office checks in your online "US Direct Loan application" both information and documentation that you have uploaded in order to establish whether you meet basic eligibility criteria to receive Federal Student Aid (Direct Loan) at Bocconi. If you are a non-first year student, please remember that the office will also check that you meet the SAP requirements.
 

After verifying basic eligibility criteria, Bocconi prepares your award letter. You will receive an email and a notification in your online application with the link to your award letter.

The award letter informs you about the maximum amount you may be eligible to borrow in Direct Loan funds at Bocconi. Remember, You should borrow only what you need . You can borrow less than the maximum amount indicated in the award letter and can request more loan funds later if you need to, provided that your request comes to the office by the deadline set in the above section.

Please download, complete and sign the award letter. You will then be required to upload it in the application. 
 

If your application has been correctly submitted, Bocconi University will start originating your loan as soon as you upload the signed Award Letter. 

Generally, your loan will cover a full academic year and Bocconi will disburse your money in two payments following the timeline published here (link). The first disbursement of your loan will be applied towards the installments that expire before the second loan disbursement is received.

E.g. when receiving the November loan disbursement for BSc and MSc programs, if the amount is sufficient, Bocconi will apply funds towards:

• the balance on the 1st tuition fee installment (beginning of December deadline)
• the 2nd tuition fee installment (end of January deadline)
   

In April, Bocconi will apply funds towards the last tuition and fees installment.

If any additional loan funds remain for each loan disbursement, they will be returned to you via bank transfer to a European bank account.

PLEASE NOTE
 

You must remain enrolled and inform the Fees, Funding and Housing Office of any changes to your enrollment status as this directly affects your loan entitlement;

Each subsequent disbursement is also subject to maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP).