US Federal Student Loans for UK Graduate Study

I am going to attend London School of Economics in the fall of 2008 and I was wondering if the $20,500 limit for Stafford loans was per semester or per year? I am a dual US / UK citizen. Does it make sense for me to request loans from the US or UK? I was planning on remaining in the UK to work afterwards, and I hope to benefit from the currency exchange rate.

I don't know about UK student loans (there's another recent topic on that, though), but the US Stafford loan cap is per year.

I would look into the UK loans. We sort of get screwed with that cap when you factor in the exchange rate.

I have a bit of a particular situation on my hands. I am from the US, but I have lived in Italy for many years. I am also a UK citizen. I have been combing the web for funding options and I have come to the following conclusions: 1) I am not eligible for UK govt. subsidized aid 2) I am not eligible for a UK Career Development Loan 3) I am not eligible for most private "study" or "graduate" loans as I am not currently a UK resident (it seems that most of them require one to be a resident of the UK for at least 3 years). I have pretty much exhausted the options of applying for a UK loan, that is, unless one of you tells me something different.

So, I have decided to gamble a bit and go for US govt. subsidized loans, with hopes that the dollar will get weaker after I graduate and I'll end up paying back less (I'll be remaining in the UK to work). I see that many of you have experience with this. Has anyone who has been living outside of the USA for several years succeeded in getting US loans for their studies in the UK? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

I have a bit of a particular situation on my hands. I am from the US, but I have lived in Italy for many years. I am also a UK citizen. I have been combing the web for funding options and I have come to the following conclusions: 1) I am not eligible for UK govt. subsidized aid 2) I am not eligible for a UK Career Development Loan 3) I am not eligible for most private "study" or "graduate" loans as I am not currently a UK resident (it seems that most of them require one to be a resident of the UK for at least 3 years). I have pretty much exhausted the options of applying for a UK loan, that is, unless one of you tells me something different.

So, I have decided to gamble a bit and go for US govt. subsidized loans, with hopes that the dollar will get weaker after I graduate and I'll end up paying back less (I'll be remaining in the UK to work). I see that many of you have experience with this. Has anyone who has been living outside of the USA for several years succeeded in getting US loans for their studies in the UK? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

I'm sure if you are British (or any EU citizenship) and have lived in any EU country for three years prior to when you wish to study, you are eligible for home fees rates. In terms of loans, I'm sure if you meet the three year residency rule, that there should be favourable options. Maybe here you can start? http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/UniversityAndHigherEducation/StudentFinance/index.htm

See also http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/UniversityAndHigherEducation/StudentFinance/FinanceForNewStudents/DG_10034861

Good luck...