Consumer Disclosures for Recipients of Federal Direct Loans

Consumer Disclosures

This page provides access to relevant consumer information for students and their families, as required by the Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA), in relation to the University's participation in the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program provided by the US Department of Education. An annual notice about the availability of Consumer Information is made prior to the first disbursement of any federal loan. The University will also make available paper copies on request.

  • The following links will provide you with information regarding the admissions process at the American University in Bulgaria, the main reasons you should choose our institution as the next stop of your academic journey as well as what you can expect once you confirm your decision to come to AUBG.

    How to Apply section outlines the main steps of the admissions process.

    Admitted Students section will direct you to information about the processes that take place after the student is admitted to the University and contain some useful tips and advice.

  • Information for prospective students on estimated costs (tuition fee, cost of living, and other expenses) and different ways that are available to our students to fund their education at AUBG can be found in ourCost and Financial Support page.

    Information relating to Federal Direct Loans is to be found on the Loans for US citizens webpage.

  • In order to attract diverse and highly qualified students to AUBG and make an AUBG education affordable for those students, the university makes both financial aid and scholarship support available. Financial aid is based on the academic merit and the financial need of the student. Financial need is determined through an analysis of the application for financial assistance and supporting documents submitted as part of the application packet. Students must file an application for financial assistance to be eligible for need-based financial aid. All AUBG-funded financial aid awards are valid for a maximum of eight semesters of enrollment and are contingent on maintaining a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA).

    Most awards require the student to maintain a 2.50 cumulative GPA (on a scale from 0.00 to 4.00). Some awards have a higher requirement, which is specified in the award letter. A multiyear scholarship recipient may extend the termination date of the award by up to two semesters by filling an approved leave of absence request by the appropriate deadline.

    Scholarship awards are made to meet the intentions of the donor(s) providing the funds; such intentions include fostering academic excellence, encouraging leadership potential, and/or promoting diversity among the student body. Scholarship awards are limited in duration according to the particular scholarship and may require the recipient to maintain a higher GPA than that required for financial aid awards. Students are responsible for reading and understanding the scholarship terms that are outlined in the award letter.

    Transfer credits from other institutions—including those from AUBG-approved exchange and study-abroad programs—reduce the number of eligible semesters for AUBG-funded financial aid and scholarships to the minimum number necessary to complete graduation requirements. A student who has a legitimate reason for an extension of either form of assistance beyond the limits expressed above – such as a required course not being offered or inability to complete a semester because of illness – may apply for an extension by sending an e-mail to [email protected], explaining the reasons for the request. If an additional semester of financial aid is not granted, the student must pay the full cost of enrollment.

    Financial aid and scholarship support for new students are awarded in the admissions letter and must be confirmed by payment of a $350 deposit within thirty days of receipt of the letter. If the deposit is not received before the confirmation deadline, the applicant forfeits the financial aid and/or scholarship offer.

    For further information on all financial aid and scholarship support available, please contact the AUBG Financial Aid Office by phone at (+359 73) 888 222 or by e-mail at [email protected].

  • The University will make every effort to be accommodating to students that have notified Student Services of their disability needs. The Skaptopara Residence halls have capability for some accommodation, but notice for facilities modification is required in most cases. Please contact the Office of Residence Life and Housing to see what arrangements can be made. Accommodations for learning disabilities and other concerns have been made in past years and we will be glad to work with students and help them succeed.

  • The COA document for 2023-2024 AY is available here.

  • If a student withdraws or takes a leave of absence from the University during the semester, the student remains responsible for charges to his or her account. Books are charged at the amounts actually spent. Refunds of residence hall fees are according to the policies found in the Undergraduate Catalog (also available online at www.aubg.edu). The Meal Plan Deposit is nonrefundable. The charge for tuition and Student Activity Fee depend on when the student leaves. Charges for various points of departure are:

    add/drop period, a full refund of net tuition
    second week of the term, billed for 20% of the net tuition
    third week, billed for 40% of the net tuition
    fourth week, billed for 60% of the net tuition
    fifth week, billed for 80% of the net tuition
    sixth week are billed for 100% of net tuition

  • Withdrawal from the University is a very serious step and terminates a student's relationship with the University. Readmission is only possible through reapplication. An application to withdraw from the University is available from the Registrar's Office. Applications declaring the intent to withdraw from the University must be submitted by April 15th for the Fall semester and November 15th for the Spring semester. Applications received after that date will be subject to a late fee and may be rejected by the University if deemed detrimental to the institution.

    Students must also clear all financial and other obligations to the University. Additionally, students withdrawing after the beginning of classes in any semester will be liable for part or all of the tuition and other costs associated with enrollment.

    Students withdrawing from the University after classes begin but before the end of the fifth week of the semester will be dropped from enrolled classes. Those withdrawing after that date will receive grades of "W" in each of their enrolled classes.

    Administrative Withdrawal from the University

    A student is administratively withdrawn from the University when he or she does not fulfill the academic or financial requirements to maintain student status. Failure to register for courses or to file a leave of absence request by the end of the Add/Drop period will result in the student being administratively withdrawn from the University. Students unable to register for classes because of overdue student accounts are administratively withdrawn.

  • Information about the academic programs at the American University in Bulgaria is available at:

    Batchelor's programs
    Executive MBA Program

  • Information about AUBG’s academic policies and procedures can be found in the respective section of the AUBG Academic Catalog.

  • The American University in Bulgaria is in the unique position of being accredited both in the United States (by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges) and in Bulgaria (by the National Agency for Evaluation and Accreditation). For further information, please visit our Accreditation webpage.

  • All undergraduate students are required to live on campus as part of the university's mission.

    The residence halls Skaptopara I, II, and III are a smoke-free environment and disability accessible, housing students in double rooms and suites. Activity areas include aerobic rooms, music practice rooms, multipurpose rooms, billiard and ping pong areas, several television lounges, outside decks, kitchens, and cafes. Skaptopara I and II have a laundry facility in the basement for student use that contains washing and drying machines. All of our residence halls are secured 24 hours with a security guard. We have common areas where you can either study or rest along with your friends. If you need anything, you can go to the reception desk and ask a friendly Resident Assistant for help.

    Resident Assistants are students who assist fellow students with living in the dorms. They are highly-motivated, highly-trained students who will help anyone feel at home on our campus. They work alongside trained counselors in the Office of Residential Life to make sure your time on campus is pleasant, academically enriching, and...fun!

    Each student is expected to read the current Residence Life and Housing Guidelines and Policies on pages 30-44 of the Student Handbook and abide by those rules of community behavior.

    Each student is expected to read the current Residence Life and Housing Guidelines and Policies and abide by those rules of community behavior.

    Returning students choose rooms and roommates from the previous semester. New and visiting students are assigned to each hall upon arrival for orientation, or through pre-assignment if they have residence hall or roommate preferences.

    Off-campus living

    As part of the University's Mission as a residential campus, all students are expected to live in University housing for four years. Housing contracts are binding for an entire academic year.

    Students who get permission to live off campus should notify the Registrar’s office and Residence Life office of their current local address and are responsible for complying with all police registrations.

    Family housing is currently not available on campus. Married students who can show documentation are not required to live on campus unless required by their scholarship. AUBG is committed to equal opportunities and can make arrangements for students with special needs to be accommodated either on or off campus.

  • Under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), college students have the right to the privacy of all their education records. Students who wish to give their parents access to their confidential student academic records can do so only if they sign Student Consent to Release Academic Information Form. FERPA provides for the release of information without the student’s consent to parents or guardians who claim the student as a dependent on their US Federal Income Tax return and also provides for the release to parents (without the student’s consent) of information related to a student's violation of the use or possession of alcohol or a controlled substance. The Student Consent to Release Academic Information forms are available from the Registrar's Office. By signing that form, the student gives the University permission for parents, spouses, or others to have access to the student's academic information.

  • The AUBG Health and Well-being Center provides free health education brochures and information on many topics. It also organizes or participates in university activities on health-related issues. The main topics are smoking cessation, stress relief, first aid training, women’s health, and drug and alcohol abuse.

    Health Insurance for Bulgarian Students

    According to the health insurance law, Bulgarian universities pay for all Bulgarian students’ health insurance. The state budget reimburses the universities for these expenses. Excluded from this policy are all students above 26 years of age and/or those with their own income. This law requires all Bulgarian citizens to choose a general practitioner (GP), preferably within the region/location of their current (not necessarily official) address registration.

    Health Insurance for Non-Bulgarian Students

    Following AUBG policies and Procedures and the American College Health Association (ACHA) guidelines for student health, AUBG provides appropriate medical insurance for all international students through a Bulgarian insurance company, which covers the medical expenses of all non-Bulgarian students and expenses for repatriation. This medical insurance is valid only in Bulgaria with a period of coverage for one semester (4 months) or a full academic year (9 months).

    All full-time international students are automatically enrolled in AUBG Health Insurance Plan and the cost of the insurance is charged against the student’s account immediately after the initial fall or spring enrolment. It is the responsibility of the student to pay this expense. The approximate premium for a school year is $100. This fee is subject to change.

    Dental Services

    More than 60 dentists practice in Blagoevgrad. Contact information is available at the Health Center. Payment for services is the student’s responsibility and will be covered if applicable according to the respective regulations of the Health Insurance Law and the terms of the health insurance contract between NHIF and the dentist, providing the dental service. According to the current agreement, the state health insurance partially covers a dental exam, a treatment of non-complicated tooth decay, a tooth filling and a tooth extraction, including local anesthesia.

  • Any student who causes a false alarm in the Residence halls will be subject to suspension from the University for endangering the lives of others.

    Theft or improper use of fire fighting, detection, and/or alarm equipment is prohibited. Students who violate fire safety rules or misuse equipment will be immediately removed from on-campus housing and will be fined $100.

    Students must evacuate the building in case of fire or fire drill. Failure to comply will result in a fine of $100. Periodic fire drills will be made to promote safe evacuation techniques.

    Furniture, decorations, and other items that are easily flammable in the resident’s room or public area may be prohibited at the discretion of the Residence Hall Director. Cloth or other flammable materials should not be placed on, over, or near light bulbs.

  • The possession, use, or distribution of illegal drugs as defined by both Bulgarian and United States Law is prohibited at any time on University property. Employees known to possess, use, or distribute illegal drugs are liable to public law enforcement sanctions and University disciplinary action.

    Under the U.S. Higher Education Act, a student may become ineligible for US Federal student aid upon a conviction of any offense involving the possession or sales of illegal drugs while receiving Title IV federal financial aid: US Federal Direct Subsidized Loans, Unsubsidized Loans, and PLUS Loans.

    According to the United States Department of Education, if a student is convicted of a drug offense after receiving Federal aid, the U.S. Funding team will be notified immediately. The student may be ineligible for further aid in a respective academic year and be required to pay back all US Federal Direct Loans received after the date of the conviction.

    A student may regain eligibility the day after the period of ineligibility ends or when the student successfully completes a qualified drug rehabilitation program. The student will lose eligibility again upon a subsequent drug conviction.

    For detailed information, please see the FAFSA web page at: www.fafsa.ed.gov/ or contact the Federal Student Information Center at 1-800-4-FED-AID.

    The use of alcoholic beverages on University property shall be planned, requested, and controlled through the University Dining Services or Campus Living. The use of alcoholic beverages in Residence Halls not controlled through Dining Services or Campus Living will be considered not in compliance with campus procedures.

  • The AUBG student computer system is an integral part of the University system. It is intended to meet student needs for computer communications and services. All personal computers must be registered with the Office of Communications and Computing in order to connect to the AUBG network, either in the residence hall rooms or through the campus wireless system.

    The usefulness of the computing facilities depends upon the integrity of its users. These facilities may not be used in any manner prohibited by law or disallowed by licenses, contracts, or University regulations. Individuals are accountable for their own actions and activities involving the accounts for which they have responsibility.

  • AUBG greatly values diversity: our unique position as a global university in one of Europe’s most ancient civilizations gives us a point of view you won’t find elsewhere.

    We encourage students around the world to apply for short-term study or as degree candidates. Both our faculty and students benefit from the multinational aspect of our student body. Daily experiences in class, student residence halls, dining facilities, and elsewhere facilitate learning about diversity.

    It is well known that diverse teams perform better, and at AUBG, our Diversity Program will give you the edge. Our Diversity Program kicks off right in Orientation week with a half-day workshop. After that, our dedicated Diversity Team (made up of a representative cross-section of students, staff, and administrators, all of whom get special training) leads many fun and varied events throughout the year to inspire and encourage you to get involved. Some examples are International Week, Taste Fest, the popular AUBG Got Talent Show, National Dance Workshops, Country presentations.

  • Information on AUBG completion/graduation and retention rates is available here. Due to the General Data Protection Regulation, the University is not able to present detailed rates by gender, ethnicity, or recipient of the loans, as this may disclose students’ personal information. The university is present in the rankings of the MON (Bulgarian Ministry of Education and Science). You can check the rankings survey here. The time frames and methodology associated with the survey are also explained on this website.

  • The American University in Bulgaria provides an environment in which students are able to live and work as independent individuals.

    Bulgarian Emergency Services can be contacted by anyone who detects a dangerous situation or an emergency within the AUBG. The service is available 24 hours a day, 7-days per week by dialing 112.

    When concerns are reported that an individual may be missing, the relevant staff will take the necessary steps to establish the location of the student: 1. The member of staff who has been alerted to concern that a student is missing will establish as many facts about the situation as possible inquiries should include:

    - Reasons for concern that the student is missing
    - Last contact with the student (phone, email) and with/by who was last seen.

    2. All information gathered should be provided to the Dean of Students and the Security Manager who will establish whether the student is known to the University Counselling Center to determine whether there are any additional risk factors.

    3. If the student is in University accommodation, the Dean of Students will alert the Residence Life and Housing Director. He will investigate with Residence Life staff, close friends, and colleagues of the student for more information. If there are sufficient concerns about the student, the Resident Life staff may enter the student’s room to check on his/her health.

    4. detailed information should be provided to the Dean of Students and the Security Manager within the established timetable/plan and they both will decide whether or not the student should be deemed missing.

    5. If the student is deemed missing the Security Manager will inform the Head of the local Police within 24 hours of the determination.

    6. If the student is not found by the Police and the Police have not contacted the student’s emergency contact, the Dean of Students will contact the student’s emergency contact within 24 hours of the initial notification of the police.

  • The American University in Bulgaria has procedures to ensure that it does not misrepresent the nature of its educational programs, the nature of financial charges, and the employability of graduates.

    AUBG Policy Manual is a set of principles, provisions, and operative policies that affect the internal functioning of the University. In order to prevent the risk of pledging any crimes cited in the regulations, all faculty must respect the principles and policies set by Policy Manual.

    AUBG is complying with Bulgarian Law. All employees of the University are issued contracts stating the terms of employment and consistent with the Bulgarian Labor Code and/or US and EU employment law. The contract includes the duties and responsibilities of the employee.

    The Bulgarian Law strictly defines administrative responsibility requirement, stating that organizations may be held liable for certain crimes of fraud, committed or attempted.

  • Prior to any origination of Direct Loans, all applicants are required to submit a digitally signed copy of the relevant Master Promissory Note which contains information about the rights and responsibilities of students and schools under Title IV, HEA loan programs.

    Prior to any origination of Direct Loans, all applicants are required to submit proof of completion of Entrance Counseling conducted through the Studentloans.gov website. The counseling procedure contains information about the rights and responsibilities of students and schools under Title IV, HEA loan programs.

    Prior to any origination of Graduate PLUS or Parent PLUS Loans, all loan applicants are required to submit a digitally signed copy of the PLUS Loan Master Promissory Note, which contains information about the rights and responsibilities of students and schools under Title IV, HEA loan programs.

    Prior to any origination of Graduate PLUS or Parent PLUS Loans, all loan applicants are required to submit proof of completion of PLUS Loan Entrance Counseling conducted on the Studentloans.gov website. The counseling procedure contains information about the rights and responsibilities of students and schools under Title IV, HEA loan programs.

  • The details of all disbursed Direct Subsidized, Unsubsidized, and Graduate/Parent PLUS Loans will be submitted to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS), which is maintained by the US Department of Education. This information will be accessible to guarantee agencies, lenders, and schools, determined by the US Dept. of Education to be authorized users of the data system.

  • Prior to any loan origination for Direct Subsidized, Direct Unsubsidized, and/or Direct PLUS Loans, students must complete, and submit proof of completion of Entrance Counseling, as provided on the Federal studentloans.gov website. This counseling complies with all Federal Entrance Counseling requirements.

  • Exit counseling is an effective way to prevent defaults. In-depth counseling that focuses on fully explaining repayment plans and choices that fit the borrowers’ needs is essential. Exit counseling is the opportunity to clear up any misconceptions students may have about their loan obligations and re-emphasize the consequences of default.

    Prior to the final disbursement within an academic year for Direct Subsidized, Direct Unsubsidized, and/or Direct PLUS Loans, as well as each time when:

    Drop below half-time enrollment
    Graduate
    Leave school
    students must complete and submit a proof of completion of Exit Counseling to the AUBG Student Loan Office, as provided on the Federal studentloans.gov website. This counseling complies with all Federal Exit Counseling requirements.

  • Study Abroad students

    Students participating in a Study Abroad Program are NOT eligible to receive subsidized, unsubsidized, PLUS through the American University in Bulgaria. You will be paying your tuition fees to the other school and you must therefore make arrangements with that school for financial aid

    Exchange students

    U.S. students studying on an official AUBG exchange are considered to be AUBG students for subsidized, unsubsidized, PLUS loans. This means that you pay tuition and fees due to the AUBG, and you apply for U.S. loans following our AUBG procedures.

    Please note that U.S. students registered at a Title IV foreign school to access U.S. Direct Loans while attending U.S.-eligible colleges and universities and foreign institutions that do not participate in the U.S. Direct Loan program are allow for up to 25% of their program of study. All other eligibility requirements must be met.

    Please note that only 25% of program( only 30 credits) of study at a non-Title IV foreign school or eligible US institution are eligible for study abroad/student exchanges.

    For transferred courses to count towards satisfying the AUBG General Education requirements, a student must seek preapproval for the General Education credit. Forms for preapproval for credit and General Education credit are available in the Registrar’s Office. Evaluation of the application for preapproval will be based upon examination of course descriptions, syllabi, textbook titles, and (if required) sample exams.

    Grades received in transfer courses will not be considered in the calculation of GPA. Except for AUBG-approved exchange programs, credit will only be awarded for courses completed with the equivalent of a C+ or higher, and transfer credit will not be accepted for the student’s last full-time semester before graduation.

    Only credit hours transferred from an AUBG-approved exchange program can count towards a student’s major or minor, or towards satisfying AUBG General Education requirements. Credit hours from non-AUBG approved exchange programs can only count towards general elective credit. A student may, with the prior written permission of the Dean of Faculty, transfer up to eight credit hours from another institution to complete AUBG graduation requirements.

Have a a question about U.S. loans?

Contact the Student Loan Office

Student Loan Office