Last updated 2024.03.22
Education Loan Deferment
Per the Fulbright U.S. Student Program website, if a grantee wishes to defer their student loans while on a Fulbright grant:
It is the grantee’s responsibility to contact the lending institution, confirm that they accept loan deferment requests, and obtain the correct deferment forms. Grantees may then send the forms to IIE for certification of their grantee status and grant dates after completing the required borrower information on the form.
IIE cannot certify “In-School Deferment Request” forms.
Fulbright grants usually fall under the Graduate Fellowship deferment category and the grantee should confirm with the lender that this is the appropriate deferment request for submission.
Most lending institutions will not accept loan deferment request forms in advance of the grant period. In addition, some lenders will not accept a deferment request form before the end of the grace period. Grantees are responsible for confirming with their lenders when the appropriate time to submit the deferment request is.
Once grant dates are confirmed and your grant document has been signed and submitted to the IIE Participant Portal, the forms can be submitted to IIE. Deferment forms will only be certified by IIE beginning two weeks prior to the start of the Fulbright grant period once all pre-departure documents collected through the IIE Participant Portal have been approved.
Please upload your loan deferment to the IIE Participant Portal using the document category “Loan Deferment.”
Once IIE has approved your loan deferment, they will return a signed copy via the IIE Participant Portal for you to share with your loan servicer.
It is the grantee’s responsibility to contact the lending institution, confirm that they accept loan deferment requests, and obtain the correct deferment forms. Grantees may then send the forms to IIE for certification of their grantee status and grant dates after completing the required borrower information on the form.
IIE cannot certify “In-School Deferment Request” forms.
Fulbright grants usually fall under the Graduate Fellowship deferment category and the grantee should confirm with the lender that this is the appropriate deferment request for submission.
Most lending institutions will not accept loan deferment request forms in advance of the grant period. In addition, some lenders will not accept a deferment request form before the end of the grace period. Grantees are responsible for confirming with their lenders when the appropriate time to submit the deferment request is.
Once grant dates are confirmed and your grant document has been signed and submitted to the IIE Participant Portal, the forms can be submitted to IIE. Deferment forms will only be certified by IIE beginning two weeks prior to the start of the Fulbright grant period once all pre-departure documents collected through the IIE Participant Portal have been approved.
Please upload your loan deferment to the IIE Participant Portal using the document category “Loan Deferment.”
Once IIE has approved your loan deferment, they will return a signed copy via the IIE Participant Portal for you to share with your loan servicer.