Student walking with pink umbrella

Important Updates

  • The 2024-25 FAFSA and CADAA applications will open in December 2023. Visit FAFSA Simplification for details.
  • UC Davis students who are victims of the Maui Fires may be eligible for funding. Visit Basic Needs for details.
  • If you have been selected for verification, please complete the requirements as soon as possible. For details, visit Verification.
  • For California Middle Class Scholarship updates, please visit MCS.

Emergency and Short-Term Loan Programs

Students experiencing a temporary shortage of funds may request an Emergency and/or Short-Term loan. Requests are limited to costs related to educational expenses as found in the Cost of Attendance. Student borrowers must document a repayment source to establish eligibility.

The application is available Monday through Friday while each term is in session, excluding holidays. Emergency loan borrowers will report to the Cashier and Payment Solutions Office to receive emergency loan funds. Loans are not available during quarter breaks.

Students are limited to one Emergency loan and one Short-Term or Assistant loan per quarter at any given time.

Eligibility Criteria

  • You are a currently enrolled graduate or undergraduate student at UC Davis during the quarter funds are requested. 
  • You owe an account balance of $300 or less.
    • The exception is the Fall Quarter Graduate Transition Loan 
  • You are available to submit signatures on DocuSign within five (5) calendar days.
  • You are not within 30 days of graduation, or the end of the academic year.
  • You do not owe a prior-year debt to the University.
  • You have not failed to pay, made late payments, or been referred to a collection agency on a prior Emergency, Short-Term, or Assistant loan.

  • You do not have any financial aid holds on your student account. Holds include but are not limited to:

    • Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
    • Transfer Monitoring
  • You do not have any outstanding Emergency, Short-Term, or Assistant loan in repayment.

* Health Systems or Veterinary Medicine students should apply to their respective schools. The Law school does not currently offer these loan resources.

Important Dates for Short-Term Loans

Emergency, Short-Term, and Assistant loan applications are available to students on the following dates each quarter:

Term Undergraduate Students Graduate Students
Summer Special Session 2023 Jun 20 Not available during summer
Summer Session 1 or both sessions 2023 Jun 26 Not available during summer
Summer Session 2 2023 Aug 7 Not available during summer
Fall Quarter 2023 Aug 28 Aug 28
Winter Quarter 2024 Nov 27 Nov 27
Spring Quarter 2024 Mar 4 Mar 4

See our Undergraduate Calendar for final deadlines to apply for Emergency and Short-Term Loans for the perspective quarter. For graduate students, please see each program for important dates.

Loan Types & Limits

Emergency Loan 
  • Maximum amount is $500. Actual loan amount is subject to approval based on repayment source.
  • The loan must be paid back within 30 days.
  • Available to graduate and undergraduate students.
  • Not available during summer terms for graduate students.
  • If approved by Financial Aid and Scholarships, borrowers must email cashier@ucdavis.edu to schedule an in-person appointment with Cashier & Payment Solutions in 1200 Dutton Hall to redeem loan funds
    • A valid unexpired photo ID is required during the appointment.
Short-Term Loan
  • Maximum amount is $1,500. Actual loan amount is subject to approval based on repayment source.
  • The loan must be paid back within 30 days.
  • Available to graduate and undergraduate students.
  • Not available during summer terms.
Fall Quarter Graduate Transition Loan (closed until Fall 2024)

This loan is intended to provide graduate students access to funds in advance, on or before October 1.

  • Maximum amount is $1,900 and may not exceed one month’s salary
  • Minimum amount is $500
  • Not available during summer terms
  • Open to first-year and continuing graduate students
  • Must provide verification of employment to establish eligibility. Employment may include: 
    • Teaching Assistants
    • Associate Instructors
  • Repayment period: three (3) months (November-January)
    • If not paid by the beginning of the winter quarter, students may be placed on enrollment hold 

  • Repayment method: Enrolled in auto-pay from payroll with three equal payments on November 1, December 1, and January 1

Graduate Assistant Loan 
  • Maximum amount is $1,500 but may not exceed one month’s salary.
  • Available to graduate student employees during fall, winter, and spring terms.
  • Must provide verification of employment to establish eligibility. Most common graduate employment positions include:
    • Teaching Assistants
    • Graduate Student Researchers
    • Associate Instructors
  • Repayment period: three (3) months, the end of the academic year, or graduation, whichever comes first.
  • Not available during summer terms.

Sources of Repayment

  • Financial Aid: The accepted award amount in MyAwards must cover the current outstanding balance on the student's account as well as the amount of the Short-Term or Assistant loan.
  • Your Parents: You will be asked to provide a signed statement from your parents. This option is only available to dependent undergraduates.
  • On or Off-Campus Employment: A Job Verification Letter will be required. Please use either the on-campus or off-campus letter based on your employer.
  • Graduate Employment Positions: An on-campus Job Verification Letter or employment offer letter will be required.
  • VA Benefits: Provide a letter from the Veteran's Affairs Office verifying benefits.

Signature and I.D. Requirements

  • You will receive an email notification with instructions and DocuSign disclosures.  Signatures must be provided within five (5) calendar days.
  • If the loan is approved, a new email notification will be sent to confirm the availability of funds.
  • For Emergency Loan borrowers, please bring your UC Davis Student ID or valid State ID, Driver's License, or U.S. Passport to the Cashier and Payment Solutions Office at 1200 Dutton Hall.
  • You will receive an email notification from Financial Aid and Scholarships if the loan is denied.
  • Short-Term, Graduate Transition, and Assistant Loan borrowers will receive an email from Student Accounting when refunds are processed. Borrowers that have not enrolled in Direct Deposit will contact Student Accounting.

Refunds

  • Emergency Loans: To redeem the funds, borrowers must email cashier@ucdavis.edu after receiving an approval confirmation email from Financial Aid and Scholarships to schedule an appointment. Redeem the funds at Cashier & Payment Solutions, 1200 Dutton Hall during the scheduled appointment. Must present valid UC, State, or Federal ID to redeem funds
  • Short-Term, Graduate Transition, and Assistant Loans: Your refund will be processed by Student Accounting within 2-3 business days if enrolled in Direct Deposit.
  • Additional Processing Times: Additional processing time will be required if a paper check must be processed for students that have not enrolled in direct deposit. Student Accounting can be reached at (530) 752-3646.

Repayment Process

  • Read the promissory note for specific payment information. You may also visit Cashier & Payment Solutions for instructions on how to make payments on MyBill or in person. Payments due on a weekend or holiday should be made on the last workday before the due date.
  • Payments can also be mailed to the Cashier's Office, UC Davis, PO Box 989062, West Sacramento, CA 95798-9062. Make checks payable to UC Regents and write your student ID # on the check.
  • Emergency loan repayments cannot be changed or rescheduled.
  • If you have difficulty making a Short-Term or Assistant Loan payment by the scheduled date, contact Student Accounting at (530) 752-3646.
  • Keep the receipts for all loan payments. You may have to present them before obtaining another loan.