ELIGIBILITY

(a) To be eligible for a loan under this subchapter, a person must: (1) be accepted for admission to an institution as a full-time graduate student in a doctoral program approved by the board or be accepted for admission to an institution as a full-time graduate student in a master's program approved by the board and demonstrate a commitment to pursue a doctoral program approved by the board; (2) be sponsored by a faculty member of the program in which the person is enrolled; (3) be nominated by the institution in which the person is enrolled based on academic achievement, career interest, and other factors the institution considers relevant; (4) not have defaulted on another student loan; and (5) have complied with any other requirements adopted by the board under this subchapter. (b) The board shall adopt eligibility requirements under Subsection (a)(5) of this section to ensure that Texas residents, as defined by board rule, are first given the opportunity to receive loans under this subchapter.