Although thousands of college graduates nationwide are declaring bankruptcy to avoid repayment of federally guaranteed student loans, only eight recent Harvard graduates have defaulted in the past year, a University loan officer said yesterday.

"We're not experiencing the national trend here at Harvard," Stephen W. Homer, director of the University student loan office, said. "We've had only two or three more declared bankruptcies this year than last," he added.

Of 11,000 graduates repaying the University in monthly installments, about 13 have defaulted in the last two years, Homer said.

Few Harvard graduates default because most are employed and earning enough money to repay their loans as well as meet the daily cost of living, Homer said.

In special "forgiveness" cases the University does not require a student to repay his loan. These are extreme hardship cases, usually involving chronic mental or physical disabilities.

"Some of our forgiveness cases probably would declare bankruptcy if aided under normal procedure," Homer said.