Policies
Withdrawing from your studies
Unless a student formally withdraws or suspends their studies, they will be deemed to be a registered student and therefore incurring tuition fee charges. If you choose to permanently withdraw from your studies you will need to ensure that you have followed the withdrawal process.
Withdrawal date
The date of withdrawal is deemed to be the date on which you notified the University of an Intention to withdraw, or the date on which a decision was taken to withdraw you from your programme of study.
Withdrawing within 14 days of the course start date
You have the right to withdraw from the University within 14 days from the course start date without giving any reason.
Where you wish to withdraw from your course within 14 days of the course start date you must follow the withdrawal process and state clearly that your withdrawal is within 14 days of the course start date. Once this is approved, the University will refund any tuition fees paid.
Withdrawing more than 14 days after your course start date
If you permanently withdraw from your studies more than 14 days after your course start date, the tuition fee calculation is dependent on the type of course you are studying.
How liabilities are calculated
Any student who withdraws from a course will only ever be liable for any arrears of tuition fees and or the tuition fees that arise in the current year. There will be no liability for the future unfulfilled years of the course.
By way of explanation we set out below a calculation which illustrates the potential liability for tuition fees;
Undergraduate and PGCE
The fee liability for a student is determined by the term in which the student withdraws:
- Term one - 25% of the annual tuition fee is charged
- Term two - 50% of the annual tuition fee is charged
- Term three - 100% of the annual tuition fee is charged
Example – a student permanently withdraws from their studies in term two
- A UK/EU or International Undergraduate Student begins their course in October 20X5 with a course fee of £9,000.
- In term two they inform the University they wish to withdraw and they follow the withdrawal process. In this case the fee liability would be 50% charged, £4,500.
- If the student had paid their total £9,000 course fee they would be entitled to a refund of £4,500.
Postgraduate taught
Annual tuition fees are based on 12 months of study in one academic year and a partially completed month is treated as a full month for the fee liability calculation
If a student withdraws within 14 days of the course start date the fee liability is nil
If a student withdraws within the first 7 months of study then the fee liability is determined as a proportion of the annual tuition fee based on number of months in attendance prior to withdrawal as a proportion of the number of months in an academic year
After the first 7 months of study the fee liability is 100% of the annual tuition fee. If they are
Example – a student permanently withdraws from their studies within 7 months and after 7 months
1. A UK/EU or International Postgraduate Taught Student has a £12,000 tuition fee for a course starting in October 20X5. They choose to withdraw or are withdrawn from their course on 15 January 20X6.
- Months of study: 4 Months (January is counted as a full month)
- Fee liability calculation: 4 months/12 months x £12,000 = £4,000 fee liability
- Refund: If the student had paid their full course fee of £12,000 they would be entitled to a £8,000 refund.
2. A UK/EU or International Postgraduate Taught Student has a £12,000 tuition fee for a course starting in October 20X5. They choose to withdraw or are withdrawn from their course on 15 May 20X6.
- Months of study: 8 Months (May is counted as a full month)
- Fee liability: £12,000
- Refund: The student is entitled to no refund.
Postgraduate research
- Annual tuition fees are based on 12 months of study in one academic year and a partially completed month is treated as a full month for the fee liability calculation
- If a student withdraws within 14 days of the course start date the fee liability is nil
- The fee liability is determined as a proportion of the annual tuition fee based on number of months in attendance prior to withdrawal as a proportion of the number of months in an academic year (12 months).
Example – a student permanently withdraws from their studies after 7 months
A UK/EU or International Postgraduate Research Student has a £12,000 tuition fee for a course starting in October 20X5. They choose to withdraw or are withdrawn from their course on 15 April 20X6.
- Months of study: 7 months (April is counted as a full month)
- Total months of study: 12 months
- Fee liability calculation: 7 months/12 months x £12,000 = £7,000 fee liability
- Refund: If the student had paid their full course fee of £12,000 they would be entitled to a £5,000 refund.
Distance learning
- The fee liability is determined by the course tuition fee based on the number of months in attendance as a proportion of the normal period of registration for the course.
- A partially completed month is treated as a full month for the fee liability calculation.
- The below does NOT apply to Undergraduate students whose studies are funded by SLC. These fees are charged 25% for term 1, 25% for term 2, and 50% for term 3.
Example – student withdraws after 6 months of the course start date
A self-funding Distance Learning Student has a £12,000 course tuition fee in June starting on 1 October 2015. The normal period of registration for the course is 24 months. They choose to withdraw or are withdrawn from their course on 15 March 20X6.
- Months of study: 6 months (as March is treated as a full month)
- Total months of study: 24 months
- Fee liability calculation: 6 months/24 months x £12,000 = £3,000 fee liability
- Refund: If the student had paid their entire course fee of £12,00 they would be entitled to a £9,000 refund.
Sponsored or part sponsored students
If you permanently withdraw from your studies and you have received part funding for tuition fees from a third party or the University, this funding will be applied to the full academic year or normal period of registration when calculating the fee liability.
Example: Part-sponsored student permanently withdraws from their studies
- Tuition fees for a year: £10,000
- Amount funded by sponsor/University: £5,000
- Amount paid by sponsor/University: £5,000
- Amount funded by student: £5,000
- Amount paid by student: £1,000
Student withdraws with a fee liability of £5,000. The sponsor will be refunded £2,500 (50% of the £5,000 paid). The student will be liable for £1,500 (50% of the £5,000 due = £2,500 less £1,000 paid to date)
Will you receive a refund or be liable for tuition fees?
Where you or a sponsor has paid more than the fee liability at the date of withdrawal, a refund of the overpayment will be made.
If you withdraw and are yet to make sufficient payment to cover your fee liability at the date of withdrawal, the University will seek to recover the outstanding sum.
Recovery of tuition fee debts
If a current student has any tuition fees remain outstanding, the Student Fees and Income Management Office will contact students. If payment is not made, current students would be at risk of being permanently withdrawn from their course for non-payment of tuition fees.
Any unpaid tuition fee amounts relating to a student who has left the University would be at risk of being referred to an external debt collection agency who will attempt to recover the debt on our part.
Overpayments following withdrawals and Refunds
If a student withdraws from their course, their tuition fee liability based on their period of registration is calculated. If after their record has been updated there is a tuition fee overpayment a refund will be made in line with our refund policy.
For more information on refunds and the process please see our Refund Policy page.
Refund of accommodation fees
Your accommodation contract covers your rights to a refund where you cancel your University accommodation.