Withdrawing from your studies
Campus based students
If you choose to permanently withdraw from your studies you will need to ensure that you have followed the withdrawal process.
Distance learning students
If you choose to permanently withdraw from your studies you will need to ensure that you have followed the withdrawal process.
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 after 14 days of your course start date
If you permanently withdraw from your studies after 14 days of 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 pays their entire £9000 tuition fee in June 20X5 for a course starting in October 20X5.
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 £4500 and the refund would be £4500 as they had paid in full.
| Term | Fee liability due | Refund due* |
| Within 14 days (first year of study only) | Nil | 100% |
| Term one | 25% of annual tuition fee | 75% of annual tuition fee |
| Term two | 50% of annual tuition fee | 50% of annual tuition fee |
| Term three | 100% of annual tuition fee | Nil |
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
Example – a student permanently withdraws from their studies within 7 months
- A UK/EU or International Postgraduate Taught Student pays their entire £12,000 tuition fee in June 20X5 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)
- Total months of study: 12 months
- Fee liability calculation: 4 months/12 months x £12,000 = £4,000 fee liability
- Refund due: £8,000
- A UK/EU or International Postgraduate Taught Student pays their entire £12,000 tuition fee in June 20X5 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 due: None
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
Example – a student permanently withdraws from their studies after 6 months
A UK/EU or International Postgraduate Research Student pays their entire £12,000 tuition fee in June 20X5 for a course starting in October 20X5. They choose to withdraw or are withdrawn from their course on 15 March 20X6.
- Months of study: 6 months (March is counted as a full month)
- Total months of study: 12 months
- Fee liability calculation: 6 months/12 months x £12,000 = £6,000 fee liability
- Refund due: £6,000
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 Distance Learning Student pays their entire £12,000 course tuition fee in June 20X5 for a course 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 due: £9,000
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.
Sponsored or part sponsored students
If you permanently withdraw from your studies and 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?
If you 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.
- 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 are in receipt of a scholarship or bursary and choose to withdraw permanently from the University (or are withdrawn from the University) in accordance with Senate Regulations, the University will seek to recover any overpaid funds at the date of withdrawal. Any such overpayment will be calculated on a pro-rata basis.
Recovery of tuition fee debts
If any tuition fees remain outstanding, the Student Fees and Income Management Office will contact students via email and phone to seek payment. 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.
Payment of refunds
Any refund repayments will be made to the person or organisation that made the original fee payment and by the same method of payment as the original payment, except where payment has been made by cash, in which case the refund will be made by bank transfer and we will request your bank details.
Refund of any monies paid in advance will be made where a student has withdrawn their application to attend a course at the University. Please note that refunds will not be immediate. However, they will be processed in a timely manner, but are subject to the University authorisation process and bank processing timings.
Refund of accommodation fees
Your accommodation contract covers your rights to a refund where you cancel your University accommodation.