Tuition Fee and Payment Policy

What you need to know before you enrol:

• The ultimate responsibility is yours: You are responsible for making sure your tuition fees are paid on time. This applies even if you are waiting on Student Finance, a sponsor, or someone else to pay them for you.
• How to make a payment: If you need to pay your tuition fees or make a deposit directly, you can do so quickly and securely at our Making a Payment page
• Show your funding proof: You’ll need to upload or show evidence of your Student Finance or sponsorship when you enrol.
• We’re here if you’re struggling: If you run into financial difficulties, please get in touch with us through SOLVE as soon as possible. The sooner you let us know, the quicker we can support you, offer advice, or look into a flexible payment plan.
• Unpaid fees have consequences: If fees aren’t paid, the University may have to take steps to recover the money, which could include restrictions on your account in line with this policy.
• Leaving or taking a break doesn't mean your fees vanish: If you withdraw from your course or take a break from your studies, you may still owe tuition fees for that period.
• Read the full details: You can find everything you need to know about exact costs, payment options, refunds, and your responsibilities in the full policy below.

We recognise that university tuition is a significant financial commitment. We promise to handle your student account with clarity, consistency, and compassion. In managing your account, we are guided by the following principles:

• Transparency: We will always provide clear, accurate information about fees, payment options, deposits, sponsorships, and refunds across our website and communications.
• Fairness: We apply this policy consistently while taking individual circumstances into account, ensuring our decisions are reasonable and proportionate.
• Student Support: Financial difficulties can happen to anyone. We encourage you to reach out for advice as early as possible. We will always work with you to find reasonable payment arrangements wherever possible.
• Student Responsibility: You are responsible for ensuring your tuition fees are covered on time, whether through Student Finance, a sponsor, or personal payments.
• Proportionality: We will always try to resolve outstanding fee issues through friendly communication and support before considering account sanctions or formal debt recovery.
• Protection of the Student Experience: The tuition fees we collect directly fund your teaching, campus facilities, library resources, and student support services, ensuring a high-quality environment for everyone.

You will need to pay the specific tuition fees that apply to your course. Your exact fees are based on three things:

• Your Fee Cohort: The academic year you first registered for your course.
• Your Fee Status: Whether you pay Home or Overseas rates.
• Your Mode of Study: Whether you are studying full-time or part-time, on-campus or via distance-learning.

Home Undergraduate Students

If you are a Home student on a OfS-regulated undergraduate course, you will pay a tuition fee for each year of your studies.

The University may charge the maximum fee allowed by the UK Government to cover rising costs and keep your learning experience high quality. This means your fees could increase up to the legal limit at two points:

• Before you start: Before you enrol in your very first year.
• During your course: In your second year of study and any years after that.

Other Students (Excluding overseas students studying on campus)

If you are a Home student (or studying online), your tuition fees might go up in your second year and beyond to keep up with inflation. Any increase is tied directly to the UK's official measure of inflation (called RPIX) over the previous 12 months and will never go up by more than 10% per year.

Home Postgraduate Research (PGR) Students

Tuition fees for Home PGR students are broadly aligned with the national levels set out by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), which are published each spring.

Overseas Students

If you are an Overseas student studying on campus, your annual tuition fee is fixed at the rate applicable when you first start your course. You will continue to pay this same annual rate for the expected duration of your programme.

Current tuition fees for all courses are openly published on our website:

• Undergraduate Tuition Fees
• Postgraduate Tuition Fees

When you register, you will be assigned to a specific fee cohort (the group of students starting their course in the same academic year as you).

To work out your exact tuition fees, we look at a few different things:

• Your Fee Cohort: The year you started your studies.
• Your Fee Status: Whether you pay Home or Overseas rates.
• Your Mode of Attendance: Whether you are studying full-time or part-time.
• Your Credits: The specific modules or credit choices you select.

Yes. As long as you are continuously registered on the same course, you will keep your fee cohort. The only exceptions are if you start an entirely new course or if you return from a break in your studies that lasts longer than one full academic year.

When we receive your application, we assess whether you will pay Home or Overseas tuition fees. If we need more details, we will contact you to ask for evidence.

Your next steps:

• Check your status: It’s up to you to review and confirm your fee status when you enrol online.
• Check your funding: Please remember that our fee assessment is just for tuition fee costs, it doesn't guarantee you'll get a loan from Student Finance. Make sure to check your personal eligibility directly with your student finance body.

Normally, your fee status won't change while you're studying with us. However, it can be reviewed in a few rare legal situations, such as if your residency status changes (like being granted refugee status in the UK).

If your personal circumstances change and you believe your status should be reconsidered, please submit a request through SOLVE, and our Student Life Team will guide you through the process.

Full-Time Students

If you are registered on a full-time course, you will normally be charged a flat annual tuition fee. This standard annual fee might not apply if:

• You are a full-time undergraduate or postgraduate taught student repeating one or more modules on a part-time basis; or
• You are a new entrant who has been granted recognised prior learning (RPL) by the University.

Part-Time Students

You are charged based on the number of credits you choose to study. Part-time students on undergraduate and postgraduate taught courses cannot normally register for more than 90 credits (75% of a full-time workload) in a single academic year.

Doctoral Students

Doctoral students pay an annual tuition fee. Upon starting, you are charged for a full calendar year and will re-enrol annually on the anniversary of your start date.

• Standard registration is 36 months (full-time) or 72 months (part-time).
• If you need extra time to finish your thesis, the University may permit a writing-up period (up to 12 months full-time / 24 months part-time), during which a reduced, flat registration fee will apply.

Your tuition fees will not increase while you're studying with us, except for the standard inflation or regulatory adjustments mentioned in Section 3. If your course fees are going up, we will email you to let you know clearly before you start your next year.

Your fees cover your core teaching, lectures, examinations, and full access to our academic, campus, and digital support services.

Your fees do not cover:

• Accommodation and Living Expenses: Your rent, food, and daily costs.
• Additional Course Costs: Mandatory specialist items (e.g., specific uniforms or safety equipment) will always be listed upfront in your Course Specification.
• Professional Fees: External professional registration or external exam fees must be paid directly to those organizations and are non-refundable.
• Field Trips: Residential trips may require separate payment before departure. 

Repeating Modules with Attendance

If you repeat one or more modules by attending classes again (or via distance learning), you will be charged on a pro-rata basis for the exact number of credits you are retaking.

Repeating a Level with a Fresh Start

If you are permitted to restart an entire level of study from scratch (carrying forward no previous marks), you will be charged the full annual tuition fee for that year.

Tuition fees are payable in full at enrolment or within 28 days of an invoice being issued unless:

1. You have provided approved evidence of a Student Finance application/loan;
2. You have provided official proof of an approved Sponsor; or
3. You have set up an approved Instalment Plan through our student portal.

The University offers a few different ways to pay, and you may be able to spread the cost of your fees out over time.

Here is how our instalment plans work:

• Automated Payments: Instalments are usually set up as a recurring card payment. We will use the card details you provide during enrolment or through the University payment portal.
• Modular Students: If you are studying module-by-module, you might also be eligible to pay in instalments.
• Keep up with your plan: It is really important to make your payments on time. If an instalment fails or is missed, your payment plan may be cancelled, and you'll be asked to pay the remaining balance all at once.

Need some help?

If you are worried about making a payment or run into financial difficulties, you should reach out to us through SOLVE as soon as possible. We’re here to help support and guide you and may be able to work out an alternative payment plan with you.

Fee payment schedules

Schedule A: Home Undergraduate Students

Applies to students starting in Semesters 1, 2 or 3.

Schedule B: Home Postgraduate Students

Applies to students starting in Semesters 1, 2 or 3.

Schedule C: International On-campus Students

International students studying on campus are not eligible for standard termly instalments and follow this strict timeline. 

If you are an International student studying on campus, you must pay a tuition fee deposit before we can issue your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS). For further details visit Your country - University of Staffordshire.

Deposits are ordinarily non-refundable, except under specific, pre-approved circumstances, which can be found at International Deposit Refund Policy - University of Staffordshire.

If you are applying for funding (like Student Finance)

You need to show us clear proof that your funding application has been submitted or approved.

 

• Important Timeline: If we haven’t received this confirmation within 28 days of your course starting, we will have to send the tuition fee invoice directly to you.
• Changes to your funding: If your funding body changes its mind later on and withdraws your funding, you will become personally responsible for paying any remaining tuition fees.

 

If an employer or organisation is sponsoring you

Before you enrol, you must upload an official sponsor letter or purchase order on company letterhead.

Your sponsorship document must clearly show:

 

• Your full name
• The sponsor's contact details
• The exact dates or period they are sponsoring you for
• The exact amount (or percentage) of the tuition fees they will cover

 

If you require a student visa

If you are sponsored by the University for immigration purposes, you may need to show extra evidence to meet your visa requirements.

Yes. You are always ultimately responsible for your tuition fees. Even if you expect Student Finance or an external sponsor to pay, if that funding is delayed, reduced, or cancelled, the University will work with you directly to recover the outstanding balance.

If your employer or sponsor fails to pay their invoice, we will attempt to resolve the issue directly with them first. However, if a sponsor goes into insolvency, withdraws support, or refuses to pay, the responsibility for the tuition fees will transfer back to you.

If you are struggling to make your payments or are facing unexpected financial difficulties, please reach out to us through SOLVE as soon as possible.

Depending on your situation, we can work with you to:

 

• Adjust your payment plan: Look at setting up a new, more manageable payment schedule.
• Connect you with extra help: Guide you to student support services and financial guidance teams who can offer expert advice.
• Find other ways to support you: Explore other reasonable options to help make your payments easier to handle.

 

Every student's situation is unique, so we look at all alternative payment plans on a case-by-case basis to find the best solution for you.

If you miss a payment deadline and have not set up a payment plan or reached out to us for help, we will have to take steps to recover the money. This process includes:

 

• Email reminders: We will send friendly reminders and official warnings to both your university and personal email addresses.
• Cancelling instalment plans: Your instalment option may be cancelled, which means you will have to pay the full remaining balance immediately.
• Visa reviews (for International students): We will have to involve our Immigration Compliance Officer. Please be aware that serious fee arrears can legally impact your UK visa status.
• External debt collection: Your account may be passed over to our trusted external debt collection partner (STA).
• Account restrictions: We may apply academic restrictions to your account (you can find the full details on what this means in Section 19).

 

If there is a genuine mistake or dispute about your bill, we will pause these recovery actions while we investigate it with you.

Remember: The best way to avoid any of these steps is to talk to us early. If you are having trouble paying, get in touch through SOLVE as soon as possible so we can support you.

Placing restrictions (sanctions) on your account is always a last resort for us. However, if we do not hear from you and your debt is not sorted out, the following restrictions will apply depending on where you are in your studies:

Continuing Students

 

• No re-enrolment: You will not be able to enrol for your next academic year until your past balance is paid off or an official payment plan is approved.
• Loss of university access: If fees stay unpaid, your access to university services may be temporarily paused. This includes being unable to attend lectures or exams and losing access to the library and online learning portals (like Blackboard).

 

Final-Year Students

If you have outstanding tuition debts at the end of your course:

 

• Graduation ceremony: You will be prevented from crossing the stage at your Graduation Ceremony.
• Degree certificates: You will only receive your physical or digital degree certificate once your balance is fully cleared.

Returning Students (starting a brand-new course)

 

• Clear past debt first: If you apply to start a completely new course at the University but still owe fees from a previous course, you must make arrangements to pay off that old debt before you can enrol.

If a sponsor fails to pay by the due date the University will inform the student by email.  The following sanctions will be applied to students where a sponsor fails to make payment: 

 

• Students will not be able to receive their final award certificate
• Students will not be able to attend graduation
• Students will not be permitted to re-enrol the next stage of the course
• International students will not be permitted to obtain the Graduate Route Visa and UKVI will be informed

 

If your sponsor fails to pay your tuition fees, we will contact you by email to offer you the opportunity to provide an alternative method of payment. Please note that you will not be held personally liable for the sponsor's specific debt. However, if you choose to settle the account yourself and your sponsor subsequently pays the fees in full, you will be issued a refund.

We always want to work with you first to sort out any payment issues. However, if we have tried everything to help you clear your balance and still cannot collect the payment, here is what happens next:

• External Debt Collection: Your unpaid balance may be passed to an outside collection agency called STA.
• Extra Costs & Credit Damage: If your account goes to the agency, you might have to pay extra collection fees on top of what you already owe. This can also damage your credit score, making it harder to get things like a phone contract, loan, or apartment in the future.

If You Have a Debt Relief Order (DRO)

If you are going through a Debt Relief Order (a legal process for managing debt):

• Legal Handling: We will manage your account strictly according to insolvency laws.
• Future Enrolment: If your tuition debt to the University is officially wiped out (written off) by a DRO, you won't automatically be allowed to sign up for a new course with us later. To come back and study here again, you would need special, official approval from our Chief Financial Officer.

If you need to leave your course permanently or take a temporary break from your studies, your tuition fees will be adjusted based on the date we receive written notice from you. If you stop attending classes without officially letting us know, you will still be charged your tuition fees up to the date we notice your non-attendance.

Undergraduate and Postgraduate Taught Students

If you withdraw or take a break within the first two weeks of your course (including induction week), you will not be charged tuition fees.

After this period the amount charged will depend on when you withdraw or take a break. As detailed in the table below:

 

When you take a break/withdraw from your studies		Undergraduate FT & PT Students		Postgraduate Taught FT Students
Term *	Week of Term	Liability	Refund	Liability	Refund
1	Weeks 0-2	0%	100%	0%	100%
1	Week 3 onwards	25%	75%	34%	66%
2	Week 1 onwards	50%	50%	67%	33%
3	Week 1 onwards	100%	0%	100%	0%

Please note: all refunds are calculated on your "net" fee (the price after any bursaries, scholarships, or discounts are taken off)

 

Part-Time Postgraduate Taught and Modular Students

You are charged the full cost of any modules you have engaged with. No refunds are given for active modules unless they are formally cancelled before teaching begins.

Postgraduate Research Students

Your liability is calculated weekly, pro-rata, based on a standard 52-week academic year. Part weeks will be treated as full weeks for the purpose of calculating liability.

HM Forces Programmes

You are charged the full cost of any modules you have commenced. No refunds are given for active modules unless they are formally cancelled before teaching begins.

If you decide to switch courses or change how you study (for example, moving from full-time to part-time), your tuition fees will be reviewed. Because different courses and study modes have different costs, your fees might go up or down.

• For full details on how taking a break, leaving, or changing your course affects your money, check out the University's Refund and Compensation Policy.

If you change your course length, switch between full-time and part-time, or take a break, we are legally required to report these changes to external organisations. This can have a big impact on you:

• Student Finance (SLC): Your funding, maintenance loans, or grants could be reduced or changed.
• UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI): If you are an international student, these changes could directly affect your visa and your right to stay and study in the UK.

Any refund due to you following a recalculation (per the table in Section 22) will be safely managed under UK Anti-Money Laundering Regulations. This means we can only return funds to the exact card, bank account, or sponsor that originally made the payment.

For full details, please see our full Refund and Compensation Policy.

• If you are studying at a partner college but pay your tuition fees directly to the University of Staffordshire, this policy applies to you in full.
• If you pay your tuition fees directly to your local partner college, your college's personal fee and debt rules will apply instead. Please check your local college handbook or student finance desk for details.

If you are confused about an invoice, received a payment reminder, or want to set up a payment plan, please reach out to us directly through the SOLVE student platform.

If you believe this policy has been applied incorrectly or that there is a mistake on your financial account, you have the right to challenge it.

• What you can do: You can file an official appeal using the University's standard Complaints and Appeals Procedure.