Contents

1

Introduction

2

UK Student Finance

Other Fees, Fines & Charges

Communications -

1

Introduction

1.1

These regulations provide information and guidance on payment of all fees and fines whilst studying at the University of Exeter (hereafter referred to as the University).  It also covers deadlines, sanctions and penalties for non-payment and terms and conditions for funding schemes.

1.2

Students, including those paid for by a third party, are responsible for ensuring all fees and fines are paid in accordance with these regulations that cover the University academic year, which starts on the 1st August each year.

2

UK Student Finance

1.1

UK government student finance for Home/EU undergraduate student applicants is processed by the relevant UK Funding Bodies (hereafter referred to as relevant UK funding body):

• Student Finance England
• Student Finance Wales
• Student Finance Northern Ireland
• Student Awards Agency for Scotland.

1.2

Eligible undergraduate & PGCE students can apply for a tuition fee loan and maintenance loan through the relevant UK funding body via each respective secure online system. PGT students are eligible to apply for a post graduate loan via a secure online system. Students should be aware that the amount they are able to borrow as a tuition fee loan or post graduate loan will be verified by the relevant UK funding body and that the University has an obligation to notify the relevant UK funding body of any discrepancies or inconsistencies in the details submitted.

Applications must be submitted annually to the relevant UK funding body.

Deadlines for completion and submission of the online application form are:

1.4

1.5

3

Sponsors

1.1

If a student’s tuition fees are to be paid by a sponsor (eg. an employer) the student must produce, at enrolment, a letter confirming that the sponsor accepts responsibility for payment of your fees.  In the event of the sponsor defaulting on the payment of fees or otherwise disclaiming responsibility, the student is liable for payment of any outstanding amount due.

1.2

Students are responsible for ensuring that any fee to be paid to the University by a sponsor is paid in full and on time. Failure to ensure a sponsor pays by the due date and in full will be subject to the debt management procedure.  For more information on failure to pay, please see Section 7 ’Due Dates, Sanctions & Penalties’.

4

Payment of Fees

1.1

Tuition and accommodation fees are chargeable for the academic year unless otherwise stated. The University may increase future tuition fees for returning students by an amount defined each academic year. This will not increase by more than 3% each year for the duration of the course/programme. The University may increase future tuition fees for returning students, that are regulated by Government legislation, by any amount permitted under that legislation, which is normally inflation.

1.2

After receiving an offer for a full-time taught postgraduate (PGT) programme the student will need to pay a tuition fee deposit to confirm a place with the University.

• an approved scholarship;
• studentships;
• Financial Aid under the US William D. Ford Direct Loan Programme;
• Canadian Educational Loans Programme; or
• Professional Career Development Loan.

The deposit will be offset against the first term's tuition fees.  For more information please visit the University “Postgraduate Taught Tuition Fee Deposit” webpages.

Where there is no instruction from the payer or student to set the payment against a particular charge (e.g. against tuition, accommodation, or other invoices) the University reserves the right to allocate the funds received in the following order on the student’s account:

1. Accommodation;
2. Tuition; and
3. Any other outstanding debt to the University.

All payments made to and from the University in respect of fees, fines, and other charges must be made in £ Sterling. Any currency conversion costs or other charges incurred in making a payment or in processing a refund shall be borne by the Student or the third party making or receiving the payment, and shall not be deductible from the amounts due to the University. For payment methods please see the University “How to Pay” pages. Please note that these payment methods cannot be deemed 100% secure due to the security weaknesses inherent in the global IT networks. All payments are made at that persons’ own risk.

5

Other Fees, Fines & Charges

1.1

Throughout the academic year, including holiday periods, miscellaneous charges may be applied to a student’s account. Most commonly these are library fines, replacement books charges, residence charges, tutor fines and fees for exam resits. Such charges should be paid by the due date. Non-payment by the due date will result in the account being placed within the University’s debt management procedure.  For more information on failure to pay, please see Section 7 ’Due Dates, Sanctions & Penalties’.

1.2

If students use and/or borrow equipment from the University, they are responsible for ensuring it is not damaged and returned back to the University. If the equipment is damaged or not returned, the student will be liable and will be required to make good the loss or damage. Students will be notified by the University if a charge will be payable.

6

Communications

Invoices & Statements

1.1

It is the responsibility of the student to ensure payment for balances due are made by the due dates provided.

1.2

No invoices or statements are posted or provided in hard copy format to students as the information is online or sent by email.  Once students have registered, tuition and accommodation fees can be viewed online via an online statement account accessible through Student Records System.  No invoices will be issued in respect of the standard accommodation fees as the amounts and payment dates are outlined in the accommodation contract which is available online via the Accommodation webpages.

 Email & Student Information Desk (SID)

Email and SID is the official form of University communication.

All students are expected to check for messages on their University email address at regular intervals. However, the University reserves the right to send communication to other email addresses provided by the student and held on the student record system.

Release Authority

7

Due Dates, Sanctions & Penalties

1.1

In accepting the offer of registration, the student accepts a contractual liability to pay the tuition fee and/or accommodation fees for their year of study in accordance with these regulations.

1.2

Tuition and Accommodation fee payments are due by the dates detailed below. Miscellaneous charges/fees eg, Field Trips, Travel Insurance and Residence fines are due within 30 days of the invoice date.

Tuition & Accommodation Fees Due Dates – Undergraduate, PGCE & Postgraduate Taught (PGT) Students

Tuition Fee Due Dates - Postgraduate Research (PGR) Students

1.4

Where a PGR student commences after 30^th September, special arrangements will be made for the calculation of tuition fees (if registering from mid-month, billing will be charged from the following month) for the first and last years of study.

Sanctions & Penalties for Non-Payment

1.5

All debts to the University are pursued, in accordance with the University debt management procedure. Persistent refusal to pay fees, charges and penalties by the due dates, or any deferred date agreed by the University, will be regarded as a major disciplinary offence and disciplinary action may result.

1.6

Students are required to meet all due dates of payment whether these are annual payments or instalments. Students whose accounts are not fully paid by the due dates will be subject to the debt management procedure:

Additional Sanctions

1.8

A student with an academic related debt will not be permitted to graduate, receive their graduation certificate or attend Graduation/Degree ceremonies.

1.9

Third party disclosures and sharing of information

Debt recovery agents

8

Interruptions, Withdrawals & Refunds

Tuition Fees - Undergraduate & PGCE Students

Includes students with Home/EU/International/Islands fee status (September start)

The proportion of the annual tuition fee liability and the annual tuition fee to be refunded if the student withdraws/interrupts on/before the relevant date is as follows:

1.2

Students who have applied for tuition fee loan funding from the relevant UK funding body should be aware that any reduction in tuition fees charged by the University is notified directly to the relevant UK funding body. Please note that there will be a corresponding impact on the maximum tuition fee loan that is permitted.

1.3

For students with Home/EU fee status on undergraduate or PGCE programmes transferring to another HE Institution before the end of the academic year (or any period of study for which a tuition fee is paid), no refund of tuition fees applies in respect of the remainder of that academic year (or period). The University has, however, the authority to allow an ex gratia adjustment as it sees fit, and without precedent.

Tuition Fees - PGT Students

Includes students with Home/EU/International/Islands fee status

The proportion of the annual tuition fee liability and the annual tuition fee to be refunded if the student withdraws/interrupts as per the table below:

Tuition Fees - PGR Students

Includes students with Home/EU/International/Islands fee status

Accommodation

Early termination

Accommodation refund

Postgraduate Submissions

Important Refund Information

Students must not intentionally overpay their tuition, accommodation fees and related charges and costs due to the University in order to circumvent any government regulation or restriction. Refunds are not processed against individual receipts where there is an overdue balance on the student account but are applied to any outstanding balance. The University is not able to act as a clearance account and must abide by Money Laundering Regulations 2007 and 2015.

The University allows most students a concession enabling them to pay accommodation fees termly rather than in full at the start of the year. If payment for the current academic year is made in full or for more than one term for the current academic year by or on behalf of a student, no refund of future terms’ accommodation fees will be given except in exceptional circumstances.

Please be aware that all refunds are returned to the account from which payment was made. The refund will be processed and returned via the same method by which the payment was made. For fees that are paid by credit/debit card in person or online, refunds due to the student will be credited back to the card that made the original payment.  In the event that the tuition fee payment(s) were made by a sponsor, the University reserves the right to refund the relevant fee proportion to the sponsor.

All refunds will be calculated in £ Sterling but may be refunded in the currency of the original payment. The University will not refund any shortfalls due to exchange rate fluctuations, or offer compensation for any bank or other charges incurred. No refunds will be made in cash and no interest is paid on returned deposits or overpayments.

Students wishing to attend certain programmes of study may be required to pay a non-refundable tuition fee deposit when the offer of a place is accepted. If a deposit has been paid and there is a refund due where cancellation rights apply, this will be carried out in accordance with the Consumer Rights Act 2015.

9

Bursaries

1.1

Students commencing their study between 2012/13  and 2014/15 may receive either or both of the following means tested awards:

• Access to Exeter Bursary  (referred to as ATE hereafter)
• University of Exeter National Scholarship Programme (referred to as NSP hereafter).

Students who commence their studies from 2015/16 will only be eligible for the Access to Exeter Bursary.

For more information on awards, please visit our Bursary pages.

Eligibility

1.7 

Students undertaking programmes whose fees are paid by the NHS or other sponsors/third party funders are not eligible for a Bursary, even if they meet the above criteria.

Application, Assessment & Payment

Reassessment, Interruptions & Withdrawals

Reassessment of a student’s financial position (household income) is occasionally undertaken by their UK funding body, during an academic year; this could be due to a significant change in personal circumstances or as a result of verification of financial evidence. If the reassessment results in an increased household income bursary payments and/or fee waivers may either be decreased or suspended. If the reassessment results in a decreased household income then bursary payments and/or fee waivers may be increased in line with eligibility. The University will notify the relevant UK funding body of the revised tuition fee liability.

Bursary awards are based on the assessment of household income related to the relevant academic year, students who defer starting their studies will be required to reapply to the relevant UK Funding body for the year they commence their studies.

In the event of a student’s interruption or withdrawal from their course, the University reserves the right to suspend all future bursary payments and recover any bursary payments made for which the student was not eligible.

1.24

Where students are already enrolled on a full time course but due to exceptional circumstances often beyond their control, it becomes necessary to study one academic year part time over 2 years (PPF- Part time Previously Full-time), they are eligible for fees and fee waivers on a pro-rata basis but will still remain eligible for full time bursary support.

Appeals

In the event that a student wishes to appeal against the University decision of their bursary assessment, an appeal must be made in writing outlining reasons for the appeal by logging an enquiry with SID. Once the University receives an appeal, a panel will review the case and will respond formally within 28 days of receiving the appeal. Deadline for current year appeals each year is 31^st October.

10

National College of Teaching & Leadership

1.1

Eligibility

For a trainee to be eligible to receive a bursary, the University must ensure that, from the first day of training, the trainee meets and continues to meet the criteria set out and further explained below. To be eligible for a bursary, the trainee must:

a) be eligible for the provision of UK student support, including that they meet the requirement to be ‘Home or EU status’ for the purpose of assessment of fees. Trainees from the Isle of Man, Jersey and Guernsey may still be eligible for support from their respective home education departments and, where this is the case, they will still be eligible for a training bursary on the basis that they meet all other criteria;

b) be training in an eligible ITT (Initial Teacher Training) subject listed, as identified in ITT bursaries funding manual;

c) hold a UK first degree or equivalent;

d) be taking a qualifying postgraduate ITT course in England;

e) be notified by the University in writing that they are eligible;

f) comply with the terms and conditions of the bursary scheme;

g) not already hold QTS (Qualified Teacher Status), or be eligible to receive QTS;

h) not be undertaking paid teaching work when receiving the bursary; and

Terms and Conditions

To receive a bursary trainees must agree in writing to comply with the terms and conditions of the bursary scheme, these include;

• promptly informing the University of any changes in their bank account and address details,
• promptly informing the University of their intention to withdraw from the course; and signing a declaration of understanding to the effect that they expect to seek a teaching post in England on successful completion of their course.

Application & Payment

The first bursary payment is made in October on the condition that bank account details have been provided. Bursary awards of £12,000 or less will be paid in equal monthly instalments over the duration of the course. Bursary awards of £15,000 or more for full-time courses will be paid in equal monthly instalments throughout the year with two additional payments in February and either July or the final month in which the trainee successfully completes their ITT course. To receive the additional payments, the trainee must:

• be present on the course on the date of each payment;
• in the case of the first payment, be present on the course on 1 January 2017; and,
• in the case of the second payment, have completed their ITT course. 

For more information on the schedule of payments please visit our PGCE webpages.

Interruptions & Withdrawals