Fees

Your statement of account that can be found at the University Student Online Payment Service may include all or some of the following:

• Tuition Fee (tuition fees in excess of £750 annually are billed in two instalments)
• Residence Charges
• Personal Possessions Insurance Scheme Premium
• 'Battels' (damages) charges for accommodation-related damage

It will not include the Junior Common Room Fee (which is compulsory for all students who live in Hall), as this is collected by each Hall's Junior Common Room committee. This will be added to your final term's invoice if not paid.

Statements of Account are issued electronically at the beginning of each term by email to your University email address. University regulations require you to access that email address on a regular basis. All reminders will also be emailed each term.

Tuition Fees

UK undergraduate and PGCE students – entrants 2006 onwards

The tuition fee for all full-time undergraduate programmes is £3,375 (2011-12). You may choose to pay some or all of this upfront, or may choose to take out a Tuition Fee Loan from the Student Loans Company to cover some or all of the tuition fee. If you take out the Tuition Fee Loan, we will not invoice you while you are at the University but you will have to repay the Student Loans Company once you have left University and have an annual income above £15,000.

If you do not take out a Tuition Fee Loan to cover the full cost of your tuition fees, the University will invoice you for the balance.

UK undergraduate students – 2005 and earlier entrants, and 2006 entrants with an agreed gap year

The tuition fee for full-time undergraduate programmes for students in these categories is £1,345 (2011-12). If you have applied to Student Finance England for means-tested support, some or all of this fee may be paid, depending on your household income. If you are deemed liable for some or the entire fee yourself, however, you may take out a Tuition Fee Loan with the Student Loans Company. Under these circumstances we will not invoice you while you are at the University but you will have to repay the Student Loans Company once you have left University and have an annual income above £15,000. If you do not take out a Tuition Fee Loan, we will invoice you.

Non-UK undergraduate students

If you are a non-UK student your tuition fee will be between £1,345 and £12,996. If you have an approved sponsor we will invoice the sponsor; otherwise you will have to pay the fee yourself. You may pay in two equal instalments (see Student Fee Payment Policy below).

Note that if your sponsor does not pay your tuition fee you are liable to pay the University the sum outstanding.

UK and non-UK postgraduate students

If you have an approved sponsor we will invoice the sponsor; otherwise you will have to pay the fee yourself. You may pay in two equal instalments (see Student Fee Payment Policy below).

Note that if your sponsor does not pay your tuition fee you are liable to pay the University the sum outstanding.

Student Fee Payment Policy

1. Tuition Fees

You will be liable for tuition fees for the whole academic year at the time of enrolment or re-enrolment (but see section 2 below). You will be required to pay the tuition fees immediately unless:

• you are a UK or EU student on a full-time undergraduate programme and have taken out a Tuition Fee Loan from the Student Loans Company
• you can provide evidence of sponsorship by an approved sponsor. These include a state-funded sponsor such as the NHS; Research Councils; the British Council or an overseas government.

If you are in doubt over whether your sponsor is approved, please check with the relevant office (see "individual assistance" below).

2. Instalments

If your fee is greater than £750 per year, you will be permitted to pay in two equal instalments. The first instalment must be paid at enrolment or re-enrolment and the second instalment will be payable at the beginning of the following Term (eg, for those beginning programmes in October, the two instalments are due in October and January).

The University reserves the right to vary the number of instalments in exceptional circumstances. The University will determine annually the minimum amount of fee which may be paid in instalments. Students whose programmes last for less than one term will not be permitted to pay by instalments and all fees must be paid before the end of a student's programme. If you are permitted to pay by instalments and default on the payment, you will be immediately liable to pay the whole of the outstanding amount.

3. Accommodation Fees

If you are living in a Hall of Residence you will be invoiced each term. This allows students to pay accommodation fees by instalments rather than in full at the beginning of the year. Note that instalments may not be of equal proportion.

If you are living in other University accommodation you will typically be invoiced on a quarterly basis.

Separate arrangements for payment apply to those living in University accommodation over the vacation periods.

4. Determination of Fee

The calculation of your tuition fee is based upon:

• the programme you are following
• your mode of attendance (full- or part-time)
• your fee status (Home/EU, Islands, or Overseas)

If you have any queries about the level of fee you have been charged, please consult the relevant office (see "individual assistance" below).

5. Debts and consequences of non-payment

You are required to pay all of your fees on demand. If you are in debt to the University we may take some or all of the following actions:

• charge your account with a late payment administration fee of £25 in each term in which your account remains unpaid
• suspend your enrolment until such time as the debt is paid
• require you to leave University accommodation if the debt relates to accommodation fees (in accordance with the Residency Agreement)
• withhold any examination results, certificates or confirmation of award, including participation in any graduation ceremony if the debt relates to academic fees
• pursue recovery of your debt through the legal process (the University will also seek recovery of the costs associated with the legal process)

Students whose programme lasts for one term or less may not pay by instalments.

If you find that you are unable to pay your fees to the University, you are strongly advised to make an early appointment with the Student Payment Manager. Please do not simply ignore the problem.

6. Refunds

The University will refund your tuition fee in full if you have paid your tuition fees and withdraw from your programme within two weeks of the start of the academic programme. If you withdraw after two weeks, we may make a partial refund of your tuition fee according to the length of time you have been enrolled. We will also, of course, make refunds if we have invoiced you in error.

We are happy to accept prepayment of either tuition or academic fees, but please note that UK legislation prevents us from disbursing living expenses from a third party. This means that we cannot take a sum of money, deduct tuition and/or accommodation fees, and repay the remainder to you for living expenses.

7. Payment arrangements

Invoices and statements produced by the University will be in pounds sterling, and settlement will be in pounds sterling. Where currency conversion is required, any charges will be applied to the student's account. It is your responsibility to ensure your account is settled in full by the relevant date.

You can pay your bill in one of the following ways:

• a cheque in pounds sterling drawn on a UK bank
• a UK debit card (Delta, Maestro or Solo) – please note that non UK debit cards will be treated in the same way as credit cards and will incur the surcharge
• cash (pounds sterling)
• a bank transfer (please quote your 8-digit Student Number)
• travellers' cheques (in pounds sterling)

There are other methods of payment, but they will cost you extra money:

• credit card (Mastercard or Visa) which incurs a 1% fee (up to £50 maximum per transaction)
• travellers' cheques in pounds sterling
• a cheque in pounds sterling drawn on a non-UK bank*
• a cheque in currency other than pounds sterling*

*this can be very expensive

We do not accept American Express or Diners International cards.

The University's account details are:

Barclays Bank plc

90-93 Broad Street
Reading
Berkshire
RG1 2AP

sort code: 20 71 03

account number: 10468509

IBAN: GB68 BARC 2071 0310 4685 09

BIC/SWIFT CODE: BARCGB22

For more information about methods of payment, please refer to the Payment of fees (PDF - 203KB) document on the finance website.

8. Application of payments

Payments to your account will be credited in the following order unless you specify otherwise. Funds will be paid towards accommodation fees first, unless you have an approved sponsor. Once accommodation fees have been settled, remaining funds will then be applied to tuition fees. Any subsequently remaining funds will then be applied to other charges.

Individual assistance:

If you require further information or assistance with any aspect of paying your fees, please contact the Helpdesk, Student Services Centre or the Student Payment Manager in the Carrington Building.