Tuition fee liability - University of Birmingham

In 2020-21 the University introduced a new academic teaching year framework. The new structure has two semesters; each of which includes 11 weeks of learning and teaching, a period of assessment and support, and an end of semester assessment period.

As was the case before the introduction of semesters, if you withdraw from your programme of study at the University you will still be required to pay your tuition fees. However, the date of your withdrawal (as reported to Taught Student Administration) and the type of programme will determine the amount of Tuition Fee that you will be charged. The information on this page explains how these tuition fee liability dates work now that the new academic teaching year has been introduced. Information about tuition fee liability for earlier academic years (including 2019-20) is set out in the Fees section of our website.

Undergraduate (full-time), Postgraduate taught and Continued Professional Development programmes

Confirmed withdraw date - Fee Liability

Up to one week after Semester 1 commences (excluding Welcome Week) - 0%
On or after one week from the first day of Semester 1 (excluding Welcome Week) - 25%
On or after the first Monday following the Christmas vacation - 50%
On or after the first Monday following the Easter vacation - 100%

Please note:

The above policy applies if you are studying on a full-time undergraduate programme or for one of the following qualifications MA, MSc, LLM, MEd, PGDip, PGCert, GDip, GCert, BPhil, CertHE, AdCert, UDip, UCert; where the tuition fee charge is for the whole programme rather than individual modules and the programme has standard start dates.
If you are paying your tuition fees via a loan from the Student Loan Company (SLC), your withdrawal date will be reported to the SLC and your Tuition Fee Loan will be adjusted accordingly to reflect the correct liability and any interest accrued.
For most, but not all, programmes the dates given above will be the same as the published academic year dates.

Undergraduate and Postgraduate taught programmes (part-time)

Confirmed withdraw date - Fee Liability

Up to two weeks after Semester 1 commences (excluding Welcome Week) - 0%
On or after two weeks from the first day of Semester 1 (excluding Welcome Week) - 25%
On or after the first day following the Christmas vacation - 50%
On or after the first day following the Easter vacation - 100%

Postgraduate Research (PGR) programmes

Tuition fees are charged per academic year (12 months) on the basis of the academic year 1 October to 30 September. Each fee is broken down to give a monthly fee. If you withdraw from a PGR programme during the year or take a leave of absence the tuition fee liability is reviewed and you will be charged as follows:

Confirmed withdrawal date - Fee liability (months charged)

On or before the 14th day of the month - From October to the end of the month before the withdrawal date (i.e. no fees charged for the month of withdrawal)
On or after the 15th day of the month - From October to the end of the month of withdrawal (i.e. fees charged for the month of withdrawal)

Bill-by-module programmes

If you are charged per module and you decide to withdraw from the module, they you will be charged as follows:

Confirmed withdrawal date - Fee liability (Modules charged)

On or before 14 days after the module commences - *0%
On or after the 15th day of the module - 100%

*Please note for programmes of a short duration (8 weeks or less) the 0% liability period will be reduced to 7 days.

This does not affect your statutory cancellation rights.

Exceptions

The above policies are not applicable if you pay your tuition fees via a Federal loan; the University must remain compliant with Federal regulations, please review the Return of Title IV funds policy.

Leave of Absence (LOA)/Temporary Absences

If you take a leave of absence, your tuition fees will be prorated so that you are charged only for the period that you have attended in each academic year. If your tuition fees are being paid via a student loan, the University will need to notify Student Finance England of your revised fee liability so that you can borrow the correct amount in each academic year.

Please note: Student loans and grants, scholarships and bursaries are not normally payable during suspension of studies.