Fees for postgraduate research courses

We understand that continuing your education to postgraduate level is a significant financial commitment. We aim to provide you with information on all the associated costs so there are no surprises once you begin your course.

Tuition Fees

The University charges an annual tuition fee which covers the cost of your tuition, supervision, assessment and membership to the Guild of Students

The standard annual tuition fees for UK students undertaking research degrees in the 2024/25 academic years are listed below. Individual programmes may charge a different fee from that quoted, especially if they contain taught elements (such as MRes programmes). If in doubt, please check the individual programme description on the your course listing page.

UK research degree tuition fees 2024/25

Standard fees*

Full time - £4,712

Part time - £2,389

*Research fees do not apply to combined research and taught programmes unless otherwise indicated in the programme information. For UK postgraduate research students, the annual University fee level is set at UK Research Council rates and as such is subject to change. The indicative fee level for 2024/25 is likely to increase in line with the GDP deflator and will be announced by Research Councils UK in spring 2024.

International students

The fees you pay depend on whether you are classed as an overseas student for fees purposes. For more information on fees for international students please visit our international student funding web pages. Please check the individual programme description on the course listing page of our website for international fees.

Asylum seekers are required to pay tuition fees at the overseas rate. If you obtain refugee status after the start of your course your fee status may, subject to residency criteria, change to UK fee status. This will not, however, be backdated to the start of your course. Therefore, unless you have sufficient funds to finance your studies and pay tuition fees at the overseas rate, you are best advised to wait until your immigration status has been confirmed by the Home Office before commencing your programme of study.

If you are concerned about your fee status at the time of application you can request a Fee Status Questionnaire from the Admissions Office. For further information, a brief guide is available on the United Kingdom Council for International Student Affairs website.

How to pay your tuition fees

Tuition fees are payable at the start of your programme of study and at the beginning of each subsequent academic year. You can choose to pay your tuition fees in full or make monthly or termly instalment payments using the University direct debit scheme from a UK bank account.

Other costs and fees

Depending on your research area, there may also be additional costs associated with field trips, travel and undertaking research off-campus.

Continuation fees

University regulations require that research students submit their thesis for examination after the end of their minimum period of registration and before the end of their maximum period of registration. During the period of time between the end of your minimum period of registration and the point at which you submit your thesis your registration status will be “thesis awaited” and you will be charged a continuation fee (£276 for the academic year 2023/24). This fee is a contribution towards the administrative costs associated with thesis awaited status and ensures that you maintain access to University resources. You can learn more about thesis awaited status and the continuation fee through the University Graduate School website.

If your research is not sufficiently advanced to transfer to thesis awaited status at the end of your minimum period of study, your minimum period of study may be extended and further tuition fees will then be charged.

Bench and research fees

Please note that research programmes involving intensive laboratory, clinical or fieldwork may incur an additional bench fee cost. This will be discussed with you as part of the application process and you will be notified of any additional fee as part of your offer of admission.

Other costs

In addition to paying your tuition fees you will also need to plan how you will meet your living costs while undertaking your studies. You can learn more about the cost of living in Birmingham through our website.

As a postgraduate researcher you may wish to attend conferences or to undertake research trips. The University offers support to help meet these additional costs through various research support funds.

You will also need to meet the costs of typing and binding your thesis in accordance with University requirements.