I - Student Fee and Bursary Regulations 2023-24

1.1

These regulations apply principally to students studying at the University of Exeter.

By accepting an offer of a place or enrolling on a programme, students agree to abide by the terms of these regulations.

This policy is reviewed and updated annually.

Students enrolled on a University of Exeter Online programme are subject to the specific terms and conditions that apply. For more information please see Student Contract (Distance Learners) 

2.1

Liability for the payment of tuition fees will be from the first term that a student enrols or is expected to enrol (or re-enrol). Delayed enrolment (or re-enrolment) that is attributable to the student will not reduce the fee liability for the course or programme of study, even if this may have limited access to some University services.

2.2

Students who have not completed the enrolment process are not permitted to attend the University (including online attendance), access University services or use University accommodation, property or facilities. A student who does not fully complete enrolment, but who either attends the University, accesses University services or uses University accommodation, property or facilities will, by their conduct, be deemed to have accepted the University’s terms and conditions from the start of their offered course and will be liable for tuition fees calculated in accordance with this policy.

It is the responsibility of the student to ensure payment for balances due are made by the due dates provided – See section 6. 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.

Where the student’s financial position is re-assessed by the relevant UK funding body and the student contribution is reduced as a result, the University is unable to process any refund until formal notification of the change is received from the relevant UK funding body. For more information please see Section 7 ‘Interruptions, Withdrawals & Refunds’ of these regulations.

In the event that the University receives formal notification from the relevant UK funding body that a re-assessment has increased a student’s personal contribution payable in respect of any academic year, the University will pursue the invoiced amount from the student in line with standard due dates as per Section 6.  Queries regarding the reasons for re-assessment, the calculations used, or the basis of the decision should be addressed to the relevant UK funding body.

Students are liable for payment if there is any failure to pay the amount in whole or in part by the relevant UK funding body. For more information on failure to pay, please see Section 6 ‘Due Dates, Sanctions & Penalties’ of these regulations. All debts to the University are pursued, in accordance with the University’s debt management policy.

If a student’s tuition fees are to be paid by a sponsor (e.g. an employer) the student must produce, at the earliest possible opportunity (but at least at the point of registration), a letter confirming that the sponsor accepts responsibility for the payment of 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.

3.1

In the event that an overpayment is made against the total annual tuition fee amount or the total accommodation fee, then the credit balance arising will be used to offset any outstanding debt or charge (e.g. outstanding tuition or accommodation debts to the University) on the Student’s account (whether arising from tuition, accommodation, or any other legitimate charge) in due date order.

3.2

Where there is no instruction from the paying individual (not including Tuition Fee Loan payments from a relevant UK funding body) or student to set the payment against a particular charge (e.g. against tuition, accommodation, or other charge) the University reserves the right to allocate the funds received in the following order on the student’s account:

1. Tuition;
2. Accommodation; 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 (GBP). 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 ‘Make a Payment’ page.

Tuition and accommodation fees are chargeable for the academic year unless otherwise stated.

Fee levels and increases

For those fees that are regulated by Government legislation, such as Home Undergraduates, future increases will not be more than the amount permitted under that legislation.

Deposits

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

PGT students who are in receipt of the financial support listed below, covering the full tuition fees and can provide documentary evidence of this, are exempt from paying a deposit:

• an approved scholarship;
• studentships;
• Financial Aid – Federal Loans;
• Canadian Educational Loans Programme;
• UK government apprenticeship scheme funding;
• PGT Degree Apprenticeship programmes

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.

Suspicious payments and account activity

It is the responsibility of the University to report any suspicious or potential fraudulent payment activity to the following organisations;

1         Action Fraud

2         Devon and Cornwall Police (or relevant local constabulary)

3         National Crime Authority (NCA)

The University will monitor all incoming payments and will investigate where multiple online debit/credit card attempts are made using the same student ID but with differing cards or cardholder names.

The University will also investigate where multiple online card attempts are made using a name different to the name associated with the student ID.

In the event that the University believes that a payment is fraudulent, the University reserves the right to return the funds to the originating source. These funds will not be applied to the associated student account. This will result in the balance remaining outstanding and due for payment. 

In the event that the University believes that a payment is fraudulent, the University reserves the right to withhold the payment in a ‘suspended’ state for a period of up to 2 months (or as directed by the relevant authority) from the date of receipt, to allow for investigation. This will result in the balance remaining outstanding and due for payment.

4.1

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

4.2

Throughout the academic year, including holiday periods, miscellaneous charges may be applied to a student’s account. Invoices may not be issued for these charges depending on the type of charge incurred. Most commonly these are late payment charges, library fines, replacement books charges, residence charges, tutor fines and fees for exam re-sits.  Such charges should be paid by the due date. Non-payment by the due date will result in repayment being pursued pursuant to the University Debt Management Policy.  For more information on failure to pay, please see Section 7 ’Due Dates, Sanctions & Penalties’. Students are expected to check their iExeter accounts including the Online Statement regularly, to ensure they are aware of any overdue balances.

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.

A Late Registration Fee charge of £50 is payable where registration procedures are not completed or where registration or examination forms are not returned by the due dates.

5.1

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

5.2

Students are expected to check their online statement of account (via iExeter) regularly, to ensure they are aware of any overdue balances.   

No invoices, statements or reminders are posted or provided in hard copy format to students as the information is available online via the iExeter account or sent by email. Once students have registered, tuition and accommodation fees can be viewed online via an online statement of account accessible via iExeter.  No invoices will be issued in respect of the standard tuition fees as the amounts and payment dates are available online via the student iExeter application. 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.

The University makes every reasonable effort to remind students of fees, fines, and other charges due by means of invoices, notices and statements electronically. Students are contractually responsible for paying fees, fines, and other charges by the relevant date whether invoices, statements or any other correspondence are received by the student or not.

Students may authorise the University to release and discuss the financial information from their student record with named individuals by completing the Data Protection Authority, via the student record system, submitting a completed form or by supplying authority by email or via SID. This relates to disclosures requested by a student and not disclosures where there is a legitimate interest of the University or lawful grounds for disclosing as permitted by law.

6.1

6.2

Where the student is enrolled via a Degree Apprenticeship, or on an online University or Keypath programme, the process will be different from that described within the Finance Regulations. The process will be confirmed separately by the University. This is also true of any alternative fee arrangements.

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

Tuition Fee Due Dates - Postgraduate Research (PGR) Students

6.4

Where a PGR student commences after 30 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.

Tuition Fee Due Dates - Online Programmes & Modules

Sanctions & Penalties for Non-Payment

6.5

All debts to the University are pursued, in accordance with the University debt management policy. 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.

6.6

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 procedures as below:

The University reserves the right to apply the debt management policy at any time during the academic year. Students whose accounts are in arrears at the end of the University of Exeter’s Financial year (31 July) will not be permitted to re-register for any subsequent academic year until payment is received in full. Under our Accommodation Terms & Conditions, the University reserves the right not to offer, or cancel an offer, of accommodation to those students who are in debt before the start of any new agreement.

Additional Sanctions

A student with an academic related debt will not be permitted to graduate. This means they are not eligible to receive any award from the University or to become a graduate until the academic-related debt is paid. A student with academic-related debt will not receive their graduation certificate or be able to attend Graduation/Degree ceremonies. A student’s final award date will reflect the date they become eligible to receive an award from the University. This means that the final award date will be a date approved by the Senate, after the academic-related debt has been paid. 

Students in debt to the University in respect of their accommodation will be subject to the provisions and penalties stated in the accommodation agreement and may be refused accommodation provided by the University in the future. The University reserves the right to refuse to provide references to future landlords for such students.

Third party disclosures and sharing of information

Debt recovery agents & further action

Tuition Fees - Undergraduate & PGCE Students

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

7.2

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.

7.3

For students with Home 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 starting September 2023

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

Tuition Fees - PGR Students

Tuition Fees - Modular and / or Online attendance

In the event that Online programmes or modules of study are under-subscribed in an academic year, the University reserves the right to cancel the programme or module. A full refund of tuition fees paid for the cancelled programme or module will be given to all affected students.

Tuition Fees - Degree Apprenticeships

Where the student is enrolled via a Degree Apprenticeship, any refunds due for interruptions or withdrawals will be subject to the relevant apprenticeship scheme funding rules and may be different to the process described within these Regulations. 

Accommodation

The accommodation agreement obliges the student to pay the residence charge for the full period of residence. The accommodation agreement also sets out the conditions on which residents may terminate their tenancy early. 

Early termination

If the student decides to leave their accommodation before the tenancy expiry, the student will remain liable for the fees until a suitable replacement student (one who is not already in University accommodation) takes the students place and the agreement is terminated in accordance with the procedure set out in the accommodation agreement. On termination the balance of the accommodation paid will be refunded from the date of the new occupation, subject to any specified administrative costs incurred by the University. Residence charges will only be refunded if specified in the accommodation agreement. In the event of early termination and for more details on the early termination procedures please refer to the cancellation policy on the University Living webpages.

Accommodation refund

Where an application for refund or discharge of charges is accepted, the University will notify the student in writing of that fact and arrange for any refund to be made as soon as practicable after the student vacates (normally within 28 days from when Financial Operations are advised).

Where an application for refund or discharge of charges is rejected, the University will notify the student in writing of that fact and give reasons for its decision. Objections to the decision may be made under the Students Complaints Procedure.

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 and Terrorist Financing Regulations 2019.

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 where possible, all refunds are returned to the account from which the payment was made. The refund will be processed and returned via the same method by which the payment was made. For fees or charges that are paid by credit or debit card, refunds due to the student will be credited back to the card that made the original payment.  If 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 (GBP) 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.

Any refund that is payable by the university due to a student’s withdrawal or interruption will be processed when all account adjustments have been made and are reflected on the student account. It is the students responsibility to request the refund via SID. The refund will be returned to source via the original payment method within 28 days of approval. 

In the event that a referred assessment fee is paid but the student does not sit the referred assessment(s), the credit balance will be refunded after the Accounts Receivable team has received notification from the exams office. The additional fee for examination at an overseas location will not be refunded.

Special conditions apply to the refund of payments made via US Direct Loans and Canadian Educational Loans due to the operating regulations of these funding schemes. It is a condition of the University’s participation in these funding schemes that refunds are only processed in accordance with the relevant regulations.

8.1

For information on awards, please visit our Student Funding webpages.

Eligibility

Be studying on an undergraduate programme.

Be Ordinarily Resident in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland (and classified as ‘home’ fee status for student support purposes) or be classed as a returning EU student for student support purposes. Have applied to, and been offered and accepted a place on an undergraduate programme of study and registered on an eligible course at the University for the new academic year.

Dependant on the programme of study, part time undergraduate students are entitled to bursaries on a pro-rata basis.

Abide by the University of Exeter’s student regulations. If a student is engaged in misconduct, including academic offences and/or has any outstanding debts with the University, the student may cease to be eligible and will have to repay all of the monies received.

Have submitted a request for a means tested financial assessment to the relevant UK funding body, and not opted out of sharing the household income information.

Be assessed as having a household income for the year of entry.

Application, Assessment & Payment

If the student has completed actions in paragraph 8.7 above, then the application for University bursary support is automatic. If a student has not completed these actions then the deadline for current year applications is 30 June each year. Applications cannot be made retrospectively for a previous academic year.

A bursary award can be made for each year of study, subject to a student’s tuition fee liability and financial assessment for each of those years. Students will also need to continue to meet all other eligibility criteria. The amount of bursary may change each year as a result of a change of circumstances and/or the funding available.

The University reserves the right to cease payments, to take steps to recover funds already issued and to take any additional action deemed appropriate, if it transpires false information was provided during application for an ATE bursary. If a student is suspended (temporarily or permanently) further payments will not be paid.

It is the responsibility of the student to inform the University of any issues with regard to their statutory funding and to ensure that their award is correct.

Reassessment, Interruptions & Withdrawals

Reassessment of a student’s financial position 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.  The assessment may result in reduced or suspended bursary payments. If the reassessment results in a decreased household income then bursary payments may be increased in line with eligibility. The University will notify the relevant UK funding body of the revised tuition fee liability. If there are any in-year changes to the student’s ability to receive funding from the UK funding body for other reasons, such as but not limited to, the supply of incorrect information on the application, or an error made by the UK funding body, it is the responsibility of the student to source replacement funding.

ATE bursary awards are based on the assessment of household income related to the relevant academic year. Therefore, 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.

Bursary award amounts will be calculated in line with the student’s last date of attendance in accordance with the table in 8.20 below.

Withdrawal and interruption – the bursary will be paid to students, if eligible, on/after the relevant date as follows:

8.21

Where students are already enrolled on a full time course but due to exceptional circumstances it becomes necessary to study one academic year part time over 2 years, they will remain eligible for full time ATE 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 the Student Information Desk (SID). Once the University receives an appeal, a panel will review the case and will respond formally within 28 days. Deadline for previous year appeals each year is 31st October

NHS Bursary Recipients:

Students studying a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (BMBS) course in years five and six who are in receipt of funding from the NHS, will be automatically assessed for an ATE bursary award using the most recent household income figures supplied by the relevant UK funding body.

You will be contacted with confirmation of award and payment dates if eligible upon registration with the University each academic year.

9.1

This section sets out the terms and conditions attached to the receipt of the Department of Education and Teaching Regulation Agency (referred to as ‘DETRA’ hereafter) Training Bursary for full-time Post Graduate Certificate of Education students (‘PGCE’). By completing registration with the University, a student is agreeing to comply with the terms and conditions of the bursary scheme and the Department of Education Teaching regulations.

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 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 as follows. (Please note, the University may request confirmation of financial support from your respective home education department)

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

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 which contributes to their training when in receipt of the bursary  

i) not be simultaneously undertaking any other ITT course, training scheme or programme leading to QTS.

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. 

If a trainee is found to be ineligible for the bursary, the University will make all reasonable efforts to recover bursary payments from the trainee.

To be eligible for training bursary, trainees must not simultaneously undertake any other ITT course, training scheme or programme leading to QTS.

In the event that a trainee is absent through sickness the University may only make one further payment following the first day of absence. After this, the absence should be treated as a period of interruption and payments must stop with immediate effect.

Trainees cannot receive both the scholarship and training bursary. Trainees whose scholarship application is unsuccessful may be eligible for a training bursary.

Application & Payment

There is no formal application procedure for the bursary but in order to receive payment, the trainee must register for their course and provide details of their nominated bank account. This can be done during the registration process or after registration through the University’s on-line Student Records System.

The first bursary payment is made in October on the condition that bank account details have been provided.  Bursary awards will be paid in equal monthly instalments over the duration of the course between October and July.  Trainees will be entitled to receive the first bursary payment if they are actively engaged in the ITT programme on the first day of the month following their start date

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

If a trainee has received their full bursary entitlement during a previous ITT programme this may impact their eligibility to receive bursary funding while completing a new programme. The University student funding team will seek guidance from ITT in this scenario. 

Interruptions & Withdrawals

Eligible trainees who withdraw or defer from a course are entitled to be paid the training bursary for each month up to, and including, the month in which they formally withdrew.

In the event of withdrawal or deferral, the University will suspend all bursary payments to the trainee immediately and ensure that University records are updated. The University will attempt to recover any overpayment of bursary from trainees. The University will not make any pro rata training bursary payments to trainees.

Returning trainees who defer and then re-join their course will only be eligible to receive the remaining bursary award up to the value which was available in the year they started their course.

If a trainee leaves one ITT course and joins a new one with no transfer of standing or credit from their previous course, and they are being charged a new tuition fee, this is viewed as a separate route to QTS. They will, therefore, be entitled to receive a new bursary. However, trainees who have already received a full bursary award on a previous route to QTS will not be eligible for another bursary.