Fees, Bursaries and Scholarships
Council Ordinance 10
Tuition fees
Fees Setting Process
10.1 The University’s policies on student tuition fees shall include this Council Ordinance and such other supporting policies on fees or fee setting as Council shall from time to time approve. The University’s policies on student tuition fees and its framework of student tuition fee levels are approved by Council. Where fees for a particular type of programme and student are charged at different levels for different subjects, the agreed levels of fee shall be set out in that framework.
10.2 Each year, Senate shall recommend to Council for approval the framework of student tuition fee levels to be charged in the following academic session for undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes, and for postgraduate research degree programmes to Home / EU students, Overseas students, and students supported by the Governments of the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. Council shall also, on the recommendation of Senate, be responsible for: the approval of individual programme fees which fall outside the framework of student tuition fee levels, and for policy relating to scholarships and bursaries, student tuition fee waivers, the discounting of student tuition fees and other matters of policy relating to the adjustment of, or refunding of, the approved student tuition fees.
10.3 Council delegates to Senate the approval of fees for individual programmes within the framework of student tuition fee levels. The Fees, OFFA and Widening Participation Board shall, on behalf of Senate, consult the Director of Finance and Heads of Schools on the levels of fees for individual programmes at least annually and make recommendations on fee levels for the next academic session.
10.4 Council shall, on the recommendation of Senate, approve the types of miscellaneous and sundry fees and charges which may be raised, as specified in this Ordinance. Council delegates to Senate the approval of the level and other policies relating to the application of these fees and charges, which shall be set out in a Senate Regulation.
10.5 The rates of all fees payable for each academic year may not be varied from those agreed by Senate and Council.
Tuition Fee Levels
10.6 The University sets tuition fees for all Home / EU undergraduate and PG Certificate in Education students with reference to UK Government legislation and guidance. The fees for undergraduate and PG Certificate in Education students supported by the Governments of the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man shall be set in line with current guidance from those Governments. Fees for those Home / EU students studying for an Equivalent or Lower Qualification (ELQ) shall be set out annually in the framework of student tuition fees.
10.7 The University expects to set its ‘low’ band tuition fee level for Home / EU postgraduate taught students at a level equivalent to that published by the BIS (Department for Business, Innovation and Skills) annually. Above this standard level, programmes may also be allocated to a higher fee band, based on market conditions and cost of delivery. The University will not raise these fees by more than 5% or RPI (Retail Price Index), whichever is the greater, per year for any student who has commenced a programme of study. Tuition fees for students supported by the Governments of the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man will be set in line with current guidance from those Governments. Postgraduate ELQ students will be subject to a supplementary fee charge recommended to Council annually by Senate.
10.8 For Home / EU postgraduate research students, the University will not raise its student tuition fees by more than 5%, RPI (Retail Price Index), or the recommended UK Research Council fee level, whichever is the greater, per year for any student who has commenced a programme of study.
10.9 Fees for all Overseas students are set in bands based on market conditions and the cost of delivery. The University will not raise these fees by more than 5% or RPI, whichever is the greater, per year for any overseas student who has commenced a programme of study.
10.10 The fees for foundation year programmes will be set as part of the framework of tuition fee levels approved by Council.
10.11 For all undergraduate students entering their programme before September 2009 undertaking work placement(s) as part of a programme with placement year (‘sandwich programme’), the tuition fees for the placement year will be set at 25% of the relevant full-time fee. For all students entering their programme in or after September 2009 and before September 2012, undertaking work placement(s) as part of their a programme with placement year (‘sandwich programme’), the tuition fees for the placement year will be set at 30% of the relevant full-time fee. For all Home / EU students entering their programme in or after September 2012 undertaking work placement(s) as part of their a programme with placement year (‘sandwich programme’), the tuition fees for the placement year will be set at at one-ninth of the relevant full-time fee. For ‘thin-sandwich’ placement years, the full normal fee will be charged in the second year of the programme and the reduced fee relevant to a ‘sandwich’ placement year in the third year of the programme.
10.12 With the exception of students undertaking ERASMUS study exchanges, the tuition fees for full-year exchanges will be set by Senate on a programme-by-programme basis.
Part-Time, Distance-Learning and Associate Student Fees: Taught Programmes
10.13 Home / EU undergraduate students studying on campus in a part-time mode are charged tuition fees of 75% of the full-time fee, payable for the first four years of study.
10.14 Part-time students studying taught postgraduate programmes on campus are charged 50% of the full-time fee for the programme in each of years 1 and 2. Any subsequent years or parts of years which fall within the normal period of study for the programme carry a zero fee; continuation and / or extension fees (as applicable under these Ordinances or Senate Regulations) are payable at the end of the normal period of study for the programme..
10.15 Students studying on distance learning programmes are charged on a credit-based pro rata basis. The tuition fee for each distance learning programme will be set by Senate and set at the current tuition fee for new students in any academic year for new and continuing students. Distance-learning students may have the option of front-loading payments. (CO10.7 and 10.11 will not apply to the fees for distance learning students.)
10.16 Taught postgraduate associate students are charged on a credit-based pro rata basis by band.
10.17 Part-time research students are charged a student tuition fee approved annually as part of the framework of student tuition fees for each year of registration in which they are not designated by the University as being eligible to pay a continuation fee,.
10.18 An associate student who follows one or more modules and who subsequently registers for a programme leading to an award of the University will be charged a tuition fee for the programme which will be determined on a pro-rata-basis by band based on the number of credits being attempted as part of the programme.
Fees for Postgraduate Research Degrees Conducting Research away from the University
10.19 For students entering their course before September 2010, and who are conducting their research away from the University, the following arrangements will normally apply:
10.19.1 Students registered on a full-time basis should be charged the normal full-time fee for the first year of registration, and the part-time fee for subsequent years.
10.19.2 Students registered on a part-time basis should be charged one-third of the full-time fee for the duration of their studies. Such students should be charged the standard fee for any extended period when they are physically located at the University.
10.20 For those entering from September 2010 onwards conducting their research away from the University, the fees will be the standard full time or part time fee.
Discounted tuition fees
10.21 Council may approve a discounted rate of tuition fees to small numbers of students for strategic reasons. Schools seeking permission to charge a discounted rate of tuition fees in respect of particular groups of students, usually in order to secure a share of a particular market, should ensure unfair treatment of some students is avoided, and that the impression of an undervalued product is not given.
10.22 Proposals from Schools for discounted fees will be considered by a small group consisting of the Director of Academic Services, the Head of Registry, the Director of Finance, and the Director of Brunel International, who will advise Senate on any recommendations to Council.
10.23 Council has approved a discount policy, and a number of additional discounts for a number of specific groups of students.
Payment of Tuition Fees
10.24 Every student embarking upon a programme of study is assumed either to have arranged sponsorship for the whole period of his or her study or to be prepared to pay fees for the whole of the prescribed period of study.
10.25 Every student who is sponsored will provide the University annually with a document in which the sponsor agrees to pay such fees direct to the University upon demand. Unless such a document is provided the University will regard the student as liable for his or her own fees.
Payment schedules
10.26 Tuition fees not paid directly by the Student Loans Company or National Health Service are payable as follows for Home / EU students:
10.26.1 In a single instalment at or before enrolment;
10.26.2 In six instalments, the first being due at or before enrolment, and instalments 2-6 being paid by direct debit in the months of November to March inclusive; save that in the case of EU students who are unable to set up a UK bank account, instalments 2-6 may be paid in the months of November to March inclusive if the payments are to be made by debit card or credit card..
10.27 Tuition fees are payable as follows for Overseas students:
10.27.1 in a single instalment at or before enrolment; or
10.27.2 60% of the balance of the tuition fee at enrolment, and the remainder being due for payment in January.
10.28 For students in receipt of a tuition fee loan from the Student Loans Company, schedules for the payment of tuition fees will be determined with reference to UK Government legislation and guidance.
10.29 Students who register at agreed times outside of the normal academic cycle may pay in similar instalment arrangements to those outlined above as agreed with the Finance Department.
10.30 Students enrolling 4 weeks after their scheduled date for enrolment may not be entitled to pay in instalments.
Prompt Payment Discount
10.31 All students who are responsible for paying their own tuition fees in full, and who pay the full amount of the fees due at or before their scheduled date of registration, will be entitled to a discount of 2% on the net tuition fee due, i.e. after the application of any other discounts to which they may be entitled.
Hardship and Remission of Fees
10.32 Should a student suffer a serious deterioration in his or her financial circumstances while part of the way through his or her programme so that, although prior to beginning the programme he or she was confident of his or her ability to pay, he or she is no longer able to do so, he or she may claim hardship and appeal to the Director of Academic Services (or nominee) for remission of part or all of his or her fees.
10.33 Such remission of fees can only be granted in very exceptional circumstances, and successful applicants must also be able to demonstrate:-
- that they have made every reasonable effort to meet their fees from other sources,
- that there is good reason to believe that a single remission of tuition fees should be sufficient to permit them to complete their programme without further recourse to financial support from the University
- that they have been in good financial standing with the University throughout the duration of their programme; and
- that they are in good academic standing with their academic School.
Withdrawals and Refunding of Fees
Withdrawals andliability for Fees
10.34 For academic year 2011/12, and previous years, there is no entitlement to a refund of tuition fees after enrolment for students who withdraw from their programme of study more than two weeks after the commencement of study. However, at the discretion of the Director of Academic Services, refunds may be applied as follows:
- Withdrawal in weeks 3 to 4: refund of 90% of the full fee payable
- Withdrawal in weeks 5 to 14: refund of 67% of the full fee payable
- Withdrawal in weeks 15 to 18: refund of 33% of the full fee payable
- Withdrawal after week 18: no refund
10.35 From academic year 2012/13 onwards for Home / EU students there is no entitlement to a refund of tuition fees after enrolment for a student who withdraws from the programme of study more than two weeks after the commencement of study. However, at the discretion of the Director of Academic Services, where a student withdraws between Weeks 3 and 31, liability for the payment of tuition fees may be determined as follows:
- Withdrawal in Weeks 1 and 2: No tuition fee charge
- Withdrawal in Weeks 3 to 14: 25% tuition fee liability
- Withdrawal in Weeks 15 to 28: 50% tuition fee liability
- Withdrawal in Weeks 29 onwards: 100% tuition fee liability
Where payment of tuition fees has been made which is in excess of the final tuition fee liability, the balance may be refunded.
10.36 For Overseas students there is no entitlement to a refund of tuition fees after enrolment for students who withdraw from their programme of study more than two weeks after the commencement of study. However, at the discretion of the Director of Academic Services, refunds may be applied as follows:
- • Withdrawal in weeks 3 to 4: refund of 90% of the full fee payable
- Withdrawal in weeks 5 to 14: refund of 67% of the full fee payable
- Withdrawal in weeks 15 to 18: refund of 33% of the full fee payable
- Withdrawal after week 18: no refund
10.37 Analogous arrangements will be applied for students who commence a programme of study other than at the beginning of the relevant academic year.
Graduates of the University
10.38 Graduates of the University registered for a taught postgraduate programme, a research degree or the Graduate Diploma in Law (CPE) programme, on a fully self-funding basis will (after any other discount) for academic year 2012/13 receive a discount of 10% on the final tuition fee dueand for academic year 2013/14 onwards, a discount of 15% will apply on the final tuition fee due.
Members of Staff Registered for Brunel Awards
10.39 Full-time and part-time members of staff who register for any University award, where their Head of School believes that the programme of study concerned will be of benefit to the member of staff’s current or future employment within the University, will not be liable for payment of tuition fees, although the number of places available on this basis for a particular programme may be limited. All staff will be charged examination fees, as appropriate.
10.40 If employment with the University ceases during the period of registration for a programme, the student becomes liable for the payment of a full tuition fee from that point onwards.
Visiting Researchers
10.41 From time to time, visiting academics are invited to the University for varying periods of time for the purpose of improving research links and contributing to Schools’ research profiles. Where these individuals are of such standing that they are to be paid by the University, they should be appointed as associate members of staff in accordance with Senate Regulation 9. Where it is appropriate that the researcher is charged a fee, they will be admitted through the Admissions Office as ‘visiting researchers’. Fees will be set on an individual basis by discussion between the School concerned and the Head of Registry, and are subject to approval by the Director of Finance.
10.42 Individuals admitted as ‘visiting researchers’ under this arrangement are not eligible to be registered for a programme of the University leading to any award of the University.
Deposits for Tuition Fees
10.43 Regulations relating to deposits for tuition fees shall be approved by Senate.
Other Fees and Charges
Extension Fees: Postgraduate Taught Students
10.44 Regulations relating to extension fees for postgraduate taught students shall be approved by Senate.
Continuation Fees: Postgraduate Taught and Postgraduate Research Students
10.45 Regulations relating to continuation fees shall be approved by Senate.
Examination and Reassessment Fees, and Fees for Repeated Study
10.46 Regulations relating to assessment and reassessment fees and fees for repeated study shall be approved by Senate.
Certificates and transcripts
10.47 Regulations relating to the fees associated with the issuing of certificates and transcripts shall be approved by Senate.
Accommodation Fees
10.48 Students offered accommodation by the University in Halls of Residence or Flats will be informed of the accommodation charges in force for the forthcoming session.
10.49 Students are required to pay for accommodation provided by the University termly in advance. Rebates for prompt payment, and surcharges for late payment, are determined from time to time by the Finance Committee.
10.50 Students who are allowed to occupy University accommodation during the summer (long) vacation may pay on a weekly basis.
Other Supplementary Fees and Charges
10.51 Where a supplementary charge is required in addition to the tuition fees and the other fees and charges provided for by this Ordinance, Senate will recommend such fees and charges to Council.
Scholarships and Bursaries
10.52 The University provides bursaries and scholarships to students each year in line with the agreement it lodges with the Office for Fair Access. Details of each scheme, and the associated terms and conditions, are published annually on the University’s web site.
Re-registration Fees, Debts and Non-Payment of Fees and Charges
Re-registration fees
10.53 A re-registration fee will be payable by all students who are formally de-registered either due to non payment of tuition fees or for failure to register or re-enrol by the relevant deadline. Regulations relating to the de-registration of students for non payment of fees and other debts, shall be approved by Senate.
Non-Payment of Fees, Fines and Charges
10.54 Library fines and charges for services and lost books will be regarded as debts to the University and in the case of non-payment a defaulter will be excluded from all further use of the Library until such debts have been paid.
10.55 No student whose accommodation charges for any session (excluding charges incurred in the immediately preceding summer vacation) remain outstanding will be permitted to re-enrol with the University except in cases of hardship accepted by the University.
10.56 Any other charges raised on students by the University, including charges for lost equipment or fines imposed under health and safety regulations, shall be regarded as debts to the University.
Debts to the University and the Conferment of Awards
10.57 No award shall be made or conferred on a student in debt of any kind to the University.
