Tuition and Continuation Fees
Postgraduate research students are required to pay full tuition fees for the duration of their normal period of registration and should aim to submit their thesis within that period. Tuition fees are collected at the beginning of each year. If a student submits after passing the minimum period of registration, but before completing the normal period of registration, e.g. during the 3rd year of a full-time PhD, a reduction/refund of tuition fees will be calculated on a pro-rata (monthly) basis. Such reductions/refunds are applied based on submission of the thesis alone. Full details of the University's fee rates are available via the SSiD web pages.
Payment of tuition fees
Tuition fees for sponsored students are paid direct to the University by the sponsoring body. The holders of University scholarships or Research Council scholarships which cover tuition fees are regarded as sponsored students for this purpose.
Students who intend to pay their fees from their own funds, funds over which they have control, or through a bank loan, are regarded as self-financed. Self-financed students may choose either to pay their fees in full at registration (a prompt payment discount is offered to full-time self-financed students) or by instalment. Full details of the University's payment plans are available via the SSiD web pages.
Continuation fees
If a student goes beyond their normal period of registration and requires a further period of registration, a continuation fee is charged instead of a tuition fee. The continuation fee is charged on a pro-rata basis starting from the end of the normal tuition fee paying period of registration until the submission of the thesis or the end of the registration period, whichever is earlier.
Continuation fees are collected at the start of the additional year of registration and adjusted accordingly if a student submits before the end of the 12 months. In order to encourage students to submit their theses in good time, the continuation fee is waived within the first three months of the end of the tuition fee paying period if students submit within this period.
For example, if a full-time PhD student goes beyond their third year of registration, they will initially be charged £372 Continuation Fee for the whole of their fourth year. If they subsequently submit within the first 3 months of their fourth year, they will be refunded the full amount of continuation fee. If, however, they submit after 6 months, they will be refunded half their continuation fee and if they require the whole of the fourth year, they will not receive any refund.
There are no routine grounds for fee waivers in respect of continuation fees, but the Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research & Innovation will consider cases put forward by students who feel there are exceptional reasons why they should not have to pay additional fees. All cases should be channelled via the department to Research & Innovation Services for consideration by the appropriate Faculty Officer in the first instance.
All fees can be paid at the Income Office, Level 6, Students' Union Building by cash, personal cheque, bankers draft, credit or debit card. Payments to be made by credit/debit card can be made through the Online Payment System. Queries regarding payments should be addressed to: studentcustomers@sheffield.ac.uk.
Students who have completed their required period of registration for full fee-paying purposes are entitled to apply to the Student Services Information Desk for an extension of their UCard (subject to status).
Fees in 2013-14
- Continuation/Extension £372
- Resubmission without oral £255
- Resubmission with oral £330
- Staff Candidate submission £410
(Please note that these fees are increased annually)