Tuition fee refund policy 2015-16

This policy does not apply to students on a distance-learning course. If you are on a distance-learning course, please seek advice from your department regarding the level of fee which may be due.

If you are considering, or have decided to take leave of absence, withdraw entirely or transfer to another University, you will need to know how this will affect your tuition fees. This Policy provides essential information on tuition fee refunds.

Grounds for refunds

• Tuition fees will be refunded in the following instances:

  • Student withdrawal from the course (either by the student or initiated by the University).
  • Leave of absence, except in cases where your period of leave of absence ends in the same academic year; if you are a postgraduate research student and you take leave of absence for a period of less than 6 months within the same academic session (for PGR students, the registration start date marks the start of a 12 month academic session).
    For more information on the leave of absence process, please refer to the following information:
    • Undergraduate and Postgraduate Taught students (staff or student login required)
    • Postgraduate Research students
  • Transfer or downgrade from a Masters qualification to a Diploma or Certificate qualification, except where:
    • the transfer or downgrade is the result of a failure to progress on the higher qualification;
    • academic services (teaching/supervision) for the higher award have been received. Please contact you department for advice.
  • Early submission of a thesis by a postgraduate research student.
• Tuition fees will not be refunded in the following instances:
  • The withdrawal of a unit or module does not of itself constitute grounds for a refund. Tuition fees typically cover the annual provision of teaching, academic support and other services in respect of 120 credits for undergraduate students (total number of credits taken by undergraduate students each academic year) and 180 credits for postgraduate taught students (total number of credits taken by postgraduate taught students each academic session). Whilst there may be occasions when students may not be able to access some modules, the total number of credits will remain unaffected and therefore no refund will apply. If you think you may be entitled to a tuition fee refund, please contact the Student Fees Team (studentfees@sheffield.ac.uk).

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How refunds are applied

If fees were paid by debit or credit card or a Direct Bank Transfer, the refund will be made to the same account. If you change your degree course, you submit your thesis earlier than anticipated or if there is any other kind of interruption to your studies, and you need to know how this Policy will affect you, please email the Student Fees Team in Registry Services at: studentfees@sheffield.ac.uk

The method of refund will be determined by the amount of tuition fees paid and owed up to the point of application. Therefore, subject to individual circumstances, a refund can take the shape of:

• a direct refund of tuition fees already paid
• a reduction in the tuition fees due
• a tuition fee debt reduction.

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How refunds are calculated

The following tables set out how the University calculates refunds

Please note that:

• the cut-off dates for SLC funded students mirror Student Loans Company payment dates
• SLC-funded and sponsored students should be aware that the University will notify instances of leave of absence and course withdrawal, alongside with changes in fees to Student Finance England or the equivalent funding body;
• SLC-funded students who change their course part-way through an academic year should contact the Student Fees Team for advice on how this will affect their fees.

Undergraduate and Postgraduate Taught Students (SLC-funded, Self-funded and Sponsored)

Week of withdrawal or start of Leave of Absence		Corresponding Dates in 2015-2016	Percentage of Annual Tuition Fees Due (SLC-funded Undergraduates)	Percentage of Annual Tuition Fees Due1 (Self-Funded, SLC Postgraduate Loan, Sponsored)
Intro Week - Week 5	Term 1	21 Sept 2015 –1 Nov 2015	0%	0%
Week 6 to Week 12 (and through the Christmas Vacation)	Term 1	2 Nov 2015 –17 Jan 2016 Nov 2015	25%	33%
	Term 2	18 Jan 2016 – 10 April 2016	50%	67%
	Term 3	11 April 2016 onwards	100%	100%

Postgraduate Research Students

(Self-funded and Sponsored)

Week of withdrawal or start Leave of Absence	Corresponding Dates in 2015-20162	Percentage of Annual Tuition Fees Due
Intro Week - Week 4	28 Sept 2015 - 25 Oct 2015	0%
Week 5 - Week 12	26 Oct 2015 - 20 Dec 2015	25%
Week 13 - Week 25	21 Dec 2015 - 20 Mar 2016	50%
Week 26 - Week 38	21 Mar 2016 - 19 Jun 2016	75%
Week 39 onwards	20 June 2016	100%

1. Fee deposits are non-refundable

2. These dates relate to students whose registration start date is 28 September 2015. The dates should be adjusted for cross-sessional students according to the ‘start of registration’ date.