International Deposit Refunds Policy

The deposit is non-transferable and non-refundable except under the circumstances outlined below. Refund requests must be made in accordance with the Deposit Refunds procedures and deadlines.

Deposits will be held at least until the start date of the course applied for, or longer, at the discretion of the Deposit Refunds Team.

In line with UK money laundering laws any fee paid will only be refunded to the person or body who paid the fee.

Refunds will only be made in the following circumstances:

A. Your right to cancel

For the purposes of the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013, if this Agreement is a ‘distance contract‘ or and ‘off premises contract‘, you have the right to cancel your acceptance of it within a period of 14 days after you have accepted the terms of this Agreement without giving us any reason.

To meet the cancellation deadline, it is sufficient for you to have sent your cancellation before the 14-day period has expired.

B. Refusal of a student visa

Refunds will be made to students who have been refused a student visa, provided the reason for refusal is not

  1. due to a fraudulent application;
  2. due to an error on behalf of the student or
  3. on the basis of a credibility interview. 

To request a refund, candidates must submit a copy of the visa refusal document to the University.

C. University cancels programme

If the University cancels the programme for which the applicant has accepted an offer, then all fees paid will be refunded.

D. Deferral to later session

D1 - If the student arrives and wishes to defer to a later session, this is treated as a failure to attend the course they have been accepted for. The deposit will be forfeited and treated as a withdrawal (see below). The student will then need to apply again for the later programme and pay a new deposit at the new rate for the course and be liable for the full fees for that programme. The UK Border Agency will be notified that they are not studying at the University.

This policy will only be varied if the applicant produces evidence of genuine grounds for deferral; this will include the late issue of the visa.

D2 – If the student has not yet arrived and notifies the University that they wish to defer to a later session, the deposit may be carried forward for one year. To defer a deposit, the student will need to have a confirmed deferral or new offer of study by 15 December 2026. Should the student choose to defer for a second year the deposit will be forfeited and treated as a withdrawal (see below). The student will then need to apply again for the later programme and pay a new deposit at the new rate for the course and be liable for the full fees for that programme. The UK Home Office will be notified that they are not studying at the University.

E. Student fails to meet academic conditions of the offer

E1 - If the applicant has applied for a postgraduate taught programme (e.g MSc or MA) and fails to meet the conditions that may be attached to the offer and is rejected from the course on academic grounds (for example, an undergraduate degree classification or average GPA) then a refund will be made. This excludes those who meet the academic requirements for their programme but who fail to meet the English language conditions.

E2 - Academic results and transcripts must be uploaded directly to the applicant’s PG study application and a final unsuccessful decision confirmed by the University’s Admissions Team for a refund to be granted. If a decision is made to accept the student where their grades fall below their offer conditions (as a ‘near miss’ applicant) no refund will be given.

E3 - Where documents are required to be referred for a Qualification Check prior to issuance of a CAS, no refund will be made if documents cannot be verified or fail the evaluation by Qualification Check.

E4 - If the applicant has applied for an International Foundation Programme, paid the tuition fee deposit and does not meet the academic conditions of the offer, the deposit will not be refunded; students should only pay the deposit where they are confident the conditions will be met. 

F. Loss of financial support since the deposit was paid

A refund can be granted where the applicant is able to provide evidence of a significant change in financial circumstances that was not known at the time the deposit was paid. This can include funding that was in place before the deposit was paid and was later withdrawn for reasons outside the applicant's control.

Supporting evidence must:

  1. confirm that financial support covering full or partial tuition fees and living costs was in place before the deposit was paid;
  2. confirm that this support was withdrawn after the deposit was paid, for a reason outside the applicant's control;
  3. be a formal letter(s) or contract(s), signed or stamped by the sponsor;
  4. include the applicant's full name and date of birth.

Bank statements will not be considered as acceptable evidence. A failed application for sponsorship or loans are not considered as eligible for a refund.

G. Exceptional circumstances

Deposit refunds may be given in exceptional circumstances at the discretion of the University. This covers matters that would prevent the applicant from commencing their studies in the UK - for example severe ill health or a death of an immediate family member after the deposit payment was made.

Documentary evidence must be provided and include:

  • A signed/stamped report from an official medical practitioner stating recommendation not to travel at the point of the course start date, dated after the deposit was paid;
  • A death certificate;
  • Marriage/birth certificates as proof of relationship. 

H. Failure to attend at the start of the programme, or withdrawal after enrolment

No refund will be made. The UK Border Agency will be informed that the student is not enrolled on the expected programme.

Other than in the circumstances set out above in the sections above deposit payments are non-refundable prior to enrolment.

Administration Fee

If your refund application is approved, the University will retain an administration fee of GBP 200 that will be deducted from the amount refunded to you.