Late or missed payments

What to do if you think you will be late making a payment or missed a payment date.

On this page

Get support and advice

You are expected to have enough money to pay your fees in full or pay in instalments. 

If you cannot pay your fees, contact us as soon as possible: 

You can get in-person support at Senate House, on the upper ground floor at the front desk. This is available Monday to Friday, 9 am to 4 pm. 

For guidance with budgeting and funding, you can also use our money advice service. 

Missed payments

If you miss a payment deadline, your payment is considered overdue. We will contact you and ask you to pay. 

If you still do not pay your fees, we have the right to ask you to leave your accommodation or withdraw you from studies. This is explained in your Student Agreement. 

Outstanding debt

If you have not paid your debt, we will refer you to a debt collector. If this happens, you need to pay an administration fee. This is added to your financial account. 

You cannot register for the next year of study until you have paid all outstanding tuition fee and bench fee debts. 

If you have outstanding tuition or bench fee debts one month before your degree ceremony period starts, you will not be able to graduate. 

If you are an international student with unpaid tuition fees, we also need to notify the UK Government. You must provide supporting documents to the Home Office of your ability to pay outstanding fees. Otherwise, your visa may not be extended.

For more information, read the Student Fees regulations.

Changes from September 2026

We are improving how we support and respond to students who might not be able to pay on time, or have missed a payment. Find out what’s changing from September 2026.

International students

You must complete registration before you can pay your fees.

If you can’t set up a direct debit from a UK bank account in time to meet the payment deadline, you can pay your fees by a different method.

If you receive funding from your home university, or from a scholarship or sponsor organisation and might be late making a payment or have missed a payment date, contact finance-creditcontrol@bristol.ac.uk.

You will need a financial guarantee letter from the scholarship or sponsor organisation, with proof of funding. Find our how to get a letter if you are a home sponsored student, or an international sponsored student.

Study Abroad students from outside the UK should contact the Centre for Study Abroad for support. Email cfsa-inbound@bristol.ac.uk.