BRADFORD COLLEGE Tuition Fee Policy. Higher Education. Academic Year 2016/17

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1 BRADFORD COLLEGE Tuition Fee Policy Higher Education Academic Year 2016/17 Page 1 of 19

2 BRADFORD COLLEGE HIGHER EDUCATION TUITION FEES AND CHARGES POLICY 1 Background 1.1 Bradford College is set up constitutionally as a charitable body for the provision of further education (FE) and higher education (HE). It operates sustainably as a not for profit organisation. It reviews and publishes its fees annually (including Tuition Fees, referred to as Fees ) and charges (referred to as Charges ). 1.2 The College has a mission and set of values which recognise that students have a variety of personal and financial circumstances. The College sets and collect Fees and Charges with this in mind. They are a significant and vital contribution to the cost of running the College. They enable the College to provide staff and facilities to help students succeed. 1.3 This policy should be read carefully. Students who have difficulty reading or understanding the policy may contact the Registrar Services, B16 Old Building. 1.4 This policy is effective from 1st August Principles 2.1 This policy applies to staff and students. 2.2 The Student Record System contains a list of Fees for courses. 2.3 At registration with the College students must indicate how their tuition fees will be paid, subject to the Fees Regulations under schedule 1 of this policy. 2.4 In addition to Fees, students may be required to pay Charges. Typically, these include Charges for accommodation, field trips, fines, booking fees, breakage and debt collection charges. 2.5 Students must be in good financial standing with the College throughout their period of study. Good financial standing means not owing the College money other than with the written consent of the College. 2.6 Students who are not in good financial standing may be subject to sanctions and, ultimately, have their studies terminated. Such sanctions include being stopped from using College resources and stopped from entering College buildings. Students whose studies are terminated are not allowed to finish their course, receive award certification or attend their graduation ceremony. The debt they owe to the College remains outstanding. 2.7 Confirmation of how tuition fees will be paid needs to be received by the 2 nd week in November for September start students and by the 2 nd week in March for January start students. If no confirmation of payment or actual payment is received by the end of the first term of study then further action may be taken as noted at point 2.6 above. Page 2 of 19

3 3 Regulations 3.1 The HE Fees Group, which is chaired by the HE Provost, proposes the tuition fees to The Corporation, with the exception of short course fees which the HE Fees Group can set under delegated authority. 3.2 The College awards scholarships, bursaries, fee scholarships and other support arrangements. 3.3 The regulation of HE Fees is in accordance with Schedule 1 of this policy. 3.4 Tuition fee information is published on the College website. The exact fee is calculated once students have registered, at which stage the College will have information on academic standing, eligibility for scholarships, partial fee waivers, financial penalties, fee status, funding position etc. 3.5 The College reserves the right to correct administrative errors and to recover shortfalls in fees. For example if option modules are amended and the new choices attract additional fees or a change in study mode from part-time to full-time increases the fee due for the academic year. 4 Fee Schedules 4.1 The fees set for 2016/17 for HE students are as per the following schedules to this policy: Schedule 2 Home/EU HE Fees Schedule 3 International HE Fees Page 3 of 19

4 BRADFORD COLLEGE Tuition Fee Policy Schedule 1 Higher Education Fee Regulations Academic Year 2016/17 Page 4 of 19

5 BRADFORD COLLEGE FEE REGULATIONS HIGHER EDUCATION Contents page Page 1.0 Academic Fees Tuition Fees Payment Methods Student Loans Company Sponsors Refunds, Waivers, Withdrawals and Cancellations Failure to Pay Debt Recovery Legal Jurisdiction Glossary 11 Page 5 of 19

6 BRADFORD COLLEGE HIGHER EDUCATION ACADEMIC FEES REGULATIONS This document relates to all students deemed to be home students as defined in The Education (Fees and Awards) (England) Regulations This includes those people who are assessed as UK/EU nationals for the purposes of fee status. These regulations also include relevant fees requirements for students defined as Overseas students. Please see schedule 3 for specific information relating to overseas students fees and payment arrangements. 1.0 ACADEMIC FEES 1.1 For the purposes of the College s Academic Fees Regulations the word fees shall be interpreted as: a sum of money due to the College in respect of educational services, that will include tuition (including assessment and examinations), academic supervision, the provision of other academic services and facilities such as library and learning resources, the provision of pastoral and extra-curricular services and the conferment of awards. The fees for an individual student are determined with reference to the Fee Schedule, the course of study, mode of attendance and the student s fee status. 1.2 The payment of any fee must be made in pounds sterling. 1.3 A student shall be liable to pay in full at registration, any fee due to the College. 1.4 A student is personally liable for the full tuition fee for his or her course upon registration, other than the extent that the Student Loans Company or other recognised sponsor might pay the fee. It is the student s responsibility to ensure that full payment is received for their course even if it is being met by a third party. 1.5 A student is required to pay all outstanding tuition fees relating to previous academic years prior to registration. Registration on a course will be refused where there are fees outstanding from a previous academic year. 1.6 The College relies on information provided by the student to determine the tuition fee to be paid. It is the student s responsibility to ensure that such information is accurate and completed and is supplied at the times required by the College. 1.7 A student who knowingly withholds, or recklessly tenders false information relating to his or her liability to pay a fee, either personally or via a sponsor, will have breached the College s regulations on student conduct and be subject to the College s disciplinary procedures. This is without prejudice to any rights the College might have in respect of legal proceedings. Page 6 of 19

7 1.8 The College will not be held responsible for any charges incurred by the student should he or she fail to amend or cancel any agreed payment arrangements at least seven days prior to the due date. 2.0 TUITION FEES 2.1 The College shall publish annually a schedule of fees. 2.2 Tuition fees for the amounts specified in the schedule of fees are payable each academic session or other relevant period of study as determined by the College. 2.3 For all students, tuition fees, except in cases where extenuating circumstances have been agreed as applying, are payable by students required or permitted by the Board of Examiners to be reassessed by retaking entire modules or, in the case of research students, to be re- examined for the degree. 2.4 Reassessment by retaking complete modules may be with attendance or without attendance, as agreed by the Board of Examiners. 2.5 Modules taken as retake assessments are charged at the standard module fee for the course, taking into account the student s fees status. 3.0 PAYMENT METHODS 3.1 Payments will be accepted in cash, cheque, credit and debit card, bank transfer, online payment and by direct debit. 3.2 The College may make an agreement with a student for the payment of fees by instalments. Students who have failed to maintain instalment agreements in previous academic years may not be permitted to pay by instalments in subsequent years. 3.3 Where fees are paid by direct debit, it is expected that the payment plan be agreed at registration. The duration of the plan would normally be 8 months or less per annum. Students who require a payment plan outside of the standard terms can put their request in writing to the Registrar for consideration. 4.0 STUDENT LOANS COMPANY (SLC) 4.1 It is expected that students have applied for and secured funding for their course with SLC prior to registration. 4.2 Students being funded by SLC must provide the College with their University College or Payment advice for their fees to be claimed. 4.3 Students who need assistance with the application process must contact Registrar Services as soon as possible. 4.4 If a student is not eligible for funding from SLC for whatever reason then they must provide alternative payment. Page 7 of 19

8 5.0 SPONSORS 5.1 The College may agree to accept payment from a sponsor in respect of any part of a fee owed to the College by a student. Only undertakings engaged in the private or public sectors are acceptable as sponsors to the College. Agreement by the College to accept payment of any part of a tuition fee from a sponsor does not extinguish a student s liability to pay a fee, which shall only terminate when payment is received from the sponsor. 5.2 It is the responsibility of the student to provide documentary evidence of sponsorship that provides sufficient assurance to College of the sponsor s ability and commitment to pay such fees. The College, at its discretion, may refuse to recognise a sponsor where reasonable efforts have not been established the existence of that sponsor or of the sponsor s ability to make a payment. The College shall notify a student of its decision to reject a sponsor. 5.3 Any part of a tuition fee payable by a sponsor must be paid within 30 days of the invoice. Where a sponsor s payment is outstanding more than 30 days, the College shall have direct recourse to the student, who shall be automatically liable for any outstanding sum. This is without prejudice to the College s right to require any sponsor to pay a fee on or before registration. 6.0 REFUNDS, WAIVERS, WITHDRAWALS AND CANCELLATIONS 6.1 New Students: Fees will only be refunded in the following circumstances: i. Where the course is cancelled prior to commencement due to low registration in which case the College will automatically refund any fees paid in full. ii. Where a home or EU student withdraws from a programme of study on a permanent basis within the first three weeks of their effective start date the tuition fees will be refunded in full. After the first three weeks from registration students assume full tuition fee liability. iii. Where a student withdraws from a course and has already paid more than the appropriate amount due. The difference between the amount paid and the amount due will be refunded to the student. Continuing Students: Following registration a student will be liable for the full annual fees. Fees will only be refunded in the following circumstances: i. Where the course is cancelled prior to commencement due to low registration in which case the College will automatically refund any fees paid in full. Page 8 of 19

9 ii. Where a student withdraws from a course and has already paid more than the appropriate amount due. The difference between the amount paid and the amount due will be refunded to the student. 6.2 Withdrawing from a course A home or EU student withdrawing on a permanent basis will be liable for tuition fees on a sliding scale, depending on the date that the student informs the College, in writing, of their withdrawal from the course. Non-attendance does not constitute withdrawal. To withdraw from the course a student must complete a withdrawal form and return it to Registrar Services, B16 Old Building. Term September start* January start* % of full fee charged 1 Start of course (or enrolment Start of course (or enrolment 25 if later) to end of term 1 (Christmas break) if later) to end of term 1 (Easter break) 2 Start of term 2 (January) to Start of term 2 (April) to end 50 end of term 2 (Easter break) 3 Start of term 3 (April) to end of academic year (summer break) of term 2 (summer break) Start of term 3 (September) to end of term 3 (Christmas break) *It is the responsibility of the student to check the actual term dates for their course. International students are not eligible for a refund or discounted fee following a withdrawal unless the course has been cancelled by the College. See schedule 3 for full details on International withdrawal policy. 6.3 A student interrupting their studies on a temporary basis, known as suspension of studies, shall not normally be entitled to any tuition fee refund and will remain liable for any unpaid fees for the current academic year. Upon returning to study on the same level of the same course, tuition fees will be adjusted to reflect fees already paid for that level of study. 6.4 Notwithstanding the provision of 6.3, in exceptional circumstances on receipt of a written request from the student, the Registrar may waive or refund tuition fees or an administration charge in full, or in part, for students who have withdrawn on a temporary or permanent basis. All requests for a waiver must be submitted in writing to the Registrar. Exceptional circumstances may include:- i) Death of spouse/ partner, parent or child; ii) Serious physical or mental illness that prevents the student from continuing with his or her studies; iii) Serious personal injury that prevents the student from continuing with his or her studies. 100 Page 9 of 19

10 The above list is not exhaustive and each request will require the submission of certified medical or other documentary evidence. 7.0 FAILURE TO PAY 7.1 A student who fails to provide details of payment within 30 days of registration or who is in default of a tuition fee instalment payment by 30 days, will be blocked by the College from his or her programme of studies. While their account is blocked a student shall not be entitled to attend classes or lectures, have access to learning resource facilities. To get their account reinstated they must make contact with Registrar Services. 7.2 A student who has been blocked for default in the payment of a tuition fee may be re-admitted to a programme of study where either payment is made in full or sufficient information is provided regarding when and how payment will be made. This regulation is without prejudice to the Finance Director s or nominee with delegated authority right to make an arrangement for the payment of fees where a student is in default. 7.3 Being blocked from a programme of studies for non-payment of fees shall not be grounds for granting extensions for submission of assessments, nor may the Board of Examiners treat such a block as circumstances adversely affecting student performance in assessment. 7.4 If, at the end of a level or a stage of a programme of studies, a student is in default of payment of part or all of a relevant tuition fee, whether blocked or not, the College may withdraw the student from the programme of study, that is, may terminate the student s registration. 7.5 Where a student wishes to dispute the decision of the College to block or terminate their studies they should make a formal review request in writing to the Registrar. 7.6 The College may withhold the certificate and prevent the student from attending the graduation ceremony for any student who has not paid their fees. A student who owes fees will also be ineligible to proceed from one stage or level of a programme to the next or receive an academic award. 8.0 DEBT RECOVERY 8.1 The College reserves the right to take any reasonable steps to recover any outstanding debt in connection with unpaid academic fees including undertaking legal proceedings to recover such debts. The College reserves the right to seek reimbursement of reasonable costs associated with the recovery of outstanding debts. When an account is passed to an outside recovery agency the debt referral fee is 15% of the outstanding balance. The debt referral fee is added to the outstanding balance, becoming part of the total amount owed by the student to the College. Page 10 of 19

11 9.0 LEGAL JURISDICTION 9.1 Disputes under these regulations or any other regulations of Bradford College or any contract between Bradford College and any students shall be governed by English Law and the parties agree to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English Courts. 9.2 Debt recovery through the Sheriff s Courts in Scotland, where a debtor to the College normally resides in Scotland, is an exception to the general position established under GLOSSARY Academic Fees Effective Start Date Registration Sponsor A sum of money due to the College in respect of educational services, that will include tuition (including assessment and examinations), academic supervision, the provision of other academic services and facilities such as library and learning resources, the provision of pastoral and extra-curricular services and the conferment of awards. The effective start date is the formal commencement date for study on the programme on which the student is registered and which is confirmed by the receipt and acceptance of a fully completed and signed Registration Form & Financial Declaration. Students should not attend teaching sessions before registering on the programme except during induction week. Registration is an agreement between the College and the student under which the College provides a programme of studies and makes available academic services and facilities associated with that programme of study. The student, in signing the registration form & financial declaration, agrees to certain obligations, including the payment fees for the provision of academic services and facilities associated with the programme of studies. A sponsor is a third party that undertakes to pay any part of a fee owed to the College by a student. Only undertakings engaged in the private or public sectors are acceptable as sponsors to the College. This includes the Student Loan Company. An individual who is a member of the student s family is not acceptable as a sponsor. It is the responsibility of the student to provide evidence of a sponsor that is prepared to pay fees, or part of a fee, on behalf of that student. Tuition Fees A sum of money due to the College in respect of registration, enrolment, tuition, assessment, examination and conferment of an award. Page 11 of 19

12 Overseas The Education (Fees and Awards) (England) Regulations 2007 Statutory Instruments 2007, No 779) define overseas for fees classification purposes. New Students Students enrolling in the College on a new HE programme in 2016/17. Continuing Students Students continuing their HE studies with the College in 2016/17. This includes students progressing within Bradford College from a Foundation Degree or Higher National Diploma to Bachelors Top-Up programme of study. SLC Student Loans Company Page 12 of 19

13 BRADFORD COLLEGE Tuition Fee Policy Schedule 2 Higher Education Home/EU Student Fees Academic Year 2016/17 Page 13 of 19

14 BRADFORD COLLEGE HIGHER EDUCATION FEE SCHEDULE 2016/17 This document relates to all students deemed to be home students as defined in the The Education (Fees and Awards) (England) Regulations This includes those people who are assessed as UK/EU nationals for the purposes of fee status. This Fee Schedule should be read in conjunction with the College HE Fee Regulations at schedule 1 of this document. Please note that the fee regulations and fee schedules are subject to amendment, due to possible changes to national funding policy. 1 Payment by direct debit/instalment is only available to those studying courses of at least one term s duration or equivalent and only where fees are 250 or more. 2 Fees relate to 2016/17 only, fees for new starters will be payable in subsequent years at the same rate as the first year of the programme. This is subject to remaining on the same programme in the same mode of study i.e. full-time or parttime. Students who switch modes of study will be classed as new students 3 Students who transfer to a programme of study which has a different fee rate to the programme they initially registered on will have their fees adjusted in-line with Student Finance England guidance. For example a student moving from a degree course charged at 7,950 in term 1 to an HND course at 7,100 will be charged 25% fee for the first course, and 75% fee for the second course, Total charge for the year 7, and vice versa if going from a lower tariff course to a higher tariff. Proving they remain on the same mode of study. 4 Students progressing to the 2nd/3rd year of their courses will pay the same fee as paid in the previous year. Full time courses New Entrants 5 The following relates to new entrants to the College, beginning a full time course, and who were not at the College in 2015/16, or who were studying at the College but have changed their mode of study in 2016/17. These students no longer attract HEFCE mainstream teaching grant funding, and as such fall under the new regime for fees purposes. 6 Home & EU full-time student fees rates are as follows: Level 4/5 - HNC/HND 7,100 except courses in the Faculty of Arts and Creative Industries which are 6000 Foundation Degrees 6000 Level 6 - Undergraduate Degrees: 7,950 Level 7 PGCE: 9,000 Page 14 of 19

15 Level 7 MA or MSc: 4,500 (except MA Visual Arts 3,000 and MEd fees are dependent on whether the student is from a partnership school arrangement) Level 4/5/6 Part-time rate 700 per 20 credits Level 7 Part-time rate 1,500 per 60 credits (except MA Visual Arts 1,000 per 60 credits and MEd which is dependent on whether the student is from a partnership school arrangement) Repeat fees at any level are based on individual circumstances, year the student started the course and number of credits to be repeated. The minimum fee is 250 per 15 credits and maximum fee is 700 per 20 credits. Progressing Students 7 Students progressing from a Foundation Degree or a Higher National Diploma achieved with the College in 2015/16 to a full Honours degree top up or direct entry to year 3 in 2016/17 will be charged 7,400. This requires students to have had no break in learning (except agreed suspension of studies period) and the mode of attendance on both courses must be the same (e.g. full time to full time). 8 Students progressing from another institution having completed a Foundation Degree or equivalent to a BA (Honours) or BSc (Honours) at Bradford College, must have had no break in learning (except agreed suspension of studies period) and the mode of attendance on both courses must be the same (i.e. full time to full time). The fee is 7,950. Part-time Courses 9 Students progressing from a Foundation Degree or Higher National Diploma achieved with the College in 2015/16 to a full Honours degree top up in 2016/17 will be charged 700 per 20 credits. This requires students to have had no break in learning (except agreed suspension of studies period) and the mode of attendance on both courses must be the same (e.g. part time to part time). 10 Students progressing from another institution having completed a Foundation Degree or equivalent to a BA (Honours) or BSc (Honours) at Bradford College, must have had no break in learning (except agreed suspension of studies period) and the mode of attendance on both courses must be the same (i.e. part time to part time). The fee is 700 per 20 credits for all one year BA (Honours) and BSc (Honours) part time courses. Page 15 of 19

16 BRADFORD COLLEGE Tuition Fee Policy Schedule 3 Higher Education International Student Fees Academic Year 2016/17 Page 16 of 19

17 BRADFORD COLLEGE HIGHER EDUCATION INTERNATIONAL FEE SCHEDULE 2016/17 This document relates to all higher education students assessed as international fee payers. The Fee Policy has been divided into separate documents to create clarity, covering FE and HE respectively and then further divided into regulations and fee schedules. Fee schedules may vary from year to year depending upon funding guidance, while regulations are more likely to be updated less frequently. Please note that the regulations and fee schedules are subject to amendment, due to possible changes to national funding policy. 1. International students are required to pay a deposit as detailed in their offer letter in order to receive a Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies (CAS) statement. 2. Payment by direct debit/instalment is only available to those studying courses of at least one academic year in duration. Students who have failed to maintain instalment agreements in previous academic years may not be permitted to pay by instalments in subsequent years. 3. The international tuition fee rates for 2016/17 are: Level 4/5/6 - HNC/HND, Foundation & Undergraduate Degrees 8,000 Level 7 Postgraduate Degrees: 8,700 Repeat fees at any level will be based on a pro-rata amount of the original tuition fee (without any discounts applied) for the current programme of study. (Tuition fee divided by 120 multiplied by the number of credits repeated.) 4. The tuition fee is fixed for the duration of the programme of study. 5. Students from South East Asia must pay the tuition fee in full before registration. 6. Self-funding students from any area other than South East Asia must pay a minimum of 60% of the tuition fee before enrolment and sign an instalment agreement for the balance. If the agreed payments are not made on time then the student will be withdrawn for non-payment of fees and the necessary authorities will be notified. A 50 administrative fee surcharge will be applied to any student who has been withdrawn and subsequently re-instated following late payment of fees. 7. Self-funding students who pay the tuition fee in full before or on registration are entitled to a 500 discount. 8. Self-funding students who are returning for a 2nd, 3rd or 4th year of study on the same programme will receive a 500 loyalty discount. 9. Returning students who have outstanding debt from the previous year will not be permitted to re-register for the next academic year. Page 17 of 19

18 10. Students who are being sponsored must provide their sponsor letter at registration and will receive no discounts. The sponsor will be invoiced directly. 11. The financial status of an international student must be declared prior to or at the latest registration. That is confirmation of being self-funded or sponsored. The financial status of a student cannot be amended during an academic year. 12. Credit / debit card payments must be made in person preferably by the student using a card in their own name. If the payment is being made by a third party (e.g. family member or friend) the third party must be present at the transaction. The third party must also provide evidence of identity which includes a photo e.g. driving licence or passport. 13. There may be additional costs related to the course over and above the tuition fee. This will be for items such as books, materials costs, accommodation, equipment hire, library & printing costs. This is not an exhaustive list and all such items must be paid for in full at the point of the cost being incurred. 14. Agents who introduce students to the College must have a current agent agreement with the College to refer students. Commission at the agreed rate will be paid only on receipt of funds from the student. If the student pays by instalments then the agent s commission will be paid by instalments also. 15. All deposits and tuition fees paid are non-refundable except in the following circumstances:- Reason Notification Period Cancellation Fee Visa refusal Anytime up to 4 weeks 200 prior to registration Visa refusal Less than 4 weeks prior to 400 registration Visa refusal After registration 400 Change of plans or Prior to registration 750 cancellation by student Change of plans or After registration 100% of tuition fee cancellation / withdrawal by student Course cancelled by College Zero full refund due of any tuition fee deposit paid 16. Refunds will only be issued in exceptional circumstances at the discretion of the College. All requests for refunds should be submitted in writing. Exceptional circumstances may include:- i) Death of spouse/ partner, parent or child; ii) Serious physical or mental illness that prevents the student from continuing with his or her studies; Page 18 of 19

19 iii) Serious personal injury that prevents the student from continuing with his or her studies. The above list is not exhaustive and each request will require the submission of certified medical or other documentary evidence. Page 19 of 19