Higher Education Tuition Fee Policy 1. Introduction 1.1. This policy is applicable to new and continuing students. 1.2. Ruskin College s tuition fees are approved annually by the College s Governing Executive. 1.3. Information used in the determination of tuition fee rates includes: The statutory rates for full-time home/eu higher education students as determined by Ruskin s commitment made in its Access Agreement with the Office for Fair Access and the support package made available by the Government Recruitment levels to programmes Market intelligence. 1.4. Students need to be aware of their financial obligations to the College before they start their course. The tuition fee costs for each course are included in the offer letter. Having funds in place to cover tuition fees and residence fees (if applicable) are a condition of all offers made to students studying on a higher education programme (see Higher Education Admissions Policy). 1.5. Ruskin College charges fees for each year of study. Tuition fees are charged at a set annual rate and are not calculated in respect of the number of credits being studied, unless students are repeating modules (section 5.4). 1.6. Students will be required to demonstrate how their tuition fees will be paid prior to enrolment. 2. Modes of attendance 2.1. Full time students studying for 120 credits (undergraduate) or 180 credits (postgraduate) in the current academic year. 2.2. Part time all students studying less than 120 credits in the academic year are classed as part time. Fees are usually charged pro-rata to the full time equivalent unless otherwise stated. 2.3. Students cannot change their mode of study without written permission from the Academic Registrar. 1
3. Categories of students 3.1. Home/EU - The criteria is largely based on residency, as set out in the Education (Fees and Awards) Regulations 1997. Such undergraduate students may apply for financial support from the Student Finance England (or Wales or Northern Ireland, or SAAS) depending on where they live. 3.2. Sponsored - The fees of a sponsored student are paid by an external body such as an employer, a trade union or other funder. 3.3. Residents of the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man 3.4. Overseas/UK-based students who do not meet the residence criteria for home/eu fees 3.5. Students undertaking Equal or Lower Qualifications fees will be considered on a case by case basis 4. How fees will be paid for students in receipt of UK government support (undergraduate students) 4.1. Prior to enrolment, all students will be asked to complete a Confirmation of Funding Form. This form tells the college how the student s tuition fees and residence fees (if applicable) will be paid. 4.2. Students who are in receipt of an award from Student Finance England (or Wales or Northern Ireland, or SAAS) must produce their Student Finance Entitlement on enrolment, or the student will not be able to enrol. If a student is unable to produce the letter of entitlement, but has proof that there application is being processed, they may be able to enrol, subject to approval from the Finance Director. 4.3. Students who are allowed to enrol whilst their application is being processed must have their finance entitlement approved by the end of the first term. If finances are not approved, the student will have their place on the course withdrawn, and will be invoiced for one term s tuition fee, which will need to be paid within 30 days. 5. Postgraduate students 5.1. Postgraduate students will be required to pay their first term s tuition fees on enrolment. 5.2. Postgraduate students may pay their tuition fees by instalment, with agreement by the Finance Director and subject to a 50 administration fee. 6. International students 6.1. International undergraduate and postgraduate students will be required to pay their tuition fees, and residence fees (if living at Ruskin College) in full, by no later than 15 th September. 2
6.2. Ruskin College will not issue a Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies (CAS) until full payment for tuition has been received. 6.3. In accordance with UK Home Office guidance to Universities, this payment is non-refundable. However, the College may refund the fees paid if the student is refused a visa, and there is justified evidence for this refusal. 6.4. Appeals for refunds need to be made in writing to the Academic Registrar (admissions@ruskin.ac.uk) within two weeks of the visa being refused. 6.5. If an international applicant is refused a visa in the year of entry onto the course, but wishes to re-apply to the College and for a visa in the following year, the fees paid will be carried forward. The Academic Registrar will advise the Finance Director in these circumstances. 6.6. Any outstanding balance the following year will need to be paid on enrolment (e.g. the annual increase in tuition fees and residence fees). 7. Repeat Study 7.1. All students registering for a period of repeat study are liable to pay a tuition fee based on the number of credits being repeated. 7.2. Home and EU students repeating less than a full year, and paying less than the full time fee, will not be eligible to apply to the college s hardship fund for financial support, or be eligible for a NSP award (if on BA Social Work or BA Youth and Community Work). 7.3. Students who repeat modules will be required to pay the appropriate fee on enrolment. 7.4. The fee rate for repeated modules in 2014/15 will be: 7.4.1. For Oxford Brookes University validated undergraduate programmes (annual fee for full-time 6000): Module Credit Fee to be paid ( ) 15 750 30 1500 7.4.2. For Open University Validated undergraduate programmes (annual fee for full-time 7735): Module Credit Fee to be paid ( ) 10 645 15 967 20 1290 30 1934 40 2580 45 2901 60 3867 80 5156 3
7.4.3. For Open University Validated postgraduate programmes (annual fee for full-time MAILTUS 6800, for MA Public History and MA Women s Studies 5000): Module Credit Fee to be paid ( ) MA ILTUS MA Public History and MA Women s Studies 30 1134 834 60 2267 1667 7.5. Students who have been referred but only need to resubmit coursework will be charged a 50 administration fee. 8. Changes to the Student s Course or Non-registration of an Applicant 8.1. A student who wishes to change their course should contact the Academic Registrar in the first instance. 8.2. If the change is agreed and the student accepted onto the new programme, the student s registration will be amended accordingly and: the student will be advised of any change in the fees due and will be asked to make arrangements with the Finance Office to pay any additional sum. 8.3. Suspension of studies 8.3.1. If a student is suspended, every effort will be made to remain in contact with the student during the period of suspension to help them keep studies up to date. Should they so wish, this can be through distance learning means, if practicable. There will be no reimbursement of tuition fees during the period of suspension. 8.4. Dismissal 8.4.1. There will be no reimbursement of tuition fees to a student who is dismissed after 31 st December. If a student is dismissed before December 31 st then they will pay one term s tuition fee. 8.5. Failure 8.5.1. Where a student fails their programme after 31 st December there will be no reimbursement of tuition fees. If a student fails their programme before December 31 st then they will pay one term s tuition fee. 8.6. Any refund of tuition fees of a student who is sponsored will be returned to the sponsor, not to the student. 8.7. Subject to para 12, refunds made to overseas students and applicants will be returned to their country of origin or to the student s/applicant s home address in their country of origin where they have paid direct. 4
9. Regulations for withdrawal and suspension of studies 9.1. Once a student has registered on a programme of studies she/he is expected to complete that programme within the normal study periods unless she/he withdraws from the college or suspends his/her studies (known as suspension of studies). 9.2. Students will pay the fee regime in force at their initial enrolment on the course, subject only to annual increases in line with inflation for Home students. This commitment will hold good for the normal course length plus two years. After this period of time has lapsed, if for any reason students have not completed their course, including periods of interruption, students will be charged the new fee regime. 10. Payments 10.1. Ruskin College accepts the following payment methods: By telephone using credit or debit card In person using credit or debit card, cheque, bankers draft or cash By post cheque or bankers draft (please write student name and course on reverse of cheque) Bank to bank transfer (email accounts@ruskin.ac.uk for bank details) Direct debit Note: Ruskin College does not accept American Express or Diner Club Cards. 10.2. If a student is having their fees paid for them by sponsorship (e.g. employer, trade union) they must ensure that the Finance Office has full details of the sponsorship, including name and address for invoicing. Students will be liable for their fee if the appropriate paperwork is not submitted by enrolment or the sponsor defaults on payment. If confirmation of sponsorship is not submitted by the end of enrolment week, students will be required to immediately make satisfactory fee payment arrangements on receipt of the tuition fee invoice. Over payments will be refunded to the original payee if confirmation of sponsorship is subsequently received. 10.3. Ruskin College reserves the right to refuse or reject any financial transaction where the original payment cannot be identified or confirmed. 11. Additional costs 11.1. There may be a number of extra costs that arise from a student s higher education study, and these should be allowed for when students plan their budget. Some are common to all courses such as texts books and photocopying. Others will relate to a specific course of study, e.g. attending conferences, theatre trips, field trips or travel to and from fieldwork or placements. 11.2. Students may apply to the College s hardship fund for assistance with these costs. However, a successful application cannot be guaranteed, and funds are limited. 11.3. When going on fieldwork or placement, students should consider whether the costs of their travel are affordable. It may be the case that a closer placement can be arranged. 5
12. Non-payment of tuition fees (and non-payment of residence fees) 12.1. Students who default or miss agreed payments will face exclusion from the College if satisfactory arrangements are not made immediately thereafter with the Finance Director. 12.2. Satisfactory arrangements are: Paid in full Taken out agreed direct debit arrangements or recurring credit or debit card payment and maintained satisfactory repayment without default Provided written sponsorship confirmation The College has received confirmation of a tuition fee loan by the Student Loans Company (SLC) or the student has provided a copy of the Student Finance Entitlement letter for a tuition fee loan to cover the outstanding debt. 12.3. Students who find themselves running into financial difficulties should seek advice from the Finance Office. The Finance Office will then try to agree with the student a programme of payment. 12.4. Where a payment or instalment is missed or defaulted upon (unless the situation is covered by an agreed payment programme), Ruskin College will trigger action to pursue payment. If payment is still outstanding at the end of the academic year, Ruskin College will not provide references, certificates or transcripts for students who are subject to financial sanctions, and will not allow students who are subject to financial sanctions to progress onto the next level of study. 12.5. On applying the financial sanctions, Ruskin College will send a letter to the student at their registered address (it is the student s responsibility to inform the College if they change address), seeking payment within 15 working days of the date of the letter. Where payment is made and cleared within 15 working days, all financial sanctions will be lifted. If a student misses more than one payment, then an administration charge of 50 will be charged to the student. 12.6. Any student who has been subject to financial sanction will not be allowed to pay their future tuition fees by instalments. 12.7. The College reserves the right to not send graduation certificates to any student who owes money to the College for their tuition fees. 13. Withdrawal and refunds 13.1. Students have the right to withdraw from a programme of study and Academic Regulations relating to withdrawal can be found in the Regulatory Framework. 13.2. Ruskin College refunds tuition fee payments (to students and sponsors) based on term dates and the annual fee charged. 13.2.1. Tuition fees will not be reduced to students who start their courses late. 6
13.2.2. All students who withdraw before the start of the course year, with the exception of International Students who have paid a nonrefundable deposit, may be eligible for a full refund of any tuition fee paid for that year, providing that prior to the commencement of the course written notification has been received by the Academic Registrar. 13.2.3. All students will be liable for annual tuition fees as follows: 13.2.3.1. Students who withdraw from the course within the first two weeks of the start date of the academic programme will receive a full refund of any contribution of any fees paid directly to the College. This includes induction week. The last date of attendance will be the date the student last attended College, as recorded by the class register and will be recorded once the student has completed the Withdrawal Form (found on Student Services section of intranet). 13.2.3.2. Students who withdraw before the end of the first term will be liable for 25% of the annual tuition fee. This is dependent of the student completing the Withdrawal Form. The last date of attendance will be taken from the class register. The notification must be received prior to the commencement of the second term in order to incur no further financial liability. 13.2.3.3. Students who withdraw during the second term will be liable for 50% of the annual tuition fee. This is dependent of the student completing the Withdrawal Form. The last date of attendance will be taken from the class register. The notification must be received prior to the commencement of the third term in order to incur no further financial liability. 13.2.3.4. The full year s fees will be liable by students who withdraw during the third term. 13.2.4. Students who choose to take a Student Loans Company tuition fee loan towards any amount of their fee will become liable for the annual tuition fee at three liability periods, which will correspond to the start date for that course as follows: 13.2.4.1. No liability if the student withdraws from the programme within the first two weeks of the course start date for the academic year. This includes induction week/induction weekend 13.2.4.2. First liability period 25% of the annual tuition fee will become liable after two weeks (including induction week/induction weekend) of the start date of term 1 of the course 13.2.4.3. Second liability period 50% of the annual tuition fee will be liable from the start date of term 2 for the course 7
13.2.4.4. Third liability period 100% of the annual tuition fee will become liable from the start date of term 3 of the course. 13.3. Refunds made to tuition fees will be administered as indicated above. 13.4. For students studying on courses with non-standard entry dates the calculations will be applied above with the necessary revised dates e.g. BA ILTUS block residential. 13.5. All refunds that fall due will be refunded, where possible, using the original method of payment. Card payments will be refunded to the original card, bank transfers will be refunded to the account that was originally debited. Cheque payments will be refunded by cheque or BACS transfer to the account detailed on the original cheque. 13.6. If a student is of Home/EU or International fee status and the payment of tuition fees was split between more than one payee, any refund due will be made in proportion to the original split. 14. Complaints 14.1. If a student is unhappy about a decision concerning payment of tuition fees, he/she may bring a complaint under the College s Complaints Procedure which is available in the College Handbook and on the intranet. 15. Members of Staff 15.1. Tuition fees for courses taken by members of Ruskin College staff are the same as for all other students. Version: 1.0 Date: June 2014 Title: HE Tuition Fee Policy 8