Types of offer

When your offer is made, it is stated as either conditional or unconditional. There are certain requirements and processes for each offer and it is important to ensure you have followed the correct guidance for each.

• Conditional Offer - Your offer will be conditional if you still have examinations to take, we need verification of your qualifications, or if you have to meet other non-academic entry requirements. Your offer will state the examinations you must pass and the results you must achieve, plus any non-academic requirements.
• Unless an earlier date is specified in your offer, all conditions must be met in full by 31 August 2024. This includes any changes to exam results following any re-mark or appeal.
• For Medicine and Dentistry, due to capped numbers, we are not able to guarantee admission for September2024 on the basis of appeals or re-marks received after A level results day in 2024. Where possible we will offer a confirmed place for 2025.
• Unconditional Offer - Your offer will be unconditional if you have already met all the academic and non-academic requirements for entry. You will not be required to meet further conditions; however, you will still need to accept your offer by the relevant UCAS deadline and follow our steps on what to do next including applying for accommodation (if required) and preparation for your studies.

Your offer explained

Changed course

If your offer refers to a different course from that for which you originally applied, this might be simply because you used an incorrect course code on your application or because you have since asked us to make the change: in either case, you will know we are acting in accordance with your wishes. However, if neither of these cases applies to you, the change of course means that we are unable to make you an offer for your first choice of course but we are able to make you an offer for an alternative course. We hope that you will still feel able to give this alternative offer your serious consideration.

Deferred entry

If your offer provides that your offer is for deferred entry, this means that you must still satisfy the conditions of your offer by 31 August 2024 (or any earlier date specified in your offer) but if you are successful in meeting those conditions, or if your offer is unconditional, a place will be reserved for you beginning in September 2025. You will be able to apply for accommodation during 2024-25, and registration information will be sent before you are due to start. If you change your mind and wish to enter the University in September 2024, please contact us immediately but please note we may not be able to grant your request if all of the available places have already been offered to other candidates.

Fee status

The UK Government has confirmed that subject to certain exceptions, students from the European Union will no longer be eligible for Home fee status. Those exceptions are:

• Irish nationals living in the UK or Ireland
• EU, other EEA and Swiss nationals benefitting from ‘Citizens’ Rights’ under the EU Withdrawal Agreement, EEAEFTA Separation Agreement or Swiss Citizens’ Rights Agreement (normally those with ‘Settled’ or ‘Pre-settled’status). If you benefit from such Citizens’ Rights you will be asked to provide a ‘share code’ to evidence your settled or pre-settled status

Guidance on the eligibility of EU Nationals for Home fee status can be found on the UKCISA website.  

Home

If your offer provides that your fee status is ‘Home’, this means that from the information you gave us in your UCAS form the University has classified you as a ‘Home’ student for the purposes of tuition fees. Please refer to the funding section of our website for up-to-date information on student fee and support arrangements.

Subject to confirmation by the UK Parliament we expect that Home tuition fees for September 2024 entry will remain capped at £9,250. The University of Birmingham will charge the maximum approved tuition fee per year. The fees for your first year of study are therefore expected to be £9,250 as stated in your offer. We will communicate any change in the fees to you without delay should a decision from the government make this necessary

The University will review tuition fees each year. If Parliament agrees on an increase in tuition fees, the University will increase fees for each year of study normally in line with these changes. Student fees loans would also be expected to rise in line with any increase in the fee, to ensure that higher education remains affordable to all.

For full details of tuition fees, how to pay them, how loan repayments work and eligibility criteria for financial support, UK students should refer to our undergraduate fees and funding page.

Overseas

If your offer provides that your fee status is ‘Overseas’, this means that from the information you gave us in your UCAS form the University has classified you as an ‘Overseas’ student for the purposes of tuition fees. For Overseas students tuition fees are charged according to the type of programme studied. Your tuition fee is stated in your offer and further information on international fees and funding can be found on our website.

The annual tuition fee remains the same throughout your programme of study – with the exception of clinical programmes. You will need sufficient funds to enable you to pay your fees at the beginning of each year, and to pay for your living costs. Medical and dental students should pay particular attention to the increase in fees between their pre-clinical and clinical years. Instructions on how to pay your fees will be included with your registration information which will be sent to you once you become placed with us (from July 2024 onwards).

For the most up-to-date information on the availability of financial support for EU students, please visit: www.gov.uk/student-finance/eu-students.

If you do not agree with the University’s assessment of your fee status you may request this to be reviewed by contacting the Admissions Office. You are strongly advised to do this before accepting your offer.

Start date

The start date provided in your offer is when formal teaching will begin for your chosen programme. For most programmes this will be the start of term which is 30September 2024. This is preceded by Welcome Week which is held from 23 September 2024. All new students are expected to attend Welcome Week and, if you accept our offer and are successful in gaining a place, you will be provided with more details when you are sent your registration information. This will be sent once you become placed with us (from July 2024 onwards).

Point of entry

The point of entry provided in your offer indicates the year of study in which you will join the programme, normally Year 1.

Important information about your Student Contract with the University of Birmingham

If you decide to accept this offer, a contract will be formed between you and the University. Your rights and obligations to the University and the University’s obligations to you arising under that contract are set out in the documents listed below, which form the terms and conditions of your student contract.

• Your offer.
• The Undergraduate or Postgraduate Prospectus, as appropriate, including the relevant course information found online.
• The Code of Practice on Admission of Students.
• The University’s Royal Charter, Statutes, Ordinances, Regulations and Codes of Practice – these are regularly reviewed, with any changes normally taking effect at the start of the new academic year. A summary of changes which have already been agreed for the start of the next academic year has been published, and we will also publish a summary of any further significant changes, which are agreed before the start of the new academic year. The documents and any agreed changes can be viewed at.
• The University’s health and safety policies and guidance, General Conditions of Use of Computing and Network Facilities, Data Protection Policy, Equality Scheme, Public Interest Disclosure Policy, Criminal Convictions Policy and Anti-Bribery and Corruption Policy.
• Programme requirements, which are shown for each programme on the Course Finder.

A summary of the key terms and conditions is set out below.

Changes to your programme of study

Your offer of a place to study at the University is based on the latest key information, which can be found on the relevant page of the Course Finder section of the website. This includes the core modules for the programme and may include an indication of likely optional modules. Information set out in the prospectus and on the University website is accurate at the date of publication. However, changes to programmes, modules, University services and the content of the prospectus may be necessary, for example, to meet the requirements of an accrediting body or to keep courses contemporary by updating practices or areas of study.

Changes to programmes or modules may also be needed because of circumstances outside the reasonable control of the University, such as a key member of staff leaving the University or being unable to teach (where the programme or module is reliant on that person’s expertise) or where the minimum or maximum number of students needed to ensure a good educational or student experience has not been met or has been exceeded.

Other circumstances outside the reasonable control of the University include unexpected lack of funding, industrial action, severe weather, fire, civil disorder, political unrest, government restrictions or serious concern about the transmission of serious illness making a course, or part thereof, unsafe to deliver.

If changes to your programme are made after you have accepted your offer, the University will try to give you early notification of those changes and minimise their impact by offering suitable alternative arrangements, helping you find an alternative programme or University, or providing compensation where it believes there is a fair case to do so.

Fees and payment

Please read your offer, offer guide, and this document carefully for details of the tuition fees payable in each year of your programme. Up-to-date information about tuition fees and funding is available on the Fees and Funding pages of our website where the University will publish, usually in September of each year, the tuition fees that it will charge for the next academic year. You are advised to check the website for details of any increases in tuition fees in future years. It is your responsibility to make sure your fees and all expenses relating to your programme are paid in full and on time. The University’s requirements on the payment of fees can be found in Regulation 5.

If you are paying your tuition fees yourself, you must either pay the full amount at the beginning of the academic year or apply to pay by instalments using the University direct debit scheme. If you are a sponsored student, you are responsible for payment if your sponsor does not pay your tuition fees.

Additional costs

All students will incur some expense as a result of being at university (for example, stationery, photocopying and printing). Core recommended texts are usually available in the University library although students may wish to purchase their own personal copies.  

Unless your offer says otherwise, the tuition fee quoted in your offer does not include any charges for residential accommodation, examination re-sits, extensions to the designated period of study, travelling expenses or any other miscellaneous expenses, which may be related to your programme of study (such as the cost of field trips). Details of any other miscellaneous expenses you are likely to incur on your programme are indicated on the Course Finder section of our website.

Information on accommodation offered by the University is available at https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/study/student-experience/living-in-birmingham

Withdrawal from study – fees

If you withdraw from your programme, you may still have to pay your tuition fees. The policy on how withdrawal affects your fee liability is available on our fees pages. This does not affect your statutory cancellation rights (see ‘Cancelling your acceptance’ below).

Deferring your entry

The tuition fees set out in your offer are based on the start date shown in your offer. However, if you defer your entry, your tuition fees may be more than is stated in your offer, and you should contact the Admissions Office for more information. If your entry is deferred, please note that the course and/or its modules, course requirements and University services and facilities as currently described in the prospectus or on our website may change for your chosen year of entry. Please keep referring to the relevant page of the Course Finder section of the website where up to date information will be published as soon as it is available.

The University may permit, in certain circumstances and only if you hold an unconditional offer, you to defer your place for one year. Please contact the Admissions Office to discuss your request.

Non-payment of fees

If you do not pay your tuition fees in full or on time, the University may impose penalties which are set out in Regulation 5. As a result, you may not be allowed to progress on your programme or you may be expelled from the University. The University may also take legal action against you to recover any unpaid fees. If you do not pay any other (non-tuition) fees or other sums you owe, the University may take action to recover those sums. This may include withholding any service for which you owe money (for example, if you do not pay library fines you may not be allowed to access the Library or use some or all of its facilities) or taking legal action against you.

Non-payment of fees – studying abroad and placements

If as part of your programme you spend time in another university, institution or organisation in the UK or abroad, the rules and regulations of that university, institution or organisation will apply to you while you are there. Some overseas institutions might impose academic sanctions, for example, they might refuse to release your marks, if you do not pay either tuition fees or any other fees or costs (such as accommodation or meal plan fees) which you owe them. This might mean that you are not able to complete your programme as planned.

Cancelling your acceptance

After you have accepted your offer of a place, you can cancel your acceptance within the cancellation period without giving us any reason. The cancellation period runs for 14 days from the date we receive your acceptance. If you cancel your offer within the cancellation period, any deposit or administration or other fees you have paid will normally be refunded in full. If you start your programme during the cancellation period, the University will charge you a reasonable sum for the programme provided.

You can cancel your acceptance by informing the University’s Admissions Office; details on how to do this are available at: www.birmingham.ac.uk/study/applicant-information.aspx.

Criminal convictions

If you accept an offer to study at the University, you must tell the University within 14 days of the date of your acceptance if you have a relevant, unspent criminal conviction so that the University may assess whether, and if so to what extent, this may affect the safety of the wider University community. The University fully supports widening participation and disclosure of a relevant, unspent conviction to the University does not automatically mean that your offer will be cancelled. Depending on the risks associated with the conviction, the University may:

• Confirm your place on the programme for which you have applied, provided that you meet any conditions specified in your offer;
• Attach additional conditions of admission/registration on your programme; or
• Cancel its offer and your acceptance.

The University will consider any conviction which you disclose to it in accordance with its Criminal Convictions Policy. If you have a relevant, unspent conviction, but do not tell us within 14 days of accepting an offer, and it later comes to our attention that you should have done so, your offer/acceptance may be cancelled, you may become subject to disciplinary proceedings in line with Section 8 (Student Conduct) of the Regulations of University, and/or you may be withdrawn from your programme and from the University.

A copy of the University’s Criminal Convictions Policy, and information on how to disclose a relevant, unspent conviction is provided here: https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/university/colleges/professional/external/admissions/criminal-convictions.aspx.

If your offer of a place is conditional on you obtaining a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, you are not required upon accepting your offer to disclose to the University any criminal conviction. Rather the University will decide if any convictions or information revealed in the DBS check are incompatible with a place on the programme. If they are, you will be notified and your offer will be withdrawn.

Information on how the University processes your data in relation to criminal convictions can be found here: https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/university/colleges/professional/external/admissions/criminal-convictions.aspx

Disabilities

If you have a disability the University will seek to support you whenever possible and reasonable to do so. If you have not yet disclosed that disability, we encourage you to do so at the earliest opportunity. As individual students’ needs (even those with the same condition) can vary, it is important that you contact the Disability and Learning Support Service before you accept any offer of a place to find out what type of support is likely to be available to you and what information we need in order to arrange it. If you choose not to tell us about your disability, provide this information with short notice before your course or examination/assessment start dates, or do not provide full information about it before or during your programme of study, we will do our best to help you but you might not be able to have access to the full range of support which might otherwise be available to you.

Fitness to Practise programmes

If you are applying for a Fitness to Practise programme, you may be asked to provide information about your health, undergo a health check, and provide evidence of immunisation. Your offer of a place is conditional on such requirements being met. You will also be required to sign a Code of Professional Conduct and Fitness to Practise as set out in your offer.

Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) Clearance

If you require a visa to study in the UK, or have time-limited leave to remain in the UK, you will need to obtain ATAS clearance to undertake studies leading to the award of a doctoral level or masters qualification (MEng or MSci) in certain subjects. Where relevant this will be included as a condition of your offer and the information you need in order to apply for an ATAS certificate will be provided.

UK immigration law does not allow universities to register international students for an ATAS applicable course until the student has supplied the university with the relevant ATAS certificate.

Data protection

The University will collect information about you from your application, when you register and during your studies and University life. This will be used to create and maintain your student record, for your studies and student life, your health and safety and for the management of University business. To find out how we will use any personal data you share with us, please read our privacy statements.

Visas and immigration permissions

If you are an international student and need a visa to enable you to be in the UK to study, you will have to attend a Right to Study Check when you first arrive at the University. If you do not attend this Right to Study Check or cannot provide conclusive proof that you have the correct visa or immigration permission, you will not be allowed to begin your programme of study and/or you may be withdrawn from your programme in accordance with the Code of Practice on Student Visa Requirements. It is essential that you regularly read our emails (in the email account you used on your application to the University) and that you follow very carefully the instructions for arrival, collection of Biometric Residence Permits and Right to Study checks. You must meet the attendance and attendance monitoring requirements; if you do not, the University may withdraw its sponsorship of your visa and can withdraw you from your course.

Intellectual property

If you, with material input by the University’s academic staff or as part of a collective project, develop an invention, device, discovery, material, product, process, computer software or any other potentially valuable result or innovation, Regulations 3.16 and 5.4 will apply to you in the same way as they apply to members of staff. In other cases, the University will apply the Intellectual Property guidance.

Conduct and attendance

You must be aware of the University’s Regulations and Codes of Practice relating to conduct, academic integrity and plagiarism, attendance and reasonable diligence. The University can impose penalties if you do not follow these requirements, and in serious cases the University can suspend or expel you from the University.

Supporting you during your studies

The University provides a wide range of support for its students and can support you if non-academic matters are affecting your academic progress, for example as set out in the Codes of Practice on Extenuating Circumstances, Leave of Absence, Reasonable Adjustments, Appeals or Health, Wellbeing and Fitness to Study.

When you may be asked to leave the University

You may be asked to leave the University if:

• Your academic performance is not satisfactory;
• You are expelled from the University for breach of the conduct, Fitness to Practise, attendance or reasonable diligence requirements;
• You do not pay your tuition fees in accordance with the University’s Regulations;
• You are dismissed or expelled from any other organisation which you are required to attend or be a member of as part of your programme;
• You do not have the correct visa or immigration permission to study on your programme at the University or do not meet the requirements of your visa, and you are an international student needing a visa to enable you to be in the UK to study;
• The University has reason to believe that you have not supplied all relevant information or have supplied false or misleading information relating to your application to the University or to any relevant unspent criminal convictions;
• As a result of your actions, the University is unable to find a suitable placement, which is required to complete your programme.

A decision requiring you to leave the University will be taken in accordance with the relevant procedure and subject to any right of appeal or review. If the University has good reason for expelling you and does so in accordance with the relevant procedure, the University will not compensate you for any loss or damage you may suffer as a result.

Complaints

The University is committed to providing a high-quality educational experience, supported by a range of academic and administrative services and facilities. From time to time, however, things do go wrong, and if the matter cannot be resolved informally, the University provides students with a system for raising concerns and complaints about both academic and non-academic matters. The Code of Practice on Student Concerns and Complaints sets out a procedure for dealing with students’ complaints fairly, consistently and as quickly as possible. Students who are dissatisfied with a decision relating to a complaint they have raised may be able to complain to the Office of the Independent Adjudicator (OIA) an independent body which reviews student complaints; more information about the OIA is available on its website at: www.oiahe.org.uk. The Code of Practice on Admissions sets out the procedure for asking for a review of decisions made in the application and admissions process.

General matters

The University will not be liable to you and you will not be liable to the University for any failure or delay in performing obligations if the failure or delay is due to any significant cause beyond the University’s or your reasonable control, such as fire, flood or industrial dispute.

Your contract with the University is between you and the University and only these two parties can enforce it. The Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 does not apply.

The contract between you and the University is governed by English law and is subject to any changes in the law which affect this contract.