Deposit Refund Policy for PG Taught Programmes

The following information sets out the policy for deposits and refunds for the University of Birmingham PG Taught Programmes.

  • International students issued an offer to study a Postgraduate taught programme are required to pay a tuition fee deposit of £2,000 to secure your place. The deposit payment will be deducted from the tuition fee at registration. 
  • Deposit payments must be received by the deadline date specified in the applicant portal. Failure to pay the deposit by the required date may result in your offer being withdrawn. 
  • A deposit payment is not required if you are in receipt of a scholarship or financial guarantee and evidence has been provided. 
  • The deposit is non-transferable and non-refundable except under the circumstances outlined below in sections A, B, C, D, E, F and G below. If you enrol and then withdraw from the programme of study at the University the deposit will not be refunded.
  • A deposit refund request must be submitted to the Admissions Office by the 31 October 2024, requests after this date will not be considered. 
  • In line with UK money laundering laws any fee paid will only be refunded to the person or body who paid the fee. 

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 to us before the 14-day period has expired.  

B) Refusal of a student visa

Refunds will be made if you have been refused a student visa, provided the reason for refusal is not due to a fraudulent application. To request a refund, you must submit a copy of the visa refusal document to the University. 

C) University cancels programme

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

D) You are unable to travel for reasons outside of your control

Refunds will be made if you are unable to travel to the UK for reasons outside of your control (e.g. travel restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic). 

E) You fail to meet conditions of your offer

If you have applied for a PG taught programme, paid the tuition fee deposit and do not meet the conditions of your offer, the deposit will be refunded. 

F) Deferral to later session

If you have not yet arrived and notify the University that you wish to defer to a later session, the deposit may be carried forward for one year. Should you choose to defer for a second year the deposit will be forfeited and treated as a withdrawal. You will then need to apply again for the later programme and pay a new deposit at the new rate for the course and will be liable for the full fees for that new programme. UK Visas and Immigration will be notified that you are not studying at the University. 

Please note if you arrive and wishe to defer to a later session, this is treated as a failure to attend the course you have been accepted for. The deposit will be forfeited and treated as a withdrawal. You will then need to apply again for the later programme and pay a new deposit at the new rate for the course and will be liable for the full fees for that new programme. UK Visas and Immigration will be notified that you are not studying at the University. This policy will only be varied if you produce evidence of genuine grounds for deferral acceptable to the University; this will include the late issue of the visa.

G) Refunds for Graduate Route visa withdrawal 

Refunds will be made to students who require a Graduate Route visa if this visa is withdrawn for the 2024/2025 academic year. To request a refund, you must make a claim using the refund request form in the link below within 30 working days of the UK Government’s announcement. 

Deposit refunds

If you wish to request a refund of your £2000 deposit please fill in the deposit request form. Please note, this form should only be used by applicants requesting a Postgraduate Taught Deposit £2000 refund and all other refunds should be requested through Accounts Receivable.