The purpose of this document is to provide guidance on when refunds of tuition will be made by the University and how they will be calculated. This relates to the portion of the tuition fee that is paid directly by the student or by a private sponsor and does not include courses offered by the Centre for Lifelong Learning.
The University will apply the following rules when calculating fee liability for students who withdraw,
suspend or discontinue their studies at the University of Strathclyde.
In all cases any other debt owing to the University will be subtracted from any refund of fees.
The calculation of any refund which may be due will be based on personal contributions that have been paid for tuition fees.
Withdrawal from the University
Refunds will be calculated on a pro-rata basis based on the student’s approved withdrawal date from the University. If you withdraw on or after the 15th day of the month the full month’s fee will be charged. Retrospective or backdated withdrawals will be verified against University attendance records. If this is not possible the date of withdrawal will be taken as the date that the notification of withdrawal is received by the Student Experience section.
Please note in the case of some courses a separate refund policy may be in place – ie. International MBA.
At the discretion of the University a full refund of tuition fees may be made to students who withdraw from a programme with appropriate approval within the first two of weeks of starting their studies.
Undergraduate students funded by Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) will not be liable for tuition fees if they withdraw before 1 December. Undergraduate students in receipt of a tuition fee loan from the Student Loan Company (SLC) will be liable for the following:
- 25% if in attendance on 3rd Wednesday in October.
- 50% if in attendance on the 1st Wednesday in February
- 100% if in attendance on the 1st Wednesday in May
No fees are chargeable in respect of periods of authorised voluntary suspension of studies. Student returning to study in the next academic session should be aware that tuition fees increase every year and therefore students may be charged a higher fee on their return to study.
Modular credit based programmes
In the case of programmes of study where the fees are modular credit-based the full fee will be charged for each course module that has been started, or for which the student has received learning materials.
Students continuing beyond the period for which annual fees are payable are required to pay an annual matriculation fee until the date of their submission.
Repeat year students
All students repeating a full year of study will be charged the applicable full-time/part-time fee.
Information for US Direct Loan Students
It is your responsibility to notify your Department and the Student Experience office when you decide to withdraw from your course. You should also advise Finance of your withdrawal.
The University is required by US legislation to return Direct Loan funds made for fees and living expenses. The return of funds will be calculated according to the Return of Title IV R2T4 (pdf) regulations.
Payment of refunds
All refunds will only be made to the bank and account holder (or other financial institution) that originally paid the fee. Payment by card will be refunded to the original card used for payment.
- Please allow 28 days from requesting a refund to receiving it.
- All refunds will be calculated in UK sterling. The University will not refund any shortfalls due to exchange rate fluctuations or offer compensation for any bank or other charges involved.
- Where payment of tuition fees was split between more than one payee, any refund due will be made in the proportion to the original split.
- Cash refunds are not made.
This document does not cover the following:
- Non-refundable tuition fee deposits
- Accommodation fees. For information on these please contact the Accommodation Office
- Graduation gown hire and photography – please contact Ede and Ravenscroft Ltd
- Field Trips – please contact your Department
Further information
If you are requesting a refund or further information regarding the status of a refund please email the Student Finance Team at student-refund-request@strath.ac.uk.