Fee refunds
ApplyThe tuition fee refund policy applies to all students at LSBU who undertake full- or part-time studies (including distance learners).
The following information details the main reasons refunds are requested, exceptions to the refund policy, how a refund is calculated and how to obtain a refund.
Grounds for refunds
Students may wish to apply for a tuition fee refund for a number of reasons:
- Overpayment of tuition fees
- Settlement of the tuition fees in full by a third party sponsor/Student Finance England (SFE)
- Adjustment of tuition fees due to prior academic credit or where a discount/scholarship or waiver has been applied
- Change to another course in circumstances where the Student Compensation and Refund Policy (PDF File 775 KB) would not apply
- Circumstances where the Student Compensation and Refund Policy applies
- Where a payment against tuition fees is made but the student does not enrol
- Student interruption or withdrawal from their course
The University will refund the amount in credit on a student account:
- Where there is a recognised overpayment by the student or sponsor
- Where a student makes a payment towards their tuition fees which are later paid in full by their sponsor/SFE
- Where a fee adjustment leaves the student account in credit
- Where a change to another, lower cost, course leaves the student account in credit
- Where a student does not enrol but has made a payment towards the tuition fee
- Where a student does not enrol but has made a payment to obtain a university Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies (CAS) in order to obtain a visa (with agreement from Admissions at LSBU)
The policy concerning the level of refund, for students who interrupt or withdraw from their studies, is detailed below. Refund payments are linked to the interruption or withdrawal date – see How refunds are calculated.
Tuition fee refunds, in all cases, will be paid back to the original payee and, wherever possible, to the original bank account in line with the University’s Financial Regulations. This applies to refunds where the student is in receipt of a tuition fee loan from SFE, where the student pays their own tuition fees or where tuition fees are paid by a sponsor.
Exceptions
Enrolled students will not be eligible for tuition fee refunds where:
- They are enrolled on courses of less than one semester
- They are enrolled on CPD_OPEN programmes
- They enrol/re-enrol on the dissertation stage of a Masters programme
- International student deposit payments are made to obtain a university Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies (CAS) in order to obtain a visa
- Any payments are made towards registration or residential fees
How refunds are calculated
As detailed above, many refunds, once a refund request form is submitted, will be paid in full for the credit balance on a student account.
For students who interrupt or withdraw from their studies, the refund calculation will be based on the date they interrupt/withdraw or the date they commence the process of interruption /withdrawal or the date they are deemed withdrawn by the University.
For the 2023/24 academic year student’s tuition fees will be adjusted based on the following dates:
September 2023 enrolments/re-enrolment
| Interruption/withdrawal date | Tuition fee adjusted to % of fee | % of fee refunded |
|---|---|---|
| On or before 9 October 2023 | No fee charge | Full refund |
| Before 2 January 2024 | 25% | 75% refunded |
| Before 22 April 2024 | 50% | 50% refunded |
| On or after 22 April 2024 | 100% | 0% refunded |
January 2024 enrolments/re-enrolment
| Interruption/withdrawal date | Tuition fee adjusted to % of fee | % of fee refunded |
|---|---|---|
| On or before 5 February 2024 | No fee charge | Full refund |
| Before 22 April 2024 | 25% | 75% refunded |
| Before start of Autumn term 2024 | 50% | 50% refunded |
| On or after start of Autumn term 2024 | 100% | 0% refunded |
The refund will be calculated based on the amount by which the tuition fee is adjusted and total payment made by the student, sponsor, SFE or other party.
For example, where a student has paid the full fee for a September start course and subsequently withdraws after the 02 January 2024 (but before 22 April 2024), the tuition fee will be adjusted to 50% of the full year fee. If the student has paid the fee in full, this leaves 50% of the fee as a refund.
The same calculation will be applied to the tuition fee and refund amount for students who are deemed withdrawn (withdrawn by the University for lack of course engagement) or those suspended or excluded from the University.
For students whose tuition fees are paid by SFE, the university will inform SFE of their interruption or withdrawal. SFE will claw back any over payment of tuition fees (as per table above). There is no need for students to apply for a refund where the payment will be returned to SFE.
How to obtain a refund
In order to obtain a refund, students must complete the Refund Request Form (PDF File 133 KB).
This form must be submitted by email to fdrefund@lsbu.ac.uk
Tuition fee refunds, in all cases, will be paid back to the original payer and, wherever possible, to the original bank account. If the tuition fees were paid by a sponsor, it is the student’s responsibility to complete the refund request form on behalf of the sponsor and to obtain/enter the sponsor’s bank account details on the form (to allow the University to return payments directly to the sponsor).
The University undertakes to complete any tuition fee refunds within 21 days of receipt of the refund request form. If there is a delay in preparing any refund, the University will contact the student to explain the delay.