海角社区

Scope of Regulation

1. This regulation applies to all students registered on introductory studies, undergraduate, taught postgraduate and Doctoral Researcher programmes. In exceptional circumstances, the Academic Registrar may waive any of the requirements of this regulation in the case of individual students. For the subsequent paragraphs of this Regulation, the term "the Academic Registrar" should be interpreted as meaning "the Academic Registrar, or a nominee appointed by the Academic Registrar".

For the purposes of this regulation:

1. ‘Academic charges’ refer to tuition fees and other charges related directly to the
   delivery and assessment of a programme of study or research. This includes the cost
   of pre-sessional programmes, optional field trips, research extension fees, and
   reassessment fees.
2. ‘Non-academic charges’ refer to all other charges owed to the University, including,
   but not limited to, accommodation fees, library fines, sports and facility fees.

Tuition Fees

2. Tuition fees shall be payable, depending on the programme, on either a programme part (for full-time programmes and part-time research programmes) or modular (for part-time taught programmes) basis. The level of fees shall be approved and published by the University Council.

3. Tuition fees are the responsibility of the student. Where a student has nominated a sponsor but that sponsor fails to pay within the time limits specified in this regulation, the student remains liable for the tuition fees.

Withdrawal

4. Paragraphs 5 and 6 below should be read in conjunction with Regulation VI.4 and 5. For the purposes of determining tuition fee liability, any University vacations shall be considered to be part of the preceding term.

5. Students are charged from the start of their programme. However, a student whose effective withdrawal date falls within the first four weeks of their programme start date will not be charged tuition fees. Thereafter:

1. Taught students shall be charged tuition fees on a pro rata termly basis for each term which has commenced since the start of their programme year. Charges for part-time students will be calculated according to modular weight.
2. Research students shall be charged on a pro-rata basis in accordance with the date of last attendance as confirmed by the student’s School.

Transfer Between Programmes or Modes of 海角社区

6. Where a student transfers programme and a different level of tuition fee is applicable to the new programme, the overall tuition fee shall be calculated on a pro rata termly basis for taught students and on a pro rata basis in accordance with the date of the programme transfer for research students. Where a student transfers part-way through a term, the pro rata charge for that term shall be determined from the charge applicable to the original programme. Where a student transfers to an alternative mode of study of the same programme, the overall tuition fee payable for the year shall be calculated based upon their new mode of study in accordance with paragraph 2.

Leave of Absence

7. Where a student is granted leave of absence, or placed on enforced leave of absence, their tuition fee liability shall be calculated in accordance with paragraph 6 as if the student had withdrawn on the effective date of the leave of absence.

8. On return from leave of absence:

1. Taught students shall be charged the full tuition fee with a discount applied according to the tuition fee charged for the period prior to leave of absence, in accordance with paragraph 6.
2. Tuition fees for research students shall be charged for the remainder of the registration period.

Payment of Tuition Fees

9. Tuition fees become due for payment on commencement of study and must be paid either:

1. in full at commencement of each Programme Part or module (for part-time students); or
2. in instalments, in accordance with the instalment plans published on the Finance Office website or agreed by nominees of the Finance Office.

Where a student does not meet the required payment dates under an approved instalment plan, the University may revoke the student’s eligibility to pay in instalments. Where an instalment plan is withdrawn, all outstanding tuition fees shall become immediately due for payment.

10. No individual with outstanding academic charges, whether they have withdrawn from their programme or had their studies terminated, shall be permitted to register or re-register on any programme of the University until all outstanding academic charges have been paid in full.

Consequences of Failure to Pay Academic Charges – Taught Students

11.  Taught students who fail to pay their academic charges by the deadlines set out in paragraph 9 may be subject to sanctions restricting their access to University facilities and services until such a time as the overdue academic charges are paid or appropriate repayment agreements have been reached. These sanctions may include enforced leave of absence where, despite repeated communications to the student, payment has still not been received, an appropriate agreement has not been reached, or a student has defaulted on a prior agreement. The timing of sanctions will aim to avoid the student incurring further debt to the University.

12. Where a student has been unable to fully engage with their programme because of sanctions related to unpaid academic charges, such as withdrawal of University services or enforced leave of absence, this will be deemed not to meet the criteria for a circumstance beyond the control of the student. As such, Mitigated Circumstances claims related to sanctions applied in respect of unpaid academic charges will not usually be considered.

13. If taught students still have outstanding academic charges five working days in advance of the meeting of the relevant Programme Board, the following action will be taken:

1. if the decision of the board is that the student would otherwise receive an award, no award will be made until all outstanding tuition fees have been paid;
2. if the decision of the board is that an undergraduate student would otherwise be permitted to progress to the next Part of their programme, progression will not be permitted until all outstanding academic charges have been paid, save that the Academic Registrar may set a maximum level of unpaid charges each academic year below which progression may be permitted for all students;
3. if the decision of the board is that the student has failed and has outstanding reassessment rights, the student shall be permitted to exercise these rights, but without attendance only;
4. if the decision of the board is that the student's studies should be terminated, the student shall be classified as a permanent leaver in debt to the University.

14. Where, at the start of an academic year, a taught student has outstanding academic charges incurred in a previous academic year, that student shall not be permitted to register on any further modules or to attend any reassessment modules until outstanding academic charges are paid.

15. Where a taught student is not permitted to register on, attend or be assessed in the next Part of their programme in accordance with paragraph 12 hereof or to register on modules in accordance with paragraph 13 hereof, the maximum time limits outlined in paragraph 12 of Regulation XX or paragraph 8 of Regulation XXI shall not be extended to take account of any resultant period of inactivity.

16. Where a student has unpaid academic charges 10 working days before their graduation ceremony, they will not be eligible to have their award conferred during the ceremony, but will be permitted to graduate at a future ceremony once their academic charges have been paid in full.

17. The Academic Registrar may terminate the studies of a taught student if the student has not been permitted to register on the next Part of their programme or to be awarded a degree under the provisions of paragraph 12 hereof or to register on modules in accordance with paragraph 13 hereof, and has not subsequently paid their academic charges within 12 months of the start date of their leave of absence.

18. The Academic Registrar shall ensure that notification of termination of studies under the provisions of paragraph 17 hereof is sent to both the student’s University and personal email accounts.

19. Taught students whose studies have been terminated under the provisions of paragraph 17 hereof will not be eligible for any further assessment under any circumstances, but may be eligible for an award based on the Module Marks already obtained if all outstanding academic charges are made at a later date, subject to the provisions of Regulation XX, Regulation XXI or Regulation XXV.

Consequences of Failure to Pay Tuition Fees – Research Students

20. Research students who fail to pay their tuition fees by the deadlines set out in paragraph 10 may exceptionally be subject to sanctions restricting their access to University facilities and services until such a time as the overdue tuition fees are paid or appropriate repayment agreements have been reached. These sanctions may include enforced leave of absence by the Academic Registrar where, despite repeated communications to the student, payment has still not been received, an appropriate agreement has not been reached, or a student has defaulted on a prior agreement. The timing of sanctions will aim to avoid the student incurring further tuition debt to the University.

21. Students who have not paid all outstanding tuition fees within 12 months of their start date, or anniversary of their start date will normally be placed on a leave of absence. In extenuating circumstances, the Academic Registrar or his/her nominee may approve alternative action.  The Academic Registrar may set a maximum level of outstanding tuition fees for each 12 month period below which continued academic study may be permitted for all students.

22. Where a student is placed on a leave of absence in accordance with paragraph 18 or 19 hereof they shall not be permitted to receive supervision, attend the University for the purpose of conducting their research degree programme, nor make their research degree submission, nor undertake any form of assessment after the date of suspension of registration.

23. Where a student is suspended from their studies and is later permitted to resume following settlement of the outstanding debt, tuition fees will not be owed for the period of leave of absence. Tuition fee liability will re-commence at the point at which the student is reinstated.

24. Where a student is suspended from their studies in accordance with paragraph 18 hereof, and does not later resume their studies, the effective withdrawal date shall be the date of the leave of absence.

25. The Academic Registrar may terminate the studies of a research student if the student has been suspended from their studies under the provisions of paragraph 18 hereof and has not paid all outstanding tuition fees within 12 months of their suspension.

26. The Academic Registrar shall ensure that notification of termination of studies under the provisions of paragraph 25 hereof is sent to the student’s last permanent address.

27. Students whose studies have been terminated under the provisions of paragraph 25 hereof will not be eligible for any further assessment under any circumstances, but may, in the case of students registered on programmes which include assessed taught modules, subject to the general regulations applicable for relevant programmes, be eligible for an award based on the Module Marks already obtained if all outstanding tuition fees are paid at a later date.

Appeal Against Termination – Taught and Doctoral Researchers

28. Students whose studies have been terminated under the provisions of paragraph 17 or 25 hereof shall have the right to make a complaint under Ordinance XXXVII. The complaint must be made in writing within 20 working days of the decision to terminate the student’s studies.

29. The Chief Operating Officer or their nominee will respond within 20 working days of receipt of a complaint made under the provisions of paragraph 28 hereof.

30. The Chief Operating Officer or their nominee shall either confirm the termination of studies or agree terms with the student or Doctoral Researcher for settling all outstanding academic charges.

31. Failure to adhere to any agreement reached in accordance with paragraph 30 hereof shall result in the immediate termination of the student’s studies.

32. There shall be no right of appeal for termination of studies on the grounds of unpaid academic charges.

Payments for University Services (other than Tuition Fees)

33. The University will not take action to enforce leave of absence or suspend or terminate studies on the basis on non-academic charges. This does not affect the University’s ability to pursue repayment or to apply reasonable restrictions on non-academic services where appropriate.

Procedures for Collection of All Student Debts to the University

34. Students and former students who have overdue academic or non-academic charges will be subject to a standard debt collection process, which may include the debt being transferred to an external collection agency.

County Court action can be taken to collect outstanding charges in appropriate circumstances where the University:

1. has adhered to financial procedures throughout the credit control process;
2. shows that attempts have been made to discuss and resolve or address the debt.

35. Such action as described in paragraph 34 hereof will also seek to recover any costs associated with the recovery procedures together with any interest accruing on the outstanding debt.