About the print unit system

Paying for printing

All new users (staff and students) are allocated 10 free pages when their computer account is set up to allow them to print when they first use the computers.

To pay for additional print units, you can

• use the online payment system
• purchase units via the self-service printer credit machines

It is cheaper to buy online as you get 2 free units for every pound spent!

Please note that the minimum amount of credit which may be purchased is £1 at the self service printer credit machines and £5 online.

How your print units are used

When you print something the cost is computed in print units and subtracted from the balance of the print units in your printing account. Print units allocated by CIS are used first, then any units purchased by a department. Those units you have paid for yourself will only be used if there are no other units available.

Please note that it is possible for a printing account to become overdrawn. The status of printing accounts is checked each night, and printing is possible throughout the next day if the account is in credit at this check. This is true even if the credit runs out during the day. If an account does become overdrawn, no further printing will be possible until sufficient credits are purchased to clear the deficit. Purchased printing credits are effective immediately.

Refunds

Printing units purchased personally will be refunded, if they remain unused by the end of the course. No refund is given for unused printing units allocated by CIS.

Payment by departments

Where a student is required to have hardcopy printed information for a module, this must be provided free of charge by the Department/School/Subject Management Board. (Note that this refers to materials, such as lecture hand-outs and reading lists, normally supplied by a Department to a student. It does not refer to course work or dissertations submitted by students to the Department).

Departments may purchase additional print units for their staff and students by sending details and an internal trading order to CIS.