Graduate School

Continuation Fees

What is Continuation?

During periods of supervised study, Postgraduate Research Students are liable for tuition fees as published online.

Durham encourages all students to submit their thesis at the end of their period of supervised study. However, we recognise that this is not always possible.

Once they have completed their period of supervised study, research students may move onto ‘continuation’ while they complete the writing up of their thesis. While on continuation students retain IT & Library access, and will receive some, reduced, support from their supervisory team.

Students on continuation will not be undertaking research, and therefore will not have access to laboratories or other research facilities.

How long is the Continuation Period?

PhD students are normally granted up to 12 months of continuation to complete the writing up of their thesis. Masters by Research students will be granted a reduced continuation period of either 9 or 6 months (for two-year or one-year full-time masters programmes respectively). The continuation period is the same regardless of whether a student was full- or part-time during their period of supervised study.

If a student does not submit their PhD within the 12 month period of continuation, they may apply for a further extension; however, any extension will require the support of the supervisory team and department, and must be approved by the University.

How much is the Continuation Fee?

Continuation fees are fees payable by all research students during their continuation period. Fees are payable on an annual basis, for up to 12 months of continuation.

In recognition of the reduced support available to students during continuation, the continuation fee is set at 15% of the home tuition fee (e.g. £560 in 2011-2012).

Continuation Fee Reductions

To encourage students to submit theses in good time, the University has agreed to reduce the continuation fee as follows:

  • if a student submits within the initial 12 month continuation period, they will be charged just 10% of the home tuition fee  (e.g. £370 in 2011-2012)

  • if a student submits within three months of the end of their period of supervised study, the University will waive the continuation fee entirely.