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Learning and Teaching Handbook

1.2.1.6: The Durham Admissions Scheme in Detail - Overseas fee paying candidates

1. Introduction

1. The following procedure is to be adopted for the processing of all applications from candidates who, on the evidence of their UCAS application, would appear to be overseas fee-paying candidates.

2. Departmental and college entry quotas for overseas students will be circulated each year.

2. Identification and Monitoring of Overseas Applicants

1. The UCAS application requires applicants to place themselves in one of several residential categories, as a guide to their likely fee status. Applicants who can be confirmed as overseas by the Student Recruitment and Admissions Office are stamped 'OVERSEAS' by the Student Recruitment and Admissions Office and forwarded to the International Office. 

2. However, because there are exceptions and also because the UCAS guidelines may be open to different interpretations, it cannot be assumed that an applicant's own assessment of their fees status is accurate. In many cases additional information to that contained on the UCAS application will be required before a final decision can be reached.

3. For the reasons noted above, therefore, the Student Recruitment and Admissions Office will highlight applications where the applicant might be required to pay fees at the overseas rate. Of these only applicants who are being considered for an offer will then be contacted by the Student Recruitment and Admissions Office for further information.  Applicants will be provided with a standard interval in which to return the information requested.  Failure to return the information by the deadline will lead to the assumption that the applicant does not wish to continue with their application and the application choice will be withdrawn at UCAS.

4. Applications from overseas candidates are passed first by the Student Recruitment and Admissions Office to the International Office.  The application is considered by the International Office and a decision is made to accept, or not to accept, the candidate. Where this decision requires ratification by the department, the International Office will recommend a decision and forward to the department for the necessary approval.

5. Applications which are recommended for an offer by the International Office, but rejected by a department, are returned to the International Office for further consideration and the relevant department may be asked to provide clarification concerning why the candidate was not accepted. Unsuccessful applications from candidates who were not recommended by the International Office are not investigated further.

3. The Grading of Applications

1. The same procedures are to be used for the grading of forms from overseas applicants as for the grading of home fees applicants (see earlier in this document). However, in the case of overseas applicants, the timetable set out below must be adhered to other than in unforeseen and exceptional circumstances.

4. Timetable for Processing

1. It is recommended that all overseas applications will be processed promptly and a decision reached for transmission to UCAS and to the candidate within 10 working days of their initial receipt in Durham.

5.  Allocation of College Place

It is expected that the college will accept (or agree to interview in exceptional circumstances) the applicant if they are accepted by the International Office or the department (if applicable), and if the college has not yet reached its target for overseas students.  If it is necessary to pass on the application this must be done in conjunction with the commitment of the college Senior Tutor to build balanced college communities.  In circumstances where the first college can not accept an overseas applicant, this must be referred to the appropriate college pool and a second college will similarly be expected to accept the applicant (or agree to interview) if there are still places available within its overseas student target.

6. Confirmation of Home or Overseas Fee Status: Durham City and Queen's Campus 

1. When writing to an overseas applicant to confirm that an offer is to be made, colleges must state clearly that it is expected that the student would be charged fees at the overseas (higher) rate. It is possible that the applicant will then provide additional information to support a claim for home fee status. The following text is recommended to be used in all offer letters: From the information provided on your UCAS application you have been classified as an overseas fee paying student, who will be charged fees at the overseas rate. The offer you have received has been made on this basis.  Please note that if you disagree with your classification you must provide additional information to support your claim for home fees status as soon as possible and in any case by 1 August prior to the start of your course. If a claim for home fee status is upheld this may affect the terms of your offer (including withdrawal of the offer).  The reason for this is that there are separate quotas for home/EU and international fee paying students applying to the University and the number of offers that can be made in each category is strictly enforced.  

2. Guidance notes on the criteria for home/overseas fee classification can be found in sections 1.2.8 and 1.2.9.

3. It is the responsibility of all admissions staff to raise any queries regarding the fee status of an application with the Student Recruitment Admissions Office as quickly as possible.

4. Departments or colleges may only amend an applicant's fee status from home to overseas. Only the Student Recruitment and Admissions Office is authorised to amend an applicant's fee status from overseas to home, at any stage of the admissions process.

5. It is vitally important to ensure that the DUGAMS record accurately reflects an applicant's fee status.

8. Overseas Qualifications

The University subscribes to the UKNARIC International Qualifications Recognition service, available via the internet.  Details of this service, including how to access it, are available from the Student Recruitment and Admissions Office.