Finance Department

Tuition Fees: Full Time Home, EU and Overseas Postgraduates (excluding PGCE Students)

PLEASE READ THIS SECTION IN ITS ENTIRETY.  WE RECEIVE ONLY LIMITED INFORMATION DIRECTLY AND WE REQUIRE STUDENTS TO CO-OPERATE WITH US.  YOU RUN THE RISK OF BEING CHARGED AN ADMINISTRATIVE CHARGE IF YOU DO NOT KEEP US INFORMED OF ANY UNCONTROLLABLE DELAY OR MAKE PAYMENT ON TIME.

As a full time postgraduate you may have a sponsor to pay your fees or you may be liable to pay them yourself.

You are required to provide information as part of your on line enrolment as to how your tuition fees are to be paid. 

If you have a sponsor you will be contacted separately to provide evidence of the amount and the period of sponsorship.

If you have a private contribution you are permitted to pay in three instalments, roughly one third at the start of each term.  If you have paid a deposit your invoice will still be raised for the full amount, but the deposit will be held on your account and set off against the first instalment due.

Payment by direct debit in three instalments

Direct debit is the University's preferred payment method in instalments as it is an automatic process thus saving time and expense for everybody.  If you pay by direct debit you are given longer to pay as the collection dates are extended to 1st December 2012, 1st February 2013 and 1st June 2013.  Notification letters are sent in advance in the middle of November, January and May.  Once the direct debit mandate is set up it can then be actioned each year thereafter.

You need to have a UK bank account in order to set up a direct debit mandate.  Overseas students will find that most UK banks offer a simple account that can pay direct debits.  Because the first instalment by direct debit is not due until 1st December you have until 15th November to set up the account and register the details with us.  Please let us know if you have problems.

Once you have the UK bank account you can set up a direct debit in any of the following ways:

  • Online direct debit. You will need the student ID number and date of birth to access this secure web page.
  • By telephone ringing +44 (0) 191 334 6936,
  • Face to face by coming into our office and working through the web screens with us.
  • On paper - please request a paper mandate form from studentbilling.query@durham.ac.uk or calling +44 (0) 191 334 6936. 

Other payment methods

Please note if you do not pay by direct debit the due dates for payment are 30, 14 and 14 days into each term respectively, i.e. 5th November 2012, 28th January 2013 and 7th May 2013. 

These dates are adhered to strictly and a late payment charge may be raised to you if you do not pay on time.

The money raised is given to the Student Opportunities Fund to assist students.  It is intended to ensure consistency between students as it is not fair if some pay on time whilst others do not without good cause.  Having said that, the University is also sympathetic where there is a genuine problem and students are advised to keep us informed of any difficulties. 

Direct debit is the University's preferred payment method as described above. 

(a) Special payment method for overseas students

We realise that not all overseas students can set up a UK bank account to operate direct debits and we have a special method for transferring funds from an overseas bank account:

  • You go to the web link and log on by providing your e–mail address, student ID number (nine digits, e.g. 000123456) and date of birth.  You also need to enter your address details - please use your home address and not your student address here in the UK.
  • You say how much you wish to pay to the University at the time and you will be offered an exchange rate and payment amount in your local home currency.
  • You then have an option to pay by local bank transfer or online with a credit card. If you chose to pay by local bank transfer the system will give you the details of a local bank account in your home currency - you must make payment of the amount shown to this account within 7 days.  You will only be able to do this from your own account online if you have an online bank account. Otherwise you will have to request your bank to make the transfer. It is ideal if a family member back home is wanting to make payment from their account. You will receive an email confirmation of the details.
  • To access the Uni-pay system click here.

(b)  Payment by cheque on a UK bank account; or banker's draft

Your cheque or banker's draft should be made payable to “Durham University” and you should write your full name and the invoice number on the back.  Payment should be sent to Financial Services, Mountjoy Centre, Stockton Road, Durham, DH1 3LE.

(c)  By wire transfer or internet banking into the University's bank account

Payment can be made by wire transfer or internet banking into the University’s bank account:

Durham University, Barclays Bank, 6/7 Market Place, Durham City.

Sort code                20 – 27 – 41
Account number      60897507
Europe                    IBAN GB46 BARC 2027 4160 8975 07
Worldwide               Swift Code BARC GB22
Reference               Please quote the invoice number or your University Student ID number.

(d)  By debit/credit card (Switch, Visa or MasterCard)

If you need to pay by card then we would prefer that you set up an instalment arrangement.  In this way you provide your credit card details to a secure fax number.  These are entered into a third party's web site and payment is set up to take place on the due dates.  The card details are then destroyed securely.  An e–mail reminder will be sent to you automatically before each due date.

This is more efficient for us than processing each payment individually.  If you would like to do this please e–mail studentbilling.query@durham.ac.uk to obtain a copy of the form. 

Otherwise payment can be made by debit/credit card at your College or the Finance Department in person or by telephone.  If you come in person you should bring your invoice with you to ease identification and provision of a receipt.  An additional charge may be made for paying in this way.

If you have any queries relating to the payment of University charges you should contact your College Finance Office in the first instance.  Likewise you should keep the staff there informed in writing if you think you may be unable to pay your fees on time or if you suffer delays by a third party.

VERY IMPORTANT POINTS TO NOTE:

You may be charged an administration charge in the following circumstances:

  • Failure to pay on time. The due date is 30 / 14 / 14 days into the start of the Michaelmas. Epiphany and Easter Terms. This is to allow you sufficient time to organise payment. Please do not leave it to the last minute. The due dates for 2012/13 are 5th November 2012, 28th January 2013 and 7th May 2013. These dates will be printed on the invoice. Fines may be levied after these dates.
  • In addition we make a £25 charge for a cheque or direct debit returned by the bank as “insufficient funds”. This is to cover the additional work in processing the extra charge and necessary follow up.