Robert Gordon University applies the following policy regarding outstanding instalments of tuition fees due by students.

If you become aware of difficulty in paying your tuition fee instalments you should contact the Student Finance department immediately at studentfinance@rgu.ac.uk or telephone 01224 262664. If you fail to pay your tuition fees in accordance with your chosen payment option, the full amount of annual fee will become due immediately and the following steps will be taken:

Day 1
As soon as a student is identified as being overdue payment of tuition fees, the Student Finance Officer will send a reminder letter by email to the student's RGU email address and any preferred email address held on the system drawing attention to the outstanding payment.

Day 7
If the fees remain unpaid, a second letter will be issued from the Head of School by email to the student's RGU email address and any preferred email address held on the system, setting out the timetable of actions that will be taken if the fees are not paid.   

Day 16
If the fees still remain unpaid, a third letter will be sent by email to the student's RGU email address and any preferred email address held on the system, setting out the timetable of actions that will be taken if the fees are not paid.

Day 30
Access to IT facilities and the Library services will be removed. Access will not be re-instated unless outstanding fees are paid in full or a satisfactory payment plan is agreed with the Student Finance Officer. The student's Head of School will also be notified of the situation.

The student will also be advised that in 10 days, the case will be referred to the Head of Student Administration recommending the students suspension from the course for financial reasons unless the student provides evidence of exceptional circumstances which the University accepts as a legitimate reason for the failure to make payment on time.

Please note financial suspension will impact upon "leave to remain" in the UK (visa status) under the immigration rules (Points Based System) for overseas students.

Day 40+
If the fees remain unpaid, the Head of Student Administration will notify students in writing of the University's decision to suspend for financial reasons. Legal action will now be taken to recover the outstanding debt and debtors will be liable for any costs incurred e.g. recovery costs including commission and charges. There will be no automatic right of re-entry to the course if debt is cleared at this point. Students in the UK on student visas will be reported to UKBA and the CAS will be withdrawn.  If such students are allowed to continue studies at a later date a fresh Tier 4 visa application will have to be made.

The University's sanctions also include withholding the conferment of awards to students who are in debt to the University although the results themselves will be released in those circumstances.

Students will not be allowed to enrol for the next year of the course or to graduate at the end of their course as long as they owe the University money for any reason (e.g. tuition fees, accommodation fees, library fees, fines) 

1.  Full Refund of Tuition Fees Paid

You will receive a full refund of tuition fees paid if:

The University is unable to provide the academic course offered or

The University withdraws an offer of enrolment for any reason (except if you provided us with incomplete or incorrect information, in which case see paragraph 2 below) or

(International Students only) You cannot take up your place at the University because you cannot obtain a student visa. In this case, you or your recruiting agent must write to the International Marketing Manager at the University and include a copy of the rejection letter received from the relevant British Authority in your country (Embassy, High Commission or similar). You must submit your claim within 2 years of the date on your unconditional offer letter.

2.  Partial Refunds of Tuition Fees Paid

You will receive a partial refund of tuition fees paid if:

You decide not to enrol, or do not enrol in time for the start of your course, having accepted the offer of a place or

You withdraw part way through your course or

The University withdraws an offer or cancels your registration on a course, because you provided us with incorrect and/or incomplete information in your application.

Tuition fees due are calculated as follows:

a) Course Studied over 2 Semesters
e.g. Full Time Undergraduate Students:

If you withdraw during your first semester you will be charged 50% of the annual fee for the course

If you withdraw during your second semester you will be charged 100% of the annual fee for the course.

b) Courses Studied over 3 Semesters
e.g. Full time Postgraduate Students,
Part Time Postgraduate Students,
Part Time Undergraduate Students

If you withdraw during your first semester you will be charged 37.5% of the annual fee for the course

If you withdraw during your second semester you will be charged 75% of the annual fee for the course.

If you withdraw during your third semester you will be charged 100% of the annual fee for the course.

c) Modular Courses
Paid for on a module by module basis

You will be charged the full module fee for each module which you started or for which you have received learning materials.

If you were awarded a scholarship which was subject to your satisfactory academic performance and/or payment of tuition fees, the full scholarship will be withdrawn if you withdraw from the University.

3.  Exceptional Circumstances

The University will consider exceptional circumstances to those described above on a case by case basis on direct application to the Deputy Head of Student Administration.

4.  Withdrawing from Your Course

If you wish to withdraw from your course you must first contact your Head of School or Course Leader for approval. Please note that the Head of School will not authorise any refund of tuition fees at this stage.

5.  How to Request a Refund

You should complete and return the form below to the Student Finance Department studentfinance@rgu.ac.uk. Refund cheques will be made payable to the person or institution who paid the fees. If you are an International Student and were recruited via an agent we will send the refund cheque to the agent in your home country. You can then collect the refund from the agent in person when you return home.

• Refund Request

6.  Monitoring the Procedures

The Head of Student Administration will be responsible for monitoring the University Refund Procedures to ensure consistency of application.