Money Matters

Postgraduate
2015/16

Introduction

Welcome to Money Matters your guide to everything you

need to support you through the sometimes tricky business of
juggling your finances while you study.
Well explain the different fees and highlight other expenses
you will encounter; well describe the funding thats available
to you and how to apply for it; and well tell you where to go
for help and support when you need it.

Contents

2
4
6
8
10
12
14
15
16

Costs and budgeting

Fees and funding
Funding your postgraduate course
Can my employer, embassy or organisation pay my fees?
How and when to pay tuition fees
How and when to pay accommodation fees
Frequently asked questions
Were here to help
Appendix 1

Costs and budgeting

As a postgraduate student, you probably have some experience of managing your

own finances, but we understand that funding a postgraduate course can be an
overwhelming commitment, so if ever you want help or advice, theres a range of
support services you can call on whenever you need them (see page 15).
Considering your costs
Its important to think about your finances in good
time before you arrive at university. Make sure
youre clear on what fees you are required to pay
and that you apply for any funding you may be
entitled to (see Fees and Funding, page 4).

Planning your budget

Planning your budget is an essential part of
managing your finances. Think about everything
you will need to spend money on and make sure
your income is sufficient to cover it. If not, it may
be time to rethink your spending, or you may wish
to top up your income with a part-time job.

Help with fees

There are ways you can get help with the cost
of being a postgraduate student. These include
Professional and Career Development loans,
alumni discounts and a limited number of
scholarships. Details of your eligibility and how
to apply are in the next section. Remember too,
that you can top up your income with a part-time
job. Take a look at the University Jobs Central
(jobscentral.kingston.ac.uk/students)
for a list of part-time jobs in the local area.

Advice and guidance

Our experienced money advisors are on hand to
give you advice and guidance about any moneyrelated issues. This includes managing your
money, claiming benefits, student finance queries,
and dealing with debt. Confidential one-to-one
appointments, drop-ins, email and telephone
information and advice are all available. You can
also ask us questions through StudentHUB, our
online advice service. Money advisors can be
found in the Student Life Centre (see page 15).

Fees and funding

Postgraduate tuition fees will vary depending on

your course and whether you are classed as a UK,
EU or overseas student. To get accurate costs
for your chosen course, we advise that you view
the postgraduate course and research fees pages
on the Kingston University website in the first
instance, or contact the relevant faculty office or
admissions department.
The following tables outline the level of fees you
can expect to pay for the academic year 2015/16.
Postgraduate fees
All students are required to pay tuition fees. The
tuition fee is not dependent on your household
income. For the academic year 2015/16 these
are as follows.

Postgraduate taught Home and EU students

Price Point

Fee level

Subject area

A (MBA)

18,900

MBA

10,000

Business and Law

8,900

Business and Law

8,200

Business and Law

7,200

Business and Law

Art, Design and Architecture
Arts and Social Sciences

5,900

Science, Engineering and Computing

5,300

Arts and Social Sciences

4,800

Art, Design and Architecture

Arts and Social Sciences

Postgraduate taught Overseas students

Price Point

Fee Level

18,900

14,300

13,700

13,000

12,500

Postgraduate research Home, EU and Overseas

Study mode

Home/EU

Overseas

Full time

3,996

13,000

Part time

1,998

6,500

Part time - Distance Learning

2,500

2,500

Writing-up fee (one year only)

200

200

Please note
All fees are subject to change on an annual basis.
All postgraduate taught (masters) applicants*,
from outside of the European Economic Area
(EEA), who pay international fees are required to
pay a deposit in order to receive their Confirmation
of Acceptance for Studies (CAS).
Students with a fee status of Overseas or Island
must pay at least 50% of their tuition fees by
cleared funds in order to enrol on their programme
of study.
* exclusions apply.

Students studying for an equivalent or lower

qualification (ELQ students)
Students who started a course before
1 September 2012, and already possess a
qualification at the same level but in a different
subject, will be charged a fee of 5,700
(only if the standard fee is less than 5,700).

If you are unsure about your fees, please refer to

our website: www.kingston.ac.uk/fees
Transferring from another university: In order to
ensure that you are charged the correct fee, you
should inform the Fee Assessment department
that you have transferred from another university
as soon as possible.

Funding your postgraduate

course
The University provides some sources of financial
support for postgraduate study, but most
postgraduate students either pay their own fees
and living expenses, or are sponsored by their
employers. See Can my employer or sponsor
pay my fees?.
Kingston University alumni discount
The university is pleased to offer a 10% tuition fee
discount on full-time and part-time postgraduate
course to all our home and EU alumni who have
completed an undergraduate course at Kingston
University or its predecessor institutions (e.g.
Kingston Polytechnic).
The discount is valid for both postgraduate taught
and research qualifications. When completing the
online part of enrolment, once you note that you
have previously studied with us, this will be picked
up in our process, and the discount will
be applied automatically.
Postgraduate scholarships
Some postgraduate scholarships are available
from the university, but they are limited and vary
according to faculty. Full details can be found
under Fees and funding in the Postgraduate
section of our website.
A few full-time postgraduates may receive a
studentship from one of the six Research Councils
or the Arts and Humanities Research Board.
Progression Scholarship
A 25% discount on postgraduate tuition fees is
available for Kingston University students who
complete an undergraduate degree in 2014/2015.
You must start the course in 2015/16.

Extra support for PGCE and social work

students
There is some extra support available for teacher
training (PGCE) and social work students. Please
see our website for full details.
We are also able to provide financial support for
students with disabilities. A Disabled Students
Allowance can provide extra help, for example,
with specialist equipment, non-medical helpers,
such as sign-language interpreters or note-takers,
or additional travel costs. See our website for
more information.
Professional and Career Development Loans
A Professional and Career Development Loan
(PCDL) is a commercial bank loan that you can
use to help pay for work-related learning. A
copy of your PCDL approval document must be
provided to Income and Receivables. Kingston
University is a PCDL registered learning provider,
and will need to stamp your loan application form
before you submit it to your bank.
For more information on financial assistance to
support your learning, please visit the GOV.UK
website.

Can my employer, embassy or

organisation pay my fees?
Yes. If your employer, embassy or organisation agrees to pay all or part of your
tuition fees, the University will refer to them as your sponsor. The University will
invoice your sponsor for the amount they have agreed to pay.
How does the sponsorship process work?
Your sponsor will need to send us a completed
Sponsorship Agreement Form you download
the form from http://www.kingston.ac.uk/
undergraduate/fees-and-funding/payingyour-tuition-fees/what-to-do-if-a-sponsor-ispaying-your-fees. However, we understand that
some embassies will only provide notification by
letter. In those circumstances, we will accept this
as an alternative to the Sponsorship Agreement
Form, provided it is on the embassys headed
paper, signed by an authorised officer and
contains:
The students (your) full name and University ID
number (if known)
The amount (or percentage) of tuition fees the
sponsor wishes to pay on your behalf for this
academic year
The name of the person for whose attention
the invoice should be sent, plus the full postal
address
A unique reference number or purchase order
number, if applicable
A valid email address if your sponsor is overseas.
Completed Sponsorship Agreement Forms and
letters should be emailed to sponsorletters@
kingston.ac.uk, or uploaded to OSIS before you
enrol on your course.

Need to know:
Notification of sponsorship is required for
each academic year of study, and payment
by a sponsor is due upon receipt of invoice.
There is no instalment option for sponsor
payments.
The University may conduct credit checks
on the sponsor and reserves the right to
reject a sponsor letter or purchase order.
Remember, it remains your responsibility to
ensure that the Income and Receivables
Team has received your sponsor letter
and that it contains all the necessary
information as outlined above. The
University will not be able to invoice your
sponsor until we have received their letter
or purchase order.
If you sponsor fails to pay on receipt of
invoice or withdraws their support at any
point in the year, you will be responsible for
any outstanding fees at that point and the
university will hold you liable for that amount.

How and when to pay

your tuition fees
Tuition fees
You can pay your fees in one of three ways:
1. In full at enrolment (or on receipt of invoice)
Online using a valid payment card via the
Universitys secure payment website,
www.kingston.ac.uk/epay, or by phone
from the authorised cardholder only.
Call +44 (0)20 8328 7005.
By electronic bank transfer (when you ask your
bank to transfer funds directly to the Universitys
bank account. Your bank may charge you for this)
By bank or building society draft from a UK
account
By cheque from a UK bank or building society
account (note we are not able to accept
travellers cheques).
Cheques can be sent by post to:
Income and Receivables Team
Kingston University
Ground Floor
Cooper House
4046 Surbiton Road
Kingston upon Thames
Surrey
KT1 2HX
Please note that, unlike the other options above,
cheques are not classed as cleared funds.
NB - For your safety and security, we do not
advise you to pay with cash. If it is your only
option, payment can be made, in person, at the
payment office (see page 15). It is important that
you keep your receipt as proof of payment.

10

2. Via your Professional and Career

Development loan
If you have successfully applied for a PCDL,
then your tuition fees will be paid directly to the
university via your bank.
3. By direct debit instalments
Payment via direct debit allows you to spread
your payments over the academic year. There is
no charge for paying this way - you simply need
a valid UK bank or building society account that
allows direct debit transactions. Instalments will
be paid automatically from your chosen account
on the due dates you specify, which in turn will be
provided by the university.
Please note that if you are an overseas student,
instalment 1 of 50% is not taken via direct debit,
and therefore needs to be paid by card or bank
transfer prior to enrolment.

Paying your tuition fees by instalment

Should you opt to pay your tuition fees by instalment, the payment deadlines are:
Deadlines for Home/EU students
Official
course
start date

1st
Instalment
[17%]

2nd
Instalment
[17%]

4th
Instalment
[17%]

3rd
Instalment
[17%]

5th
Instalment
[17%]

6th
Instalment
[16%]

Aug / Sep /
Oct 15

5-Nov-15

10-Dec-15

14-Jan-16

11-Feb-16

8-Mar-16

7-Apr-16

Nov / Dec 15

14-Jan-16

11-Feb-16

8-Mar-16

7-Apr-16

5-May-16

9-Jun-16

Jan / Feb 16

8-Mar-16

7-Apr-16

5-May-16

9-Jun-16

7-Jul-16

11-Aug-16

Mar / Apr 16

5-May-16

9-Jun-16

7-Jul-16

11-Aug-16

8-Sep-16

6-Oct-16

May / Jun 16

7-Jul-16

11-Aug-16

8-Sep-16

6-Oct-16

10-Nov-16

8-Dec-16

Jul 16

8-Sep-16

6-Oct-16

10-Nov-16

8-Dec-16

12-Jan-17

8-Feb-17

Please note this is the only instalment plan option available.

Deadlines for International students
6th
5th
4th
3rd
2nd
Instalment Instalment Instalment Instalment Instalment
[8%]
[8%]
[8%]
[9%]
[9%]

7th
Instalment
[8%]

Official
course
start date

1st
Instalment
[50%]

Aug / Sep /
Oct 15

At enrolment
[50%]

5-Nov-15

10-Dec-15

14-Jan-16

11-Feb-16

8-Mar-16

7-Apr-16

Nov / Dec 15

At enrolment
[50%]

14-Jan-16

11-Feb-16

8-Mar-16

7-Apr-16

5-May-16

9-Jun-16

Jan / Feb 16

At enrolment
[50%]

8-Mar-16

7-Apr-16

5-May-16

9-Jun-16

7-Jul-16

11-Aug-16

Mar / Apr 16

At enrolment
[50%]

5-May-16

9-Jun-16

7-Jul-16

11-Aug-16

8-Sep-16

6-Oct-16

May / Jun 16

At enrolment
[50%]

7-Jul-16

11-Aug-16

8-Sep-16

6-Oct-16

10-Nov-16

8-Dec-16

Jul 16

At enrolment
[50%]

8-Sep-16

6-Oct-16

10-Nov-16

8-Dec-16

12-Jan-17

8-Feb-17

Please note this is the only instalment plan option available.

Deposits
Please note that if you are an international student, a deposit, payable upon receipt of your
unconditional offer, will be required for all postgraduate taught courses (masters). All postgraduate
deposits of 3,000 paid will be put toward initial payment of 1st instalment of payment. The
remainder of the deposit must be paid prior to enrolment. See www.kingston.ac.uk/deposit
for more information.

11

How to pay accommodation

fees
Accommodation fees
If you have been allocated a place in
university accommodation, you can pay your
accommodation fees in one of the following ways:
In full by 22 October 2015
In full upon receipt of the licence
By instalment by direct debit from a UK bank
account
Should you opt to pay by instalment, details are
included in the information sent to you by the
Accommodation Team.
IMPORTANT NOTE FOR US STUDENTS
If you are funding your course using a Federal
Direct Subsidised/Unsubsidised, or PLUS
loan, please contact the Financial Aid office
for information about payment of
accommodation fees.

Tuition fee and accommodation payment.

Need to know:
As with any financial transaction, certain
unavoidable rules and regulations apply. Do
take time to read the following and youll avoid
any unnecessary issues or worries later on.
Its important that you pay your fees to the
University on time. Failure to do so may lead
to a disruption in your course
There must be enough money in the
nominated bank account to meet the
payment at the time it is collected, otherwise
your bank may make a charge to your
account for each default
The option to pay by instalments is available
for direct debit payment only. If you wish
to cancel your direct debit, you forfeit your
option to pay in instalments and will be
required to pay the outstanding balance in
full immediately
It is your responsibility to update your
contact details and to provide the University

12

Any questions?
See our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section,
or, if your particular query isnt covered in the
FAQs, ask us a question at:
www.studenthub.kingston.ac.uk.
Or you can contact the:
Income and Receivables Team
Kingston University
Ground Floor
Cooper House
4046 Surbiton Road
Kingston upon Thames
Surrey
KT1 2HX
T: +44 (0)20 8328 7005

with a current term-time address this can

be done via OSIS (Online Student
Information System) or through your student
office/course administrator
You are required to update any changes to
your address or telephone number as soon
as the changes occur. Failure to do so may
incur charges, should we need to trace you
Continuing students who have tuition fee debt
owed to the University from previous academic
years will not be allowed to re-enrol until the
debt and associated costs have been cleared
Students that enrol late will be required to
bring their fees up-to-date and in-line with
their cohort before their enrolment can be
completed. Please contact the Income &
Receivables Team for more details
If the University suspects that a card
payment may be fraudulent, we reserve
the right to immediately suspend access to
university facilities, and we may refer the
matter to the police.

13

Frequently asked questions

I am an international student but do not

have a UK bank account. Can I still pay by
instalments?
Yes. You can do this through pre-arranged debit
or credit card payments. Simply contact the
Student Finance Team to discuss.
What are the Universitys bank account
details?
Bank: Barclays Bank PLC
Branch name: 1 Churchill Place
Branch address: 1 Churchill Place,
London E14 5HP
Account name: Kingston University
Account number: 20273856
Sort code number: 20-00-00
IBAN number: GB32 BARC 2000 0020 2738 56
Swift/BIC number: BARCGB22
When will I get my accommodation deposit
back?
The University will refund your accommodation
deposit once you have vacated your
accommodation and after any outstanding debt
to the University or charges incurred during
occupancy have been cleared. Please note that
any refund due will be paid to the person who
paid the original deposit.
How will you refund my deposit?
All deposits for Kingston University Halls will be
refunded by BACS. It is therefore important that
you provide the bank details of the payee of the
deposit promptly when we request these towards
the end of your licence agreement to ensure your
refund is not delayed.

14

What if I want to withdraw from my course?

If you wish to withdraw from or suspend your
course, you must immediately inform your faculty
student office in writing. Depending on when
you withdraw, you may still be liable for certain
amounts of fees to be paid. You can find out
how much you would be liable for in Appendix 1
at the end of the booklet on page 16. For more
information about withdrawing from your course,
please refer to the Universitys General Regulations
at www.kingston.ac.uk/academicregulations
What if I have a complaint or dispute?
Complaints should be raised in writing within
20 university working days of the incident. The
university will endeavour to investigate the matter
within 15 University working days of receipt of the
complaint. In the event that we require additional
information, we will write to you specifying what it
is that you need to provide.
Complaints that relate to billing errors or the
service provided by the Income and Receivables
Team should be sent to financecomplaint@
kingston.ac.uk.
Full information about our complaints policy
can be found at http://www.kingston.ac.uk/
freedom-of-information/policies-andprocedures/#complaints
Further advice is available from the Kingston
University Students Union:
KUSU www.kusu.ac.uk
Where do I find information about repaying my
student loan?
For information about repaying your loan, see
www.studentloanrepayment.co.uk

Were here to help

Whenever you have questions, dilemmas,

concerns, or if you just want a sounding board, a
whole team of Student Life advisors are on hand for
help and advice about all matters money-related.
They can advise on managing your finances,
accommodation, unexpected expenses, and even
claiming benefits if you are entitled to them. Its all
confidential and completely free of charge.
How to contact us
The Money Advisers run regular drop-in sessions
at the Student Life Centre (Penrhyn Road) and
the Student Services Centre (Kingston Hill). Visit
mykingston for the up-to-date times.
Arrange a confidential one-to-one appointment
Call us on +44 (0) 20 8417 7312
Ask us a question through our online advice
service, StudentHUB studenthub.kingston.ac.uk
Where to find us
The Money Advice team, Accommodation team
and Student Funds team are all based in the
Student Life Centre. The Student Funds Team
administers a number of hardship funds every
year, and are on hand to give you advice and
guidance on living on a budget, student finance
queries, banking and dealing with debt.
The Student Finance Team, responsible for
invoicing, administration, collection of fees and
administering bursaries, are based within the
universitys finance department:
Student Life Centre
Kingston University
John Galsworthy Building
Penrhyn Road
Kingston upon Thames
Surrey
KT1 2EE
T: +44 (0)20 8417 7312

Income and Receivables Team

The Income and Receivables Team will be
available to help with queries about tuition and
accommodation payments in the Student Life
Centre and also at:
Kingston University
Ground Floor
Cooper House
4046 Surbiton Road
Kingston upon Thames
Surrey
KT1 2HX
T: +44 (0)20 8328 7005
Students with disabilities
If you require this document in an alternative
format, for example in large print or in electronic
form, please contact the Disability Team:
Disability and Mental Health Advisors
Kingston University
Student Life Centre
John Galsworthy Building
Penrhyn Road
Kingston upon Thames
Surrey
KT1 2EE
T: +44 (0)20 8417 7314
Or, ask us a question at
W: studenthub.kingston.ac.uk
Disclaimer
This document was issued in August 2015 and is primarily
intended for use by prospective students wishing to start a
course in the academic year 2015/16.
The information was correct at the time of going to press.
The University makes every effort to ensure that the
contents of and statements made in this document are fair
and accurate, but it cannot accept any responsibility for
omissions, errors or subsequent changes that may occur.
The statements made and the information provided is
a general guide, and there may be changes following
publication that affect the contents.
For current details, see our website: www.kingston.ac.uk

15

Appendix 1

Withdrawal, suspension and deferral cut-off dates

Postgraduate students
Official course
start date

Cut-off period 1

Sept 2015 start

Withdrawals on or before 15 Oct

2015

100%

Withdrawals between 16 Oct 2015

to 11 Jan 2016 inclusive

50%

Withdrawals after 11 Jan 2016

0%

Oct 2015 start

Withdrawals on or before 16 Nov

2015

100%

Withdrawals between 17 Nov 2015

to 11 Jan 2016 inclusive

50%

Withdrawals after 11 Jan 2016

0%

Nov 2015 start

Withdrawals on or before 15 Dec

2015

100%

Withdrawals between 16 Dec 2015

to 11 Feb 2016 inclusive

50%

Withdrawals after 11 Feb 2016

0%

Dec 2015 start

Withdrawals on or before 15 Jan

2016

100%

Withdrawals between 16 Jan 2016

to 11 Mar 2016 inclusive

50%

Withdrawals after 11 Mar 2016

0%

Jan 2016 start

Withdrawals on or before 15 Feb

2016

100%

Withdrawals between 16 Feb 2016

11 Apr 2016 inclusive

50%

Withdrawals after 11 Apr 2016

0%

Feb 2016 start

Withdrawals on or before 15 Mar

2016

100%

Withdrawals between 16 Mar 2016

to 11 May 2016 inclusive

50%

Withdrawals after 11 May 2016

0%

Mar 2016 start

Withdrawals on or before 15 Apr

2016

100%

Withdrawals between 16 Apr 2016

to 13 Jun 2016 inclusive

50%

Withdrawals after 13 Jun 2016

0%

Apr 2016 start

Withdrawals on or before 16 May

2016

100%

Withdrawals between 17 May 2016

to 11 Jul 2016 inclusive

50%

Withdrawals after 11 Jul 2016

0%

May 2016 start

Withdrawals on or before 15 Jun

2016

100%

Withdrawals between 16 Jun 2016

to 11 Aug 2016 inclusive

50%

Withdrawals after 11 Aug 2016

0%

Jun 2016 start

Withdrawals on or before 15 Jul

2016

100%

Withdrawals between 16 Jul 2016

to 12 Sep 2016 inclusive

50%

Withdrawals after 12 Sep 2016

0%

Jul 2016 start

Withdrawals on or before 15 Aug

2016

100%

Withdrawals between 16 Aug 2016

to 11 Oct 2016 inclusive

50%

Withdrawals after 11 Oct 2016

0%

Aug 2016 start

Withdrawals on or before 15 Sep

2016

100%

Withdrawals between 16 Sep 2016

to 11 Nov 2016 inclusive

50%

Withdrawals after 11 Nov 2016

0%

Refund

Cut-off period 2

Refund

Cut-off period 3

Refund

Your official course start date may not necessarily be the first date of attendance. If in doubt, please
contact the Income and Receivables Team for clarification prior to submitting your withdrawal.

16

17

X(15.238)B