Online postgraduate courses payment policy

If you are funding your postgraduate certificate course with sponsorship, you must complete your studies within eight months. This may be extended for enforced breaks due to the availability of modules, but does not permit you to take study breaks for one module periods where a module is available to you. 

If you require a period of leave due to reasons outside of your control, this must be formally requested using a Leavers Form and evidence must be provided to support the request. If evidence is not provided, the University of Leeds reserves the right to refuse temporary leave and the you will receive a mark of absent for the module. 

If you are self-funding your postgraduate certificate course, you have the flexibility to take a study break for one module at a time but must complete your studies within 16 months. 

You may take a study break of one teaching period at a time, but if additional time is required this must be formally requested using a Leavers Form and evidence must be provided to support the request. If evidence is not provided, the University of Leeds reserves the right to refuse temporary leave and the University’s Unsatisfactory Work, Attendance and Engagement Procedure (UWAEP) will be invoked. 

If you are funding your postgraduate diploma course with sponsorship, you must complete your studies within sixteen months. This may be extended for enforced breaks due to the availability of modules, but does not permit you to take study breaks for one module periods where a module is available to you. 

If you require a period of leave due to reasons outside of your control, this must be formally requested using a Leavers From and evidence must be provided to support the request. If evidence is not provided, the University of Leeds reserves the right to refuse temporary leave and you will receive a mark of absent for the module. 

If you are self-funding your postgraduate diploma course, you have the flexibility to take a study break for one module at a time but must complete your studies within 32 months. 

You may take a study break of one teaching period at a time, but if additional time is required this must be formally requested using a Leavers Form and evidence must be provided to support the request. If evidence is not provided, the University of Leeds reserves the right to refuse temporary leave and the University’s Unsatisfactory Work, Attendance and Engagement Procedure (UWAEP) will be invoked. 

If you are sponsored or receive a postgraduate loan to fund your Masters course, you must complete your studies within 24 months. This course variant does not allow you to take study breaks for one module period where a module is available to you. 

If you require a period of leave due to reasons outside of your control, this must be formally requested using a Leavers From and evidence must be provided to support the request. If evidence is not provided, the University of Leeds reserves the right to refuse temporary leave and you will receive a mark of absent for the module. 

If you are self-funding your Masters course, you have the flexibility of taking a study break for one module at a time but must complete your studies within 48 months. 

You may take a study break of one teaching period at a time, but if additional time is required this must be formally requested using a Leavers Form and evidence must be provided to support the request. If evidence is not provided, the University of Leeds reserves the right to refuse temporary leave and the University’s Unsatisfactory Work, Attendance and Engagement Procedure (UWAEP) will be invoked. 

Sponsorship letter

If you are a sponsored student, you must provide a sponsorship letter before registering as a student. The sponsorship letter must be emailed to the Digital Education Service Admissions Team via desstudents@leeds.ac.uk and will then be processed by the University’s Fees Team.

The letter must be written in English, on official letter-headed paper and must provide the following information:

• student name in full
• student ID number
• course name and duration of study
• duration of sponsorship and the amount in UK pound sterling
• the course start date and/or academic session
• name and address of where to send the invoice
• preferred email contact address (this is not mandatory, but enables faster invoicing and answers for any queries).

Payments received from sponsors will only be allocated to tuition fees for modules required for the relevant award. You will be responsible for any tuition fees for any additional modules, resit fees, and any other expenses incurred. 

Study breaks or leaving your course

You are only allowed to take study breaks if you formally request a period of temporary leave and provide evidence to support the request. If evidence is not provided, the University of Leeds reserves the right to refuse temporary leave and you will receive a mark of absent for the module. 

You are enrolled for a module if you do not submit a formal leave request by the enrolment deadline (one week before the module start date) for each module. If you do not engage with a module and have not been granted temporary leave, the University’s Unsatisfactory Work, Attendance and Engagement Procedure (UWAEP) will be invoked.  

After the enrolment/temporary leave deadline (one week before the module start date) you will remain enrolled and receive a mark of absent for the module. 

If you are granted a period of temporary leave, no refunds will be made to your sponsor unless you subsequently leave your course permanently. 

If you permanently leave your course, any refunds will be made directly to your sponsor. If your sponsor has not yet paid the tuition fee invoice, they will be billed for the number of modules you have been enrolled for. 

Masters course fees

If you are a sponsored Masters student, tuition fees are normally split equally across year one and year two of study and your sponsor will be invoiced for 50% in year one and 50% in year two.  

If you change your payment method after year one, the full balance of remaining tuition fees transfers to you and must be paid in accordance with the University’s Student Contract. Individual costs per module may lead to an uneven split in accrued tuition costs for year one and year two but the total fee you are responsible for remains the same. 

If you receive a postgraduate loan you are obliged to fulfil the conditions set by the loan provider. 

Study breaks

You are required to complete your Masters in 24 months and do not have the option to take short study breaks, unless they are formally requested, evidenced periods of temporary leave. Periods of temporary leave will be reported to the loan provider and it is your responsibility to ensure you have the necessary funds available to pay tuition fee instalments as scheduled. 

When granted temporary leave from your course, your loan payments from the loan provider will be suspended until you re-register. If a tuition fee payment is scheduled and your record has not yet been updated following the temporary leave request, you must fulfil this payment. 

A student is enrolled for a module if they do not submit a formal leave request by the enrolment deadline for each module (one week before the module start date) for each module. If a student does not engage with a module and has not been granted temporary leave, the University’s Unsatisfactory Work, Attendance and Engagement Procedure (UWAEP) will be invoked. After the enrolment/temporary leave deadline (one week before the module start date) the student will remain enrolled and receive a mark of absent for the module. 

If you leave your course

If you permanently leave your course and owe outstanding fees for any enrolled modules, these will be requested through standard University of Leeds methods. No award from the University will be granted if you have outstanding debt. 

Tuition fee split

If you are funding your Masters course with a postgraduate loan, tuition fees are normally split equally across year one and year two of study, and you will pay 50% in year one and 50% in year two.  

If you change your payment method after year one, the full balance of remaining tuition fees must be paid in accordance with the University’s Student Contract. Individual costs per module may lead to an uneven split in accrued tuition costs for year one and year two, but the total fee you are responsible for remains the same. 

If you are self-funding your course, the University’s Digital Education Service allows you to pay for each module as you enrol. You will be provided with a payment link for each module and must make the payment by the deadline (one week before the module start date). 

Study breaks

If you are taking a study break for the upcoming module, you are required to provide a pause form or temporary leave form by the payment deadline (one week before the module start date). You do not need to pay for the module if you have informed the University you are taking a break. 

If you do not pay for the module, you will not be enrolled onto the module and will be required to provide a pause form or temporary leave form. If this form is not returned by the end of week one of teaching, the University’s Unsatisfactory Work, Attendance and Engagement Procedure (UWAEP) will be invoked. 

If you pay for the module but then require a study break, you must confirm this in writing by the end of week one of teaching. The funds received will be retained for the following teaching period. 

If you pay for the module but then require a study break of more than one teaching period, the funds will be refunded and you must pay for the next module when you enrol. 

Study breaks for more than one teaching period must be formally requested using a Leavers Form and evidence must be provided to support the request. If evidence is not provided, the University of Leeds reserves the right to refuse temporary leave.  

Unauthorised absence

If temporary leave is not granted and the you do not return from your initial study break, the University’s Unsatisfactory Work, Attendance and Engagement Procedure (UWAEP) will be invoked. 

If you pay for the module and do not engage or require a study break after the end of week one of teaching, you will remain enrolled on the module and the funds will not be refunded. 

If you do not engage with the module you will receive a mark of absent for the module and will be offered the opportunity to resit.  

Mitigating circumstances

If you could not engage due to evidenced mitigating circumstances, you should submit an application for additional consideration and this will be considered. 

You will not normally be entitled to any refunds after the end of week one of teaching for any module.