General Guidance on Tuition Fee Payment Policy 2010-2011
1. Local Authority assessed, - these divide into 3 main sub-categories
· Full time students who have applied to their LA, (Local Authority) for tuition fee support. Under the rules applying to new students who have started since 2008/9, they are eligible for a tuition fee loan up to £3,290.00. This is NOT means tested.
· Continuing full time students who began their course before the academic year 2006/07,who have applied to their LA, (Local Authority) for fee support. Based on their eligibility criteria and assessment of means, LA’s currently pay between £ 0 and £1,310[1]. The student is liable to pay any difference between the full fee and the amount assessed by the LA as eligible for support, but they can also take out a tuition fee loan for this.
· Part time students taking 4 modules or more who have applied to their LA for fee support. This is means tested but they may get most or all of their tuition fees paid directly by their LA.
· Students who have not applied for funding by their enrolment will be given until November 30th to provide evidence of their funding. EU students are generally eligible for the same tuition fee support as home students but they apply through the EU Customer Support team
PLEASE NOTE: The rules governing whether a student is defined as coming under the new fee regime or not, are very complicated. The final decision rests with the Department of Academic Administration
2. Privately Sponsored. Sponsored students are those whose fees are paid by a third party other than an LA. Although usually an employer, sponsors include government agencies other than a LA, charities or Overseas Governments. Privately Sponsored students should provide evidence of their sponsorship at enrolment. Sponsors are invoiced by the University immediately following enrolment and given 30 days to pay the fees due. If a student’s sponsor fails to pay their fees then the student becomes liable and will be invoiced for the outstanding amount. They will then be asked for payment in the way described below.
3. Self-Financing. These are students who are financing their part or all of their fees themselves.
Invoicing
Every student who needs to pay fees should receive an invoice from the finance department. This will show the full amount of fees charged for the academic year, and will not take into account any payments made. If a student has paid their fees in full then this invoice is for their records. This invoice also gives a student their first indication of the fee charged on the finance system, so is useful for the student to check that the fee charged is correct.
Queries
If a student wishes to query the amount that they have been charged then they can do this either by visiting their local registry office or by emailing feequery@londonmet.ac.uk
It is helpful if students can provide some sort of documentation to show why they believe their fees are incorrect, i.e. the financial assessment letter from their LA or the module registration form showing the number of modules they are taking. Please note that where the tuition fee is determined by the number of modules a student is taking we will work from the information on the student record system.
Tuition fees are due and payable at enrolment. However, students are given three payment options:
1. To pay in full. Students who pay in full at enrolment may be entitled to some form of discount. This should be discussed with a member of the finance department Income Collection team at enrolment.
2. By two instalments - 50% at enrolment and 50% by 31 December.
3. By one payment at enrolment of 50% of the total annual fee, followed by three equal instalments, beginning on the last working day of October and finishing at the end of December. These payments can be made either through the University’s e-pay system or by Direct Debit.
On-Line Payment
Payment can be made on-line at: https://epay.londonmet.ac.uk. Other payment methods are shown on all invoices and at www.londonmet.ac.uk/staff/finance/epay/epay_home.cfm.
Sanctions for non-payment
If a student fails to make an agreed payment under any of the above arrangements then their access to University facilities may be suspended until either payments have been brought ‘up-to-date’ or full payment has been received.
By 31 December all tuition fees should have been paid, any student who has an outstanding balance at these dates will have their access to University facilities suspended. Suspended students are not entitled to attend lectures/seminars, sit examinations, or use any of the University’s facilities including library and computing services. Smartcard access to University buildings will be switched off and they will not receive any award until the outstanding fees are paid. Please also note that we have the right, under the regulations, to cancel any marks gained whilst a student is suspended. Students who are suspended when a semester starts will not be able to enrol for that semester unless they clear their debt before the last date of enrolment.
As set out in the University’s regulations, suspended students remain liable for their full tuition fees for the year. This contractual commitment is clearly stated on forms signed at enrolment.
If a student wishes to discuss the method or timing of payment of their fees then:
· City Campus students should contact the Income Collection team at Calcutta House on: 020 7320 3190, 020 7320 3191, 020 7320 3192 or 020 7320 3193.
· North Campus students should contact the Income Collection Section at the Tower Building on any of the numbers listed below:
020 7133 2528, 020 7133 2060, 020 7133 2179 or 020 7133 4031
If a student wishes to come in person to talk to member of the Income Collection team, City Campus staff are based in the Income Office on the ground floor of Calcutta House opposite the main entrance and North Campus staff are based in the Finance Department on the ground floor of the Tower Building. The Income Collection Office is open between the hours of 9.00am and 5.00pm every weekday, until 6pm on Mondays and Wednesdays at City Campus and until 6PM on Tuesdays and Thursdays, during term time. Lunchtimes are always very busy, so please avoid times between 12 noon and 2pm if possible.
The University recommends that students whose financial problems cause difficulty in making tuition fee payments as agreed, or whose LA assessment is delayed should, in the first instance, contact Student Services to discuss their position.
If they are unable to make any payment commitment (date and/or amount) agreed with the Income Collection team, they should contact a member of that team as soon as possible.
The University also strongly advises that any student considering withdrawing from their course or suspending study should contact Student Services to discuss other options before making a final decision to withdraw.
Student Services can be contacted on the following numbers:
· City Campus Students: 020 7320 2370
· North Campus Students: 020 7133 2094
Leaving a course early does NOT remove the liability for the full year’s tuition fees. Once a student has enrolled then the whole fees are due. Students may apply for a reduction of their fees by contacting the Department of Academic Administration at feequery@londonmet.ac.uk. Please note any reduction of tuition fees is at the discretion of the Director of Academic Administration or their appointed nominee. It is extremely unlikely that a full waiver of fees will be agreed even for a student who leaves at the very beginning of the academic year.
Students who take advantage of the academic regulation that allows a student to withdraw from a module by week 6 without academic penalty, should note that the module fees remain due.
Re-enrolment
Students who owe tuition fees from previous years are not normally allowed to re-enrol until full payment of the outstanding amount has been made. However, exceptional arrangements may be made to allow students to continue their studies. Any student wishing to discuss an outstanding debt should be directed, in the first instance, to:
· the Income Collection team on the numbers given above for City Campus students,
· the Debtors Section of the Finance Office on 020 7133 4553 or 2241, if they are a North Campus student
Please note that the University reserves the right to require payment in full in advance of enrolment and/or evidence of funding for the correct academic year of the course.
Collection Agencies
The University uses third party agencies for the collection of outstanding debts. If any student fails to pay their dues after requests to do so, the University may refer the debt to an agency to collect on its behalf.
Court action
The University will, and does, take legal action against any student who does not pay their tuition fees and fails to respond to requests for payment. Such action may lead to a County Court Judgment being registered and Bailiff’s being asked to seize property. This may also affect a student’s credit rating and they may find it difficult to gain credit for six years.
[1] LA payments are administered on behalf of the LAs by the Student Loan Company
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| General Guidance on Tuition Fee Payment Policy 2010-2011 |
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