***Regulation 45 came into effect on 10 July 2019, following approval at the meeting of the University Council on 10 July 2019.***

Regulations Governing Payment of Annual Fees, Residential Charges and Other Debts

(1) A student shall be liable to pay:

(a) their annual fee on the first day of the first term of each academic year or on the first day of their registered period of study if this commences later than the first day of the term

(b) any accommodation charges on the first day of each term or on the date when their occupation of accommodation commences if this begins on a date later than the beginning of term

(c) any other debt to the University on the day on which such debt is incurred.

(2) No person shall be registered as a student of the University unless they have paid study related debts incurred in a previous year.

(a) A student who has temporarily withdrawn shall not be allowed to return to the University until they have paid any outstanding study related debts.

(3) No student shall be permitted to occupy University accommodation if they have any accommodation related debts outstanding from a previous term.

(4) No degree, diploma, certificate or other qualification of the University shall be awarded to any student who is in debt for any study related reason to the University.

(5) Where payment of a residential charge or academic fee is not made within 21 days of a due date an administration fee shall be charged, the amount of which shall be determined from time to time by the Group Finance Director (delegated authority from Finance and General Purposes Committee.)

(6) Any grant or payment due to be made by the University to a student in debt to the University may be reduced by the amount of the outstanding debt or may be set off against the outstanding debt.

(7) The Student Finance Office may agree to payments being deferred and/or made in instalments in cases of hardship or particular difficulty. Approval of any such arrangement is delegated to the Senior Finance Officer (Credit Control), Student Finance Manager or Head of Student Finance & Student Funding. In any case where the Student Finance Office exercises its discretion to make such arrangements, the student concerned shall not be subject to the sanctions laid down in this Regulation for students owing debts to the University unless such arrangements are subsequently broken by the student concerned or where the Student Finance Office and the student have been unable to reach a mutually satisfactory payment arrangement.

(8) Where a student has a significant overdue study related debt (and the student has been unable to agree or maintain a mutually satisfactory payment arrangement in accordance with paragraph (7) above) or has had their re-registration refused in accordance with paragraph (2) above, their case will be referred to the Annual Fees (Special Cases) Sub-Committee. Where a student has a significant overdue non-study related debt (and the student has been unable to agree or maintain a mutually satisfactory payment arrangement in accordance with paragraph (7) above), their case will be referred to the Non-study Related Fees (Special Cases) Sub-Committee.

(9) All students referred to one of the Committees specified in paragraph (8) above will be given at least seven days' notice to appear before it and state their case (or to submit a written statement if the student prefers), accompanied, if the student wishes, by their personal tutor, another member of the academic teaching staff or a representative from the Students' Union Advice Centre.

(10) On receipt of a report on the facts from the Student Finance Office the relevant Committee, using the powers delegated to them by the Finance and General Purposes Committee, will:

In the case of the Annual Fees (Special Cases) Sub-Committee - (a) make any further enquiries which it considers necessary; (b) if, following (a), the Committee finds that the student has forfeited their right to remain a member of the University, the student shall be so informed and shall cease to be a member of the University upon such date and subject to such conditions as the Committee shall decide;

In the case of the Non-study Related Fees (Special Cases) Sub-Committee make any further enquiries which it considers necessary in order to expedite the repayment of the debt and avoid any undue legal proceedings.