University of Warwick Postgraduate Programmes Terms and Conditions
Application of these Terms
- Any offer of a place made to you by the University of Warwick (the ‘University’) is on the basis that in accepting such an offer you agree to these University of Warwick Full Time & Part Time Postgraduate Programmes Terms and Conditions (the “Terms”), which form part of the contract between you and the University and apply from the point you accept the offer until you cease to be a postgraduate student at the University (unless paragraph 3 below applies to you).
- Please note that you will need to meet some of the Terms prior to being able to take up your place at the University.
- These Terms are reviewed on an annual basis. If you have been offered a place for deferred entry in a future year, or if it is agreed at some future point that you may defer your entry, these Terms will apply until they are replaced by a new set of terms that will apply for your year of entry. Those revised terms will then govern your relationship with the University until you cease to be a postgraduate student at the University. Those terms may be different to the current ones and will be provided to you before you take up your deferred place at the University.
Fees Policy
- Your offer letter will have stated the basis on which your fees have been calculated, including a classification of you as either a ‘Home’, ‘Overseas’ or ‘Islands’ student.
- The tuition fee stated in your offer letter (if applicable) is based on the start date shown in the offer letter and applies only for the year(s) specified. If it is agreed that you may defer your entry to a future year, your tuition fee may be different to that stated in your offer letter. The University will seek to provide you with confirmation of any fee changes at the earliest opportunity.
- Postgraduate research degrees: the tuition fee for students classed as ‘Home’ for fees purposes and studying a postgraduate research degree, are aligned with Research Councils UK (RCUK) rate changes and have not yet been confirmed for academic years 2024/25 and beyond. The University will provide you with confirmation of any fee increase before the start of the next academic year.
- MBChB degree: For students who qualify for government-regulated fees (currently students classed as ‘Home’ for fees purposes), the University expects to increase fees in line with any inflationary uplift as determined by the UK Government, if permitted by law or government policy, in the second and subsequent years of your course. It is anticipated that such increases will be linked to RPI (the Retail Price Index excluding mortgage interest payments). The University will provide you with confirmation of any fee increase by no later than June before the start of the next academic year.
- MBChB degree: For students classified as overseas for fees purposes: the tuition fees for academic year 2025/26 and subsequent years have not yet been set, but they are expected to be subject to an inflationary increase which is likely to be in the range of 4% to 6% per annum. The confirmed fee for 2025/26 will be published by the University and communicated directly to you, if applicable.
- For all other course fee profiles, not covered by clauses 6, 7, and 8 above: tuition fees for academic year 2025/26 and subsequent years have not yet been set but are expected to be subject to an inflationary increase which is likely to be in the range of 4% to 6% per annum. The confirmed fee for 2025/26 will be published by the University by September 2024 and communicated directly to you, if applicable.
- For students classified as overseas for fees purposes: the tuition fees for academic year 2025/26 and subsequent years have not yet been set, but they are expected to be subject to an inflationary increase which is likely to be in the range of 4% to 6% per annum. The confirmed fee for 2025/26 will be published by the University and communicated directly to you, if applicable.
- Any tuition fee increase will be applied from the beginning of the next academic year.
Payment of Fees
- It is your obligation to make arrangements at the beginning of your course for the payment of your fees.
- Tuition fees are payable in full on the first day of the academic year – for the 2024/25 academic year this is Monday 30 September 2024.
- Students on modular based courses in Warwick Medical School, Centre for Lifelong Learning, Centre for Education Studies, and on distance learning courses in Warwick Business School, are required to pay for each module within 30 days of the invoice being applied to their account. Any fees incurred by distance learning students in Warwick Business School, in excess of their substantive fee (e.g., additional face to face modules, resit fees) are to be paid within 30 days of the invoice being applied to their account.
- All full-time postgraduate students have the choice to either pay all of their tuition fees for the whole academic year at the start of their course or pay in instalments. The University offers only one instalment option, and the standard payment schedule is as follows:
- 50% of tuition fees due on the first day of term 1
- 25% of tuition fees due on the first day of term 2
- 25% of tuition fees due on the first day of term 3
- Our preferred method of payment is via the integrated Flywire portal within our Student Records system. This enables payments to be made using credit/debit cards or by bank transfer and other alternative payment methods. We also currently accept direct debit payments. For more information on payment methods, and details on how this operates when paying from different territories, please visit: http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/services/academicoffice/finance/makingpayments/methodsofpayment/
- If you are paying from an account in a country, and/or in respect of a student from a country, on the Restricted Countries List (the ‘List’) which requires a pre-payment advice form, you will need to complete the form before attempting to make any payment. The List and fuller details can be found here: http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/services/academicoffice/finance/makingpayments/methodsofpayment/
- You will be invoiced by the University for the full amount or remaining portion of your fees for each year of the course, unless (for each year of your course) you have either:
- financial support via Student Finance England, Wales, Northern Ireland or SAAS; or
- an official letter from an employer or a sponsor indicating responsibility for the payment of your fees in full or part; or
- you have applied for and obtained a discount or remission of fees.
- It is your responsibility to ensure that, where applicable, a copy of the appropriate funding documentation as referred to above, is submitted to the Student Finance Office as part of your enrolment process.
- If you enrol on the basis that you are or will be applying for a tuition fee waiver (full or part–time), bursary or other University funding source, you will be obliged to pay the full amount due if the application is not approved.
- If you are self-funding and have to pay your own fees, the methods of payment available are as set out in Clause 16 above.
- Fees for postgraduates registered for research degrees or taught courses with a specified period of study will be calculated on the basis of the number of months of registration during an academic year. For this purpose part of a calendar month will be counted as a full calendar month, so for example a postgraduate student withdrawing within one calendar month of registration would be charged one-twelfth of the annual fee.
- There are three exceptions to the above:
- Where fees are charged annually and are based on individual modules (e.g. PGME), fees will be charged for the number of modules a student has attended in the academic year prior to withdrawal. Students will be charged for each module they have started prior to withdrawal.
- Where fees are charged on a modular basis, students will be charged for the number of modules attended in the academic year prior to withdrawal. Students will be charged for a complete module for each module they have started prior to their withdrawal.
- PGCE and MBChB students will be charged in line with the Undergraduate Withdrawal Policy, as follows:
If you withdraw from the University prior to the end of the academic year, you will be charged a proportion of the tuition fees for the full academic year, as follows:
- Attendance in term 1 25% of the annual tuition fee for your course will be payable
- Attendance in term 2 50% of the annual tuition fee for your course will be payable
- Attendance in term 3 100% of the annual tuition fee for your course will be payable
- If you permanently withdraw within the first two weeks of your course commencing, you will not be held liable for any tuition fees for that academic year.
- If you take a period of temporary withdrawal for one academic year or more, you will be charged the tuition fee applying to your year of return – this may be higher than the one charged in the year you had taken as temporary withdrawal.
Laptops
- You will be required to have a laptop and access to broadband or a data connection in order to engage with your course of study. If you are unable to purchase a laptop, the University has a laptop loan scheme which can be found here:
https://warwick.ac.uk/services/it-students/computers/laptop-loans
There are also hardship funds which can be accessed here:
https://www.warwicksu.com/help-support/money/hardshipfunds/
Additional Costs
- In addition to the academic fees outlined above, you may be required to pay additional costs to cover mandatory elements of your course, such as costs associated with field trips and years abroad. Information about additional costs related to your course are detailed in the course Material Information document accompanying your offer.
- The level of additional course costs are expected to increase annually. Increases are expected to be in line with inflation, unless there are identifiable above-inflation rises in costs associated with the activity. These may, for example, include costs charged by third parties.
- The level of fees relating to examinations and related matters (for example, examination re-sits, copies of transcripts, resubmission of theses etc.) will usually increase annually. Increases are expected to be in line with inflation. The fees applying in any one academic year will be published by August of the previous academic year.
- You are expected to have appropriate finances to support all your necessary living costs and may be required to evidence this in advance.
- The University does not accept responsibility for any personal debt you may incur.
Accuracy of information
- By accepting the offer of a place at the University you confirm and declare that the information you have provided in support of your admission to, and enrolment with, the University is accurate and complete to the best of your knowledge and that you will inform the University of any change in circumstances that may affect your admission to, and enrolment with, the University (such as failure to complete any in-progress qualification declared on your application).
- The provision of false or misleading information may render your admission and enrolment invalid and will entitle the University to terminate its contract with you.
Communications to and from the University
- On enrolment, you will be allocated a University email account. All email communications from the University will be sent to that account and you are expected to use that account for all communications with the University. You are expected to check your University email account regularly.
University Regulations
- By accepting the offer of a place at the University you agree to comply with the provisions of all the University’s Ordinances, Regulations, Rules, Codes, Policies and Procedures that apply to enrolled students from time to time (“the Regulations”). The Regulations can be found here: http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/services/gov/calendar/section2/
- Key provisions of the Regulations of which you should be aware include:
- The University’s regulations regarding Admission to the University (Regulation 6), which sets out regulations regarding the conditions for admission to the University, the procedures to be followed for applicants declaring a criminal conviction, and the circumstances under which a Committee on the Admission of Students to Courses of Study may be convened. Under the regulation the University may withdraw an offer to an applicant in circumstances where they have or are likely to engage in activities outside of the law; have said or done anything (in person or online) that could be considered a breach of the University’s Principles, Dignity at Warwick Policy or Regulation 23; their application is found to contain fraudulent information or omits relevant information; and/or there are fitness to practice concerns.
- The University’s expectations regarding student attendance, academic due diligence, and academic progress, as set out in Regulation 36. Failure to meet these expectations may mean that you are not permitted to progress on your course.
- The University’s rules regarding academic misconduct, including plagiarism and the processes the University uses to detect plagiarism, which can be found in Regulation 11. Breach of these rules may result in a disciplinary process and the imposition of academic penalties and/or expulsion.
- The University’s rules regarding payment of sums due to the University, which can be found in Regulation 45. Breach of these rules may result (in the case of study-related debts), in the requirement to withdraw from the University, if special payment arrangements have not been agreed in the event of default. No student shall be permitted to occupy University accommodation if he/she has any accommodation related debts outstanding from a previous term.
- The University’s expectations of student behaviour (in person and online), as set out in Our Principles, Dignity at Warwick and Regulation 23. This includes, but is not limited to, sexual misconduct, bullying, discrimination, harassment, racism and the use or supply of illegal substances. Breach of these could result in a disciplinary process and the imposition of sanctions, including expulsion from the University. Once enrolled you are required to complete the Warwick Values Moodle.
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For research students: the University’s guidelines on the supervision and monitoring of research degree students and on the supervision of students based away from the University, available from the Doctoral College website at:
https://warwick.ac.uk/services/dc/policies_guidance/supervisionpgr/
- Courses leading to registration with professional bodies require compliance with professional codes of conduct failing which you may be subject to, as well as Regulation 23, Fitness to Practice procedures (as set out in Regulation 34) and the imposition of sanctions, including removal from the course. Admission to such courses will be subject to satisfactory criminal records checks.
- The University’s rules regarding Intellectual Property Rights, as set out in Regulation 28.
- The University’s powers to make changes to teaching, assessments and examinations following a significant disruption to the academic business of the University as set out in Regulation 41.
Changes to University Regulations
- The University reserves the right to add to, delete or make reasonable changes to the Terms or Regulations where in the opinion of the University it will assist in the proper delivery of education, it is in the interest of the students, it will enhance the wellbeing of the University community and/or it will improve operational efficiency. Changes are usually made for one or more of the following reasons:
- To review and update the Terms or Regulations to ensure they are fit for purpose.
- To reflect changes in the external environment, including legal or regulatory changes, changes to funding or financial arrangements or changes to government policy, requirements or guidance.
- To incorporate sector guidance or best practice;
- To incorporate feedback from students; and/or
- To aid clarity or consistency of approach.
- The University will consult with the Students’ Union before making any substantive changes to the Terms or Regulations.
- Any changes will normally come into effect at the start of the following academic year, although they may be introduced during the academic year where the University reasonably considers this to be in the interests of students or where this is required by law or other exceptional circumstances. The University will take all reasonable steps to minimise disruption to students wherever reasonably possible, for example, by giving reasonable notice of changes to the Terms or Regulations before they take effect, or by phasing in the changes, if appropriate.
- The updated Terms and Regulations will be made available on the University's website and may be publicised by other means so that students are made aware of any changes.
Disclaimers
- The University will do all that it reasonably can to provide educational services and facilities as described in the material information on its website, in the prospectus or other documents issued to appropriately enrolled students as described. Sometimes circumstances beyond the control of the University which could not have been prevented even if the University had taken reasonable care mean that it is prevented from, hindered, or delayed in providing, or otherwise cannot provide, such educational services and facilities. Examples of such circumstances include:
- industrial or protest action by University staff, students or third parties;
- the unanticipated and/or unavoidable absence or departure of key members of University or specialist staff;
- insufficient uptake of a programme;
- changes required by accrediting/regulatory bodies;
- significant changes to the University’s funding;
- damage, interruption or lack of access buildings, facilities or equipment;
- interruption or failure of a utility service;
- non-performance by suppliers or subcontractors;
- pandemics, epidemics or other threats to public health;
- the acts or delays of any governmental, public or local authority;
- acts of terrorism;
- political or civil unrest;
- flood, drought, earthquake, other natural disaster or severe weather condition;
- power failure, fire, explosion or accident; and/or
- nuclear, chemical or biological contamination.
- In these circumstances, the University will take all reasonable steps to minimise the resultant disruption to those affected students, by, for example, offering affected students the chance to move to another course or institution, by delivering a modified version of the course, changing the location of the course and/or engaging Regulation 41.
- The University will use all reasonable endeavours to deliver the course in accordance with the description applied to it in the University’s prospectus for the academic year in which you begin the course. However, the University will be entitled to make reasonable changes to the course (including to the content and syllabus of the course where developments in the subject area make that necessary, or the method of delivery of the course) where that will enable the University to deliver a better quality of educational experience to students enrolled on the course. In making any such changes, the University will aim to keep the changes to the minimum necessary to achieve the required quality of experience and will notify and consult with affected students in advance about any changes that are required. If the University changes your course and you are adversely affected by the changes, you will be offered the opportunity to withdraw from the course and, if required, reasonable support to transfer to another provider.
- The University is committed to ensuring that it maintains a strong financial base and the infrastructure and staffing required to enable students enrolled on its courses to complete their studies. Where changes to resourcing or courses on offer are planned, the University’s priority will be to protect students’ interests and ensure that any changes are introduced in such a way as to enable students to complete their courses in a way which meets their expectations. The University’s Student Protection Plan sets out the risk assessment and mitigating measure that the University has undertaken to protect student’s interests: https://warwick.ac.uk/services/aro/spp/
- For the avoidance of doubt, the University does not exclude or limit in any way its liability for:
- Death or personal injury caused by its negligence or the negligence of its employees, agents or subcontractors.
- fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation.
Data Protection
- The University will process your personal data in accordance with any applicable data protection law.
- The University is committed to transparency as to what personal data it processes and why and also who it might be shared with. Information about that, how long we hold your information for as well as details of your data protection rights are set out in our student privacy notice:
https://warwick.ac.uk/services/legalandcomplianceservices/dataprotection/privacynotices/student-privacy
Cancellation Rights
RIGHT TO CANCEL
- You have a statutory right to cancel this contract without giving any reason. The cancellation period will expire after 14 days from the day you accept our offer.
- To exercise the right to cancel, you should inform the Postgraduate Admissions Service at the University of Warwick of your decision by a clear statement in writing by email; you can use the model cancellation form at the end of this document, but it is not obligatory to do so. If you applied via UCAS, you should inform them of your decision; you can contact their Customer Contact Centre on 0371 468 0 468 or +44 330 3330 230 (international). If you applied via the Department for Education for a teacher training course you should contact becomingateacher@digital.education.gov.uk. You should also note that if you wish to change your response to any other offers which other Higher Education providers have made to you, you will also need to contact them directly. UCAS will not take any action without the permission of you as the applicant and all affected Higher Education Providers.
- To meet the cancellation deadline, it is sufficient for you to send your communication concerning your exercise of the right to cancel before the cancellation period has expired.
EFFECT OF CANCELLATION
- If you cancel this contract within the statutory cancellation period, the University will reimburse all study-related payments received from you. The University will make the reimbursement without undue delay and not later than 14 days after the day on which the University is informed about your decision to cancel this contract. The University will make the reimbursement using the same means of payment as you used for the initial transaction; in any event you will not incur any fees as a result of the reimbursement.
COURSES THAT BEGIN BEFORE THE CANCELLATION PERIOD
- If your course is due to begin within 14 days of the date you accept the offer of a place at the University (for example if you have applied through clearing) then, by accepting the offer, you are expressly agreeing that the course should begin within the cancellation period.
CANCELLATION AFTER THE STATUTORY CANCELLATION PERIOD
- If you take action to cancel the contract after the statutory cancellation period has expired, you should inform the Postgraduate Admissions Service at the University of Warwick of your decision by a clear statement in writing, e.g. an email. You can use the model cancellation form at the end of this document, but it is not obligatory to do so.
Additional Terms in Respect of Applicants Requiring a Visa to Study in the UK (and Further Information for all International Students)
- If you require a Student Visa to study in the United Kingdom, you are responsible for obtaining it and complying with its conditions. If you do not have a valid Student Visa or any other valid immigration permission which meets the ‘right to study’ requirements, you will not be able to start your course.
- Your application to the University is separate to your sponsorship for visa purposes; an offer of a place to study is no guarantee of your eligibility for a visa under the Student Route, which will be assessed at the point that you request a Confirmation of Studies (CAS) from the University: https://warwick.ac.uk/study/international/immigration/othervisas/right_to_study_and_uk_immigration/
- If you require a Student Visa to study in the UK, failure to take up an accepted offer of a place, or withdrawal from your course after arrival, is likely to affect your ability to enter or remain in the UK. In order to comply with the UK immigration regulations, for all visa sponsored students, the University is required to notify the immigration authorities, where relevant, of non-arrival, late arrival and of any changes to your enrolment status, including the withdrawal of sponsorship due to non-arrival or non-engagement with studies which will lead to the curtailment (cancellation) of your Student Visa.
- By agreeing to these Terms, you are additionally confirming that you are not currently, nor have ever previously been, in the United Kingdom without valid immigration permission. If, at a later date, the University is informed that you have been in the United Kingdom without such valid permission, it may be required to inform the immigration authorities and/or withdraw 'sponsorship' of your Student Visa.
- UK Visas and Immigration require that all international students whom the University sponsors for the purpose of study in the UK must be deemed to be progressing academically from any previous studies undertaken in the UK. Additionally, any such student’s total degree-level study (excluding postgraduate level study) in the UK must not exceed five years. The University of Warwick will be unable to sponsor you for entry clearance or leave to remain if to do so would infringe either requirement.
- If your visa is sponsored by the University, you must ensure you adhere to all the responsibilities attached to your visa: https://warwick.ac.uk/study/international/immigration/tier4/responsibilities This includes (but is not limited to) engaging with your course as required; ensuring your contact details are kept up to date; ensuring your immigration permission for study remains valid throughout your degree programme and ensuring any changes to your circumstances are reported through the standard University processes.
Additional Terms in Respect of International Students funded by one or more funding or scholarship bodies
- By accepting these terms and conditions you consent to the University sharing enrolment and academic progress information with your funding organisation.
Student Feedback and Complaints
- We are committed to providing a high-quality service to all our students throughout their University experience. As part of this we actively encourage feedback on all aspects of the student experience. We understand though that there may be occasions where our level of service has been significantly short of what is expected, and you may wish to submit a complaint. Information about the Student Feedback and Complaints procedure can be found here: http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/services/feedbackcomplaints
General
- If any provision of the contract between you and the University is held to be void or unenforceable in whole or in part by any court or other competent authority, the remainder of the provision (if any) and the remainder of the contract terms shall continue to be valid and shall remain in full force and effect.
- The contract between you and the University shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales and the parties agree to submit to the jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.
- The University’s contract with its students does not confer third party benefits for the purposes of the Contract (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999.