Practical considerations:
First, make an appointment with your College Student Support Adviser.
At the appointment, you will be able to discuss your decision for withdrawing from your course. Your Student Support Adviser will help you to complete the necessary paperwork and advise you of anything else you might need to do before leaving the University.
Until you have met with your Student Support Adviser and submitted the withdrawal form, you will still be deemed to be a student at the university and charged fees accordingly.
You should consult Student Finance England (or the relevant award body) prior to making your final decision, as you may jeopardise your future entitlement to financial support if you leave your course early.
Any tuition fee adjustment will be based on the date you submitted your completed withdrawal form to your Faculty. If you withdraw, transfer to another institution or take time out from your course, you may be eligible for a reduction of part of your tuition fees, as follows:
Undergraduates with a tuition fee loan from the Student Loans Company
If you withdraw before enrolment, or within the first three weeks of your course start date, you will not be charged.
The Student Loans Company pays your tuition fee loan in three parts, relating to three liability dates:
- 25% of the total tuition fee on the first date
- 25% on the second date
- 50% on the third date
If you withdraw from your course you will be charged what is owed on the date you withdraw.
For example, if you withdraw between the second and third dates you will be charged 50% of your fees (25% + 25%). The Student Loans Company will normally pay what you owe.
If for any reason they do not pay us, or subsequently reduce or remove your entitlement, we will treat you as a self-financing student (see below).
International students
If you decide to withdraw from your course or defer entry at any time before enrolment or within the first three weeks of your course start date, the University will keep any deposit you have paid to cover its reasonable costs and losses arising as a result of your withdrawal, except in exceptional circumstances or where your visa is refused by UKVI.
If you decide to withdraw from your course at any time following the first three weeks of your course start date, you will be charged tuition fees on a pro rata basis based on a standard academic year of 30 weeks for undergraduate courses and either 36 / 45 or 54 based on the teaching weeks delivered for postgraduate courses including research.
The University also has the right to retain any deposit you may have paid to cover reasonable costs and losses arising as a result of your withdrawal.
Self-financing or sponsored students
If you withdraw before enrolment, or within the first three weeks of your course start date, we will refund all tuition fees paid. However, in the case of international students, the University reserves the right to retain any deposit paid (please see below).
After the first three weeks of your course, we will charge tuition fees on a pro rata basis based on:
- a standard academic year of 30 weeks for undergraduate courses
- a standard academic year of 36 / 45 or 54 weeks (or using the length of semester for courses studied over only one semester) for postgraduate courses, including research
For example, if you withdraw from an undergraduate course with a £9,000 annual fee during your 10th week on the course, you will owe £3,000 (10/30 x £9,000).
Please note that the University has the right to retain an amount to cover its reasonable costs and losses as a result of your withdrawal.
Students studying on a modular basis
If you are undertaking modular study either on a semester basis or a continuous basis (with no breaks for Easter, summer or Christmas), the standard year length of 30 weeks for undergraduate courses and 36 weeks for postgraduate courses may not be appropriate.
In these circumstances, we will consider the amount of study or number of modules you have taken in relation to the total length of the study, and amend the fee accordingly.
Short courses
If you are withdrawing from a short course (credit or non-credit bearing) you will be required to pay a pro-rata fee based on the length of your course and the period of study.
For example, if you withdraw after 3 weeks on a 4 week course you will pay 75% of the full fee.
Distance learners
If you withdraw from a distance learning course, the terms of withdrawal, including the payment terms, will be negotiated with your College.
We will consider the amount of material we have provided (hard copy and electronic) and the amount of time we have spent assessing your work (including coursework, exams, submissions, marking and assessment boards), as well as any student or academic support you have received.
Postgraduate / Research students from the UK
If you withdraw before enrolment or within the first three weeks of your course start date, we will refund all tuition fees.
After the first three weeks of your course, we will charge tuition fees on a pro rata basis based on a standard academic year of 36 / 45 or 54 weeks for Postgraduate students or 52 weeks for Research students (or the length of semester for courses studied over only one semester).
Students with a postgraduate tuition fee loan from Student Finance Northern Ireland
If you withdraw before enrolment, or within the first three weeks of your course start date, you will not be charged.
The Student Loans Company pays your tuition fee loan in three parts in each academic year, relating to three liability dates (these dates vary depending on the individual course):
- 25% of the total tuition fee on the first date
- 25% on the second date
- 50% on the third date
You will be charged pro-rata to the full fee should you withdraw / transfer out after three weeks of the start of your programme:
Amount due = full year fee x no. weeks attended/36
The University will not refund any fees paid on a student's behalf by the SLC. For example if the course fee is £6,400 and you are eligible for a £5,500 SLC loan:
(i) if you withdraw at 6 weeks and Sheffield Hallam had received the first 25% instalment of the loan (£1,375), the total fee due would be 6/36 x £6400 = £1,067. The amount due from you would be nil as the loan received (£1,375) exceeds the total fee due (£1,067). Note you would not be refunded any fees paid by the SLC.
(ii) if you withdraw at 20 weeks and Sheffield Hallam had received the first two instalments of the loan (£2,750), the total fee due would be 20/36 x £6400 = £3,556.
The amount due from you would be the difference between the total fee due and the loan received: £3,556 - £2,750 = £806.
Statutory cancellation right
Whatever type of study you are undertaking, you may also have a statutory cancellation right if you enrolled fully online. Details of your statutory cancellation right can be found in the University's Terms and Conditions.
Refunds
You are entitled to request a refund for any overpayment. To request a refund, contact salesledger@shu.ac.uk and we will send you a refund form. We will not refund to you directly any fees paid on your behalf by the Student Loans Company, but we will notify the Student Loans Company of any changes and request that they claim back any overpayment.