Find out if you are eligible for a refund, and how to organise your refund.
Requesting a refund
See our guidance on:
- tuition fee refunds
- Masters tuition fee deposit refunds
- accommodation refunds
- other credits
- where you cannot continue your course.
Important:
All refunds are made in accordance with anti-money laundering regulations and will be returned to the person or organisation that made the original payment. Refunds will be made using the same method as the original payment.
Refunds may be withheld if a student is in debt to the University.
We'll make every effort to process a refund within seven working days of receipt of all required information from the person or organisation who made the payment. We are unable to control how long it will take for a refund to reach a bank account once it has been approved by the University. Please be aware that it may take up to four weeks for any refund payment to arrive into the designated bank account.
Tuition fee refunds
If you have overpaid your tuition fees in error, please contact the Finance Division at studentaccounts@sussex.ac.uk to find out what to do next.
Withdrawal from your course of studies
If you withdraw from your studies temporarily, you are not eligible for a tuition fee refund. Any overpayment will remain on your account until you return to your studies or permanently withdraw from the University.
If you permanently withdraw from the University you may be eligible for a refund, which will be calculated in accordance with the University fee liability policy.
Once your withdrawal application has been approved please contact the Finance Division at studentaccounts@sussex.ac.uk to find out what to do next.
If you have a query about when a withdrawal request will be approved, please contact:
- the Student Centre if you are an undergraduate or Masters student
- the Research Student Administration Office if you are studying a PhD.
Where we cannot continue your course
In exceptional circumstances a course may get cancelled by the University, or it may not be possible to continue delivering a course if there is a loss of accreditation. In these circumstances, and where all other options have been exhausted (such as a transfer to an alternative course), we will refund tuition fees paid.
If you have expenses which would otherwise not have been incurred (such as travel to the UK) we will consider applications for compensation so you’re not financially disadvantaged by the inability to complete your studies.
International Masters tuition fee deposit refunds
If you’re an international applicant who paid a deposit for a postgraduate course, this deposit is usually non-refundable.
Refunds of the tuition fee deposit will only be made in certain exceptional circumstances.
To find out more about your eligibility for a refund and how to apply for your refund, please follow the instructions on the Masters tuition fee deposits for international applicants webpage.
Accommodation refunds
You may be able to request a refund if you have overpaid your accommodation fees or, for example, when you move out of University-managed accommodation early or move into a room with a lower charge.
To find out more about this, or to request a refund, please email housing@sussex.ac.uk.
Other reimbursements
Credits on your student account will usually be offset against other charges owed to the University.
If you believe you're entitled to claim a refund, please contact the Finance Division at studentaccounts@sussex.ac.uk to find out what to do next.
Printer credits
To request a printer credit refund, email support@its.sussex.ac.uk.
Graduation tickets
Check the graduation website for details about graduation ticket refunds and what to do if you cannot attend your ceremony.
Summer School refunds
To find out how to get a refund for the Summer School programme, please refer to the Summer School website.
Further information
Payments made by a third party on behalf of a student
Where payments have made by a third party on behalf of a student, for example to pay for tuition fees, we may need to obtain further information or payment details from the third party before we can complete a refund. For larger refunds we may require additional information, including bank statements and photographic ID.
The information must come directly from the person who made the original payment.
Please note, with the exception of US Federal Aid student payments, the University does not transfer funds received from a third party to a student or other individual or organisation in any circumstances. This means that any funds paid to the University but intended for a student will be transferred back to the original payee, who will then need to make a payment directly to the student.
Refunds to overseas banks
Where refunds are being returned to an overseas bank card or bank account, the University is unable to refund any shortfalls due to exchange rate fluctuations, or offer compensation for any bank or other charges incurred.
Refunds may be withheld if you are in debt to the University.