Find out when your tuition fees need to be paid and how to make sure they are paid on time.
On this page
- Paying your fees
- Making payments safely
- Financial hardship
- What will happen if your tuition fees are not paid
Paying your fees
The way you pay your tuition fees depends on how you’re funding your studies.
- If you’re a self-financing Undergraduate or Home Masters Taught student
If you are funding your studies yourself, you have two options:
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option 1: pay in full as part of online registration (this is the only option for fees of £300 or less). You pay tuition fees either by debit card, credit card or bank transfer (using Convera) through your Sussex Direct account.
- option 2: pay in instalments in accordance with the Fee Liability Policy [PDF 171KB]. Your instalment plan is be set up during online registration, with payments coming directly from a nominated debit or credit card.
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- If you’re a self-financing, International Masters Taught student
If you're an International Masters student funding your studies yourself, you must pay 50% of the balance of your tuition fees (i.e your total fees minus your deposit) from 1 September 2025 to complete step 2 of registration. The second payment of 50% of your tuition fees must be paid by January 2026. This is mandatory for becoming a student. If you haven't already, please arrange to make this payment.
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Option 1: pay in full as part of online registration. You can pay your tuition fees either by debit card, credit card or bank transfer (using Convera) through your Sussex Direct account.
- Option 2: You can pay in instalments in accordance with the Fee Liability Policy [PDF 171KB]. Your first instalment is a condition of online registration, with payments coming directly from a nominated debit or credit card. Your second instalment will be due in January 2026.
Important: There may be a delay in us receiving international payments, so please leave enough time to send your payment before the deadline. We cannot allow registration until payment is received in our bank account.
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- If you’re expecting a student loan from the Student Loans Company
If you are an undergraduate student and have applied for a tuition fee loan, the Student Loans Company will pay the University directly on your behalf.
The Student Loans Company will provide you with confirmation that you will receive a student loan, which you should send to Student Accounts at studentaccounts@sussex.ac.uk as soon as you receive it.
Important: If we do not receive your confirmation you will be considered a self-financing student (see below) and will be immediately responsible for your tuition fee payments.
- If you’re a US student receiving an American Student Loan and Federal Student Aid
If you are in receipt of an American Student Loan and Federal Student Aid the University will deduct your tuition fee payment from your loan.
- If your fees are being paid by a sponsor
If your fees are being paid by a sponsor, they must be paid in full at the beginning of each academic year.
You must email your tuition funding confirmation to sponsorletters@sussex.ac.uk as soon as possible to complete registration.
The University will only accept sponsors that pay us directly. Otherwise you need to set up your own instalment plan.
The University recognises the following institutions and organisations as official sponsors:
- UK Government, The British Council, Chevening, British Commonwealth
- overseas Governments and Embassies
- an employer (either UK-based or overseas)
- recognised international organisations or institutions (such as a council or university).
In all other cases, you will need to set up your instalment plan and pay the University directly.
If you want the University to invoice your sponsor for your tuition fees, you need to provide an award letter to sponsorletters@sussex.ac.uk that confirms your sponsor funding, before your first instalment as set out in the Fee Liability Policy [PDF 157KB]
Award letters must:
- be on headed paper of your sponsor organisation
- include your name, course, funding amount and funding duration
- specify your sponsor’s full contact details, including telephone number and email address.
Once we have received your award letter, we will update your student account to reflect your funding and issue an invoice to your sponsor. If we do not receive your award letter, the University will consider you to be a self-financing student.
If your sponsor does not pay, any outstanding amount will be transferred back to your student account and you will become liable for payment.
Making payments safely
When paying your fees, remember:
- always pay your own fees if you are self-financing – do not use a third-party agent
- never give your log-in details to a third-party
- only use University-approved payment routes through Sussex Direct.
If you are unsure about a payment, call Student Accounts on 0800 849 4979 or email studentaccounts@sussex.ac.uk.
Learn more about fraud and check the latest scams.
Financial hardship
If you are experiencing financial hardship, please contact our Student Support and financial support services for help, including to discuss your particular circumstances. Information about money and funding support is available on My Sussex and the Student Hub. This includes information around how you may be able to get some limited financial support through Hardship funding and short-term welfare loans.
Please do reach out to the University support services if you need help on this, or any other matter that may be affecting you.
What will happen if your tuition fees are not paid
It is really important that we receive your tuition fee payments on time.
Tuition fees pay for the teaching and learning and facilities that all students benefit from and prompt payment helps us to keeps costs down, enabling more to be spent on students.
If you don’t meet our agreed payment due dates and settle your full debt during your course, sanctions may be applied in accordance with University terms and conditions. These are set out in the Student Debt Recovery Policy [PDF 102KB].
If you don’t pay your tuition fees during your course of studies
If you do not pay your tuition fee instalments in full on the specified due dates you may have your IT and Library services removed during the academic year. You may also be withdrawn from the University. If you are withdrawn you will have to leave University accommodation, and there may be further implications if you are an international student with a study visa.
If you have unpaid debt at the end of the academic year, you will not be able to enrol to continue your studies the following year.
Removal of IT and Library services access
These FAQs have been updated for February 2026.
- Why can’t I access IT and Library Services?
Students who have not paid their January tuition fee instalments in full have had IT and Library services withdrawn in line with the University’s policy on non-payment of tuition fees. Tuition fees pay for the teaching and learning, and facilities, that all students benefit from. Prompt payment ensures we keeps costs down, enabling more to be spent on our students.
- How can I have IT and Library services reactivated?
Please pay your outstanding tuition fee instalment in full to have your IT and Library services reactivated. Make your payment using Convera. Please select credit or debit card, or UK bank transfer so that your payment reaches us within 1 working day. Overseas bank transfers should not be used because they can take up to 3 weeks to clear in the University’s bank account.
If you can't use the Convera link, please email Finance at creditcontrol@sussex.ac.uk.
IT and Library services will be restored once payment is received and matched to your account. We will notify you by emailing your personal email account once we have matched your funds.
This process can take up to 2 working days following payment. For example, payments made on a Friday will be received on Monday and matched to your account on Tuesday. Your access to IT and Library services will be fully restored on Wednesday.
- How do I find out how much I need to pay?
If you don’t know how much you owe, please email Finance at creditcontrol@sussex.ac.uk.
- I didn't receive an email about my debt, but my IT and Library access has been removed.
The University sent messages to your University email address on Tuesday 20 January and Tuesday 27 January, advising you of your debt and how to pay or get help. We wrote to the personal email you provided to the University on Tuesday 10 February.
If you no longer have access to this email address, please email Finance at creditcontrol@sussex.ac.uk from the personal email address you wish to use, with the subject ‘Personal Email Update’ and we will send you details of what and how to pay.
Once your access is reinstated, please update your personal email address. You can do this by logging into Sussex Direct, clicking the Personal tab and selecting ‘Contact Information’ from the dropdown menu.
- Will the University contact me when my IT and Library access is restored?
Your IT and Library access will automatically be restored within one working day of your confirmation email from Finance.
Please don't contact IT Services regarding your account suspension. ITS will not be able to assist you in any way until you've received confirmation that your funds have been matched to your record, and then waited a further working day.
- Can I pay over the phone, or directly to the University bank account?
No, we can't take your payment over the phone. We also can't accept payments directly to our bank account.
- Once I’ve settled my January payment in full, can I set up a new termly instalment plan for April 2026?
There is no option to set up a new instalment plan. Your third and final payment will need to be received by Tuesday 21 April 2026.
- Can I speak to someone from the Finance team in person?
The best way to contact Finance is by email (creditcontrol@sussex.ac.uk), where you will receive an incident number that you should use if you need to contact us again.
Contacting us by email helps us prioritise student queries efficiently and get back to you as soon as we can.
You can also call 01273 673276, or freephone from UK landlines on 0800 849 4979. We try to ensure phone lines are open on Mondays and Wednesdays, from 10am-1pm and 2pm-4pm.
You can also call 01273 673276, or freephone from UK landlines on 0800 846 4979. Phoneline opening times from Monday 16 February 2026 onwards: Monday and Wednesday only, 10am-1pm and 2pm-4pm.
- I can only part-pay my fees. Can I get services reinstated?
If there are specific circumstances that mean you're unable to access your funds immediately to pay the overdue instalment in full, please email Finance at creditcontrol@sussex.ac.uk.
You will need to make an official application and provide third-party documents, such as bank statements, or evidence of loan agreements to demonstrate that you have or will have funds in place to settle your first instalment.
- What do I do if I can’t afford to pay?
If you are unable to afford your fees you can get help to understand what options you have, for example taking a period of temporary withdrawal whilst you resolve your financial situation. You can find out about withdrawal and the advice and guidance support available to you through the Student Hub.
The Student Centre Welcome & Triage team are here to help students find the information you need or to support you to access specialist services. The team are available in person (8.30am-5pm weekdays) or by calling 01273 075700 (9am-4.30pm weekdays).
- My IT account has been removed, but I have assessment submissions due. Can I submit an exceptional circumstances claim?
No. The exceptional circumstances process is designed to be used in circumstances that are short term, arise unexpectedly or are beyond your control. The removal of IT and Library provision as a result of the non-payment of tuition fees does not meet these definitions and as such will not be accepted as the grounds for an exceptional circumstances claim.
Claims for individual exceptional circumstances that are either unexpected or outside your control will be considered in the normal way.
- I think my debt is incorrect because the University has charged me the wrong fees.
Fees are set according to your fee status. Your fee status will be assessed as part of your admission to Sussex based on what you declare in your application form. Your fee status is set out in your offer letter from the University.
Learn more about fee status and how you can appeal it.
- I have a question about the continuation fee I’ve been charged.
A continuation fee is charged to any finalist undergraduate, and postgraduate student, who has not completed their course when they were expected to, and has either a deferred dissertation or resits that are usually taken in the next assessment period. This fee covers the additional costs associated with the deferral.
If you have a query about this charge please email Student Progress.
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I have a problem with my application to Student Finance England / I’m waiting to hear back about my Student Finance England application / I haven’t applied for my Student Finance England funding – what should I do?
If you have a question or need some help with your Student Finance England application, you can find information on the Money and Funding section of the Student Hub, or connect with the Student Advice and Guidance team by raising an enquiry via My Sussex.
The Student Centre Welcome and Triage team are available to assist you to find the information you need or to support you to access specialist services. The team are available in person (8.30am-5pm weekdays) or by calling 01273 075700 (9am-4.30pm weekdays).
- I have a sponsor: they should have paid my fees
The University recognises the following institutions and organisations as official sponsors:
- UK Government, The British Council, Chevening, British Commonwealth
- overseas Governments and Embassies
- an employer (either UK-based or overseas)
- recognised international organisations or institutions (such as a council or university).
If you have an agreement from a sponsor in one of these categories, please email sponsorletters@sussex.ac.uk.
In all other cases, you will need to pay your instalment yourself. Please follow the instructions in the letters you received from Finance. You can also email Finance at creditcontrol@sussex.ac.uk for more information.
- I am a postgraduate student and I don’t agree with the fee I’m being charged / my fee waiver hasn’t been deducted from my account
Please email the Student Accounts Postgraduate team at studentaccountspgadmin@sussex.ac.uk.
- I don’t think my outstanding rental fee is correct.
Please email the Housing team at housing@sussex.ac.uk.
- Can I stay in University accommodation if I withdraw from my course?
If you withdraw from your course, you must leave your University accommodation. You will be charged an additional 28 day notice period from the date you hand back your key.
- Where can I get help working out who to speak to?
The quickest way to get information is here on the Student Hub website, which provides focused information on a range of support topics including fees and student finance.
You can visit the Student Centre Welcome Desk to talk in person to one of the Welcome desk staff, from 8.30am to 5pm, Monday-Friday, or call 01273 075700 from 9am-4.30pm, Monday-Friday. You can also email the Student Centre at studentcentre@sussex.ac.uk with your enquiry.
The team will be able to help direct you to the appropriate team or service, including Finance staff, but can't provide advice on the amount of your debt; exceptional changes to your fee due date; whether your payment has been received; or make interventions on your behalf.
- Where can I get wellbeing support?
We understand that this may feel concerning. You can find out about wellbeing support here on the Student Hub, or you can raise an enquiry via My Sussex and be connected with the right service for your need.
The Student Centre Welcome and Triage team are available to help you find the information you need and to support you to access specialist services. The team are available in person (8.30am-5pm weekdays) or by calling 01273 075700 (9am-4.30pm weekdays).
If you are in crisis, more resources are available:
- If you are resident on campus call Security on 01273 873333 to contact the 24-hr Residential Support team.
- Emergency services: (on campus) Security on 01273 873333 or (off campus) 999
- Brighton & Hove Mental Health Rapid Response Service (MHRRS): 0300 304 0078 (Open 24/7)
- NHS 111 Medical Support & Advice: 111
- Local Samaritans: National phone number, free from any phone 116 123.
If you finish your course with tuition fee debt
If you complete your studies but still have unpaid tuition fees we will attempt to agree a satisfactory payment plan with you.
Even where a payment plan is agreed, and academic criteria are met, you will not be awarded your degree, diploma or certificate until the University has received full payment of your tuition fee debt.
This means that until your debt is settled the University will withhold any relevant official certified transcript or other formal confirmation of academic achievement and you will not be able to attend a graduation ceremony. You will be entitled to receive a notification of marks, for your personal information, but this is not an official transcript.
If you are an international student and would like to apply to remain in the UK on a Graduate visa, the Home Office requires that at the date of application the University has reported that you have completed your course of studies and have been, or will be, awarded a degree. The University cannot submit this report until your full tuition fee payment has been received, even if the academic requirements of the course have been met.
If we are unable to agree a payment plan, the sanctions set out in the Student Debt Recovery Policy [PDF 102KB] will apply and the appropriate standard commercial debt recovery process may also be applied. This includes referral to a debt recovery agency and/or instigating legal proceedings to recover your debt.