Tuition fees and course costs

Tuition fees

Tuition fees cover the cost of your registration, supervision, assessment and operating University facilities such as the library, IT equipment and other support services.

When you accept the offer of a place on a postgraduate research degree you are accepting responsibility for the payment of your tuition fees. This applies even if you are being sponsored and your sponsor fails to pay.

Bench fees

Bench fees will only apply to a small number of students where the proposed research project is expected to incur larger than average costs. The bench fee will be made clear on any offer letter issued by the University.

Bench fees may apply to projects in the following Schools: Wolfson School of Mechanical, Electrical and Manufacturing Engineering, School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, and the School of Science.  

Extension fees

3-year programmes

After completing three years of active research, you will be permitted to enter an extension period. No additional research may be conducted during this period but you will maintain access to the University in order for you to write your thesis. The maximum period of extension for 3-year programmes is 12 months, after which the thesis must be submitted.   

4-year programmes

After completing four years of active research, most programmes allow students to enter a extension period (see Regulation XXVI). No additional research may be conducted during this period but you will maintain access to the University in order for you to write your thesis. The maximum period of extension for 4-year programmes is 6 months, after which the thesis must be submitted.   

The extension fee for 2022/23 will be £260.

Additional extension fees

If you fail to submit your thesis by the required deadline, under exceptional circumstances, your deadline may be extended and you will be permitted to continue to write up your thesis. This period is known as additional extension.

If you require an additional extension a further fee of £260 will be charged.

Additional course costs

There are a number of extra costs inherent in studying on certain courses. These typically relate to the cost of personal safety equipment (for lab work), field trip costs, materials required for art/design assignments and sports kits. These will be in addition to general study costs such as books, stationery, photocopying, etc.

Students on courses with significant laboratory content are likely to need to purchase a laboratory coat (approximately £30), safety shoes (approximately £40) and pay a locker deposit (around £45). Thesis requirements may increase normal spending on printing and photocopying. Also some additional travel costs may be involved. You may wish to purchase or upgrade your own computer hardware or software, though this is not compulsory. Where necessary, departments offer access to IT facilities.

As well as these general extra costs, some course-specific costs may also arise. These will be dependent on the area of research and can be discussed with supervisors.