We recognise that changes in your personal circumstances or unforeseen events may make it difficult for you, your sponsor, or your funder to pay on time. In these situations, the important thing to do is to communicate with the University about the reason for the delay so that your options can be considered and, where applicable, an application for financial support or external funding can be made.
King's Terms & Conditions require students to pay their fees on time and the team responsible for collecting any university payments is Credit Control. You must inform Credit Control as soon as possible if you know that you will be unable to pay on time and the reason for this, keeping them up to date on your situation until a solution is found.
Whilst it's important to recognise that King's will not always be able to provide you with payment terms outside the university regulations, the team will look at your request individually, considering your individual circumstances, the time needed to make payment, your payment history, and importantly, the evidence you are providing to support your request.
Important to know: Students who do not make payments in line with the regulations, or agree to alternative arrangements with the university, will be subject to restrictions, which can ultimately result in the suspension of university services and de-registration from the programme. For more information, read consequences of late payment.
In this article:
What are my options if I can't pay on time?
We have outlined below some of the common reasons why students are unable to pay on time and the potential sources of advice and assistance you can explore in these scenarios. Everyone’s situation is different, so this information is for guidance only.
When providing support, careful consideration is given to your unique circumstances and your ability to fund your studies in the short and long term. You will be advised to defer or interrupt/withdraw from your studies if appropriate funding or finance cannot be identified and personal resources have been exhausted.
My payment will be delayed by less than a month but I am concerned that my studies will be disrupted
The University acknowledges that sometimes students can experience delays in transferring funds, especially large fee payments from overseas, which may result in fees being paid after the due date. Making several smaller payments leading up to the due date may help you process all your payments in time. However, if you still experience a slight delay, this should have limited consequences for your studies, provided your full instalment is paid no later than 21 days after the due date.
Restrictions are normally applied to student records when payment has been outstanding for 21 days or more. This will prevent you from accessing your results or progressing on your programme until your account has cleared. You are advised to always contact Credit Control to discuss any expected delays, no matter how short, using their form: Submit a request for more time to pay.
You may continue to receive automated fee reminder communications during this time, even if you come to an arrangement with Credit Control to delay the payment by a couple of weeks.
I want to pay my fees in smaller installments, is this possible?
Generally, no. Fee payment dates are restricted to King's Terms & Conditions, and instalment plans won't be considered on an ad-hoc basis, unless you can demonstrate the need for this due to short-term cash flow problems and provide evidence that an instalment plan will result in full payment.
To formally request a payment plan submit a request for more time to pay. You must provide evidence of the future income and/or funding you are relying upon to make future payments. If you're unable to provide evidence of how and when you will be able to make payment your request for a payment plan is likely to be refused.
Important to know: If an instalment plan is agreed with Credit Control, then it will be for the current academic year only and is unlikely to be available for subsequent years. If you request an instalment plan, you should still expect to have your full fees paid within 6 months of the start of the academic year. Only in exceptional circumstances can longer payment plans be considered, and plans will not be allowed to continue into the next academic year.
I'm a self-funding undergraduate student receiving the King's Living Bursary. I understand that I may be entitled to an additional instalment, how does this work?
You're entitled to an additional instalment if you:
- Are in receipt of the 'full' £1,600 King's Living Bursary (KLB) entitlement and;
- Have paid at least 75% of your total tuition fee by 31 January
You are advised to complete the request more time to pay form, so that Credit Control can confirm that these two conditions have been met and reschedule the due date for the remaining 25% of your tuition fees from 31 January to 30 April.
You will be informed of your eligibility for KLB around mid-November each academic year, or later if their application for means-tested financial support was completed after you are notified. Once your eligibility for KLB has been confirmed, you can make your request to Credit Control. Undergraduate home fees are normally due in full by 31 January so your advised to put in your request by December.
For further information around the application process or guidance on eligibility for the King's Living Bursary, visit the Student Funding Office web pages or contact Student Funding by email.
My student funding application has been refused or I'm still waiting on a decision
The first thing to do is to let Credit Control know this is why your payment is or will be delayed. Additionally, you should contact the Money & Housing Advice Service who can assist you in the following ways:
- Establish if you have grounds to appeal a negative funding decision by any statutory funding bodies in the UK and assist you with your appeal their decision and/or make a complaint. They can also advise you on what evidence to submit for your claim based on your personal circumstances.
- If you have strong grounds to appeal a decision, the advisers will help you to negotiate more time with Credit Control if needed
- If your adviser cannot confirm strong grounds for appeal or complaint, they will advise you on other options, including deferring studies until the you meet the criteria for funding, or advising that you withdraw/interrupt if long-term eligibility entitlement is not clear.
- If you are still awaiting a funding decision, the Money & Housing Advisers may be able to make enquiries on your behalf as to why a decision has not been made and advise you if further evidence or information needs to be provided to move your application forward.
- If the Money & Housing Advisers cannot confirm your eligibility for funding, which can be the case when there is a complicated immigration history or you have spent time outside the UK, we will explore other agencies for advice, support and consultation, arranging a referral to specialist external services as appropriate.
The Money & Housing Advisers can only advise on UK statutory funding. They can't advise or advocate on your behalf if you're applying for funding overseas unless another suitable third party (e.g. partner institution or advice agency overseas) can confirm eligibility for funding. Students seeking confirmation of funding eligibility for US Federal Loans are advised to contact the Student Funding Office.
UK statutory funding bodies
My sponsor has said that there will be a delay in paying King's
Tell Credit Control that your sponsor has informed you that payment will be delayed and by how long. If your sponsor is an official sponsor and has therefore, been invoiced directly by King’s, then they should also inform Credit Control of the delay and timeline for payment.
If you're not getting a clear picture from your sponsor on how long it will take to resolve the payment issues and they are not communicating with Credit Control, speak to the Money & Housing Advice Service for advice and support. You are also advised to talk to your department so that they are aware of these difficulties and can consider any academic support for you.
Important to know: King's terms and conditions state that students will be invoiced directly if a sponsor fails to pay some or all of the tuition fees that are due. Therefore, it is essential that you engage with relevant support services to consider your options in light of why your sponsor is delaying payment.
My sponsor has withdrawn funding or is unable to confirm if my funding can continue
There can be many reasons why a sponsor may need to withdraw funding, and your options will depend on your personal circumstances and the extent to which you have completed your programme. You are strongly advised to speak to the Money & Housing Advice Service and your department so that all possible options can be considered.
In rare circumstances, departments may be able to provide internal funds, but this is not guaranteed and will rely on what resources and funding streams are available within individual departments.
When a sponsor withdraws funding, or fails to pay or communicate with the university, you become liable for the fees and will be invoiced for any balance on your account. Therefore, it is essential that you engage with relevant support as soon as you are aware of a problem so that you can consider your options at the earliest opportunity.
My family were sponsoring my studies but there's been a change in circumstances and they can't pay on time
If your family are in a position to pay some but not all of your fees, they should pay what they can in the first instance, provided it will not place them in financial difficulty. You should contact Credit Control and let them know there has been a change in circumstances and you will need to explore options for paying the rest of your fees.
If this is a short-term cash flow situation, you may be able to arrange a short-term extension or payment plan with Credit Control, but this will depend on your unique situation. You should submit a request for more time to pay. You must provide evidence of the future income and/or funding you are relying upon to make future payments. If you're unable to provide evidence of how and when you will be able to make payment your request for a payment plan is likely to be refused.
Important to know: If an instalment plan is agreed with Credit Control, then it will be for the current academic year only and is unlikely to be available for subsequent years. If you request an instalment plan, you should still expect to have your full fees paid within 6 months of the start of the academic year. Only in exceptional circumstances can longer payment plans be considered, and plans will not be allowed to continue into the next academic year.
If you are now unsure how you will fund some or all of your course, you are strongly advised to also discuss your financial situation with the Money & Housing Advice Service. In order to advise you fully, it is helpful to have the full details from your family on how their finances have been impacted and for how long this may continue to be an issue before you meet with an adviser.
I'm experiencing problems transferring money from my home country due to restrictions on the movement of capital
You should contact Credit Control and let them know what the problem is. They can look at how payments can be made in accordance with restrictions in your home country. If this is a short-term cash flow situation, you may be able to arrange a short-term extension with Credit Control, but this will depend on your unique situation.
If you are now unsure how you will fund some or all of your course, you are strongly advised to also discuss your financial situation with the Money & Housing Advice Service. In order to advise you fully, it is helpful to have the full details from your family on how their finances have been impacted and for how long this may continue to be an issue before you meet with an adviser.
My funding has been impacted by environmental disaster, conflict or political crisis in my country
King’s is committed to providing support to students impacted by environmental, economic, and political crises or conflict. A package of support can be multifaceted and depends on your personal situation, when you're due to graduate, and your individual needs when you seek support.
If your family or sponsor has been impacted financially by unforeseen global events outside their control, speak to the Money & Housing Advice Service (MHAS) in the first instance to explore your situation and potential sources of help available.
You should also let Credit Control know that you will be consulting the service. It's helpful if you set up consent to share with both teams (Credit Control and MHAS) by noting this on the Money & Housing Advice Registration Form.
How can hardship funds help and what are their limitations?
Hardship funds are primarily to help with living costs where there has been an unforeseen change in circumstances. They can't be relied upon as a regular source of income or to fill large funding gaps. They also can't assist with funding shortfalls that were clear before you enrolled on the course.
If you're considering applying to hardship funds for help with tuition fees, you are strongly advised to discuss your situation with the Money & Housing Advice Service to explore your eligibility and evidence requirements. Hardship funds are assessed and administered by the Student Funding Office, which also sets the criteria for each fund.
Important to know: Applications for hardship funds that require more than the maximum award are likely to be refused, even if a need is apparent, if you can't explain where you'll be able to source the remaining funding.
For more information, check What loans, grants or scholarships can I get from King's?
None of the above scenarios apply to me. What can I do?
You should always speak to Credit Control in the first instance to discuss your unique situation and why you have been unable to pay on time. If you cannot come to an arrangement, you will be advised to explore your broader financial situation with the Money & Housing Advice Service, who will explore if there are options open to you.
This may include, but will not be limited to, taking a break from study or withdrawing from the programme, especially if you risk increasing your debt burden by remaining registered on a course which is unaffordable for you.
What happens if I don't pay my tuition fees?
There can be serious consequences if you do not pay your tuition fees on time. Initially, you will receive a reminder if you miss the deadline, followed by a warning around two weeks later that your student record will be restricted if a solution to your payment problems is not resolved with Credit Control.
Where there are reasonable grounds to do so, you may be permitted more time to pay, but if Credit Control cannot confirm this, your student record will become restricted after 21 days. This restriction will prevent you from accessing your assessment results and grades, and if you are due to re-enrol, you will be blocked from doing so.
If your account remains in debt and you have not engaged with Credit Control or other university services to find a solution to your payment problems, you will be sent a notice of suspension of university services that outlines the timelines for de-registration from your programme.
What can I do to improve my financial situation and manage/reduce my course costs?
If you find yourself unable to afford your tuition fees now or believe that this may be a problem in the future, consider the following options, which you can explore in more detail with a Specialist Money & Housing Adviser.
- Student Loans and government funding: Have you applied for all possible statutory funding, including opportunities for migrant workers, forced migrants and British nationals who have spent time overseas?
- Scholarships and Bursaries: Have you explored all possible scholarships and bursaries at King's and funding outside the university? Opportunities come up throughout the year so you are advised to check regularly.
- Welfare Benefits: Are you eligible to claim welfare benefits while you study or if you already have a claim is the amount correct?
- Community Resources: Investigate local community organisations, not-for-profit organisations or religious institutions that may offer financial assistance or grants for study. Check How can I find scholarships, bursaries and grants?
- Part-Time Job: Look for a part-time job. Many students work to help pay for their study related and living and flexible jobs can accommodate your class schedule.
- Crowdfunding: Consider setting up a crowdfunding campaign on platforms like GoFundMe to raise money for your education from friends, family, and your community.
- Student discounts: Are you making full use of student discounts for travel, subscriptions, equipment and essentials? This won’t help you to pay fees but will help you to reduce your other living costs. The King’s Student Money Mentors regularly share their experiences of utilising student discounts and student money-saving tips on their social media.
- Employer Sponsorship: If you are currently employed, inquire with your employer about tuition reimbursement programs. Some companies offer to pay for employees' education in exchange for a commitment to work for them for a certain period.
- Deferment: If you cannot cover your costs, consider deferring your enrolment until you can secure funding or save enough money. If you have already enrolled, you can request to interrupt your studies via student records.
- Debt Advice: If you are managing a number of debts or financial obligations alongside your study costs you are strongly advised to consult a debt adviser who can help you to evaluate your full financial situation and explore wider options for debt management and relief.
It's really important to take action early and explore all available resources to find a solution that works for you and to keep Credit Control informed. If in doubt, speak to the Money & Housing Advice Service as soon as possible. Specialist Money Advisors can talk you through the options available to you by phone, at drop-in sessions or pre-booked appointments. Full details are available on the Money & Housing Advice Service website.
Further advice and resources
Looking for an independent debt adviser?
Looking for sources of funding and finance?
