Paying your tuition fees

Each academic year, you must either confirm your funding or arrange payment of your tuition fees and other academic costs. How you pay depends on how you are funding your studies.

We offer various payment methods and options for paying your fees. Fees may include:

  • tuition fees
  • course fees (if you study on a part-time intermittent basis)
  • additional programme costs (APCs)
  • other charges, including fees your school or college might charge (for example, material costs charged at school or college level)

Confirm how you will pay your tuition fees

At the start of every academic year, as part of registration, you must confirm your funding or arrange payment of your your tuition fees. Registration is the first step towards matriculating. 

You need to do this whether or not you are internally or externally funded.

Student academic fees

When to pay

You will pay your fees and costs in full within 30 days of the date of issue of your invoice, unless you have registered to pay in instalments.

Students studying on a part-time intermittent basis

If you are studying on a part-time intermittent basis, we will issue invoices for each course separately. We refer to this as 'invoiced at course level' (ICL). Your course fees are due in full within 30 days of the invoice date.

How to pay

Externally-funded students 

You are an externally-funded student if you are: 

  • funded by a sponsor or employer
  • receiving financial support from your government
  • receiving a tuition fee student loan 

The process of paying your tuition fees will depend on the type of funding you receive. If your tuition fees are being paid by a sponsor on your behalf, you may need to provide proof of your funding.

If you cannot provide any required documentation, or we are unable to verify your funding before you begin registration, you will be asked to provide card details to complete the registration process.

Externally-funded student payment methods 

Who can be a sponsor

Internally-funded students

You are an internally-funded student if you have an award, funding or a scholarship from the University of Edinburgh for all or part of your tuition fees.

Internally-funded student payment information

Self-funded students (including partly self-funded) 

You are a self-funded student if you either: 

  • fund your own studies
  • get financial help from family or friends
  • receive financial assistance direct from an external funder or sponsor (excluding educational loans from a government agency)

You can pay your tuition fees in full or, in most cases, we can agree for you to pay by instalments. 

Self-funded student payment methods

If you are paying in full, then you will need to pay your fees as part of the online registration process.

If you are unable to pay during registration, you will receive an invoice once you complete registration. You must then pay your fees within 30 days of the invoice date.

Paying your fees in one payment

If you are paying in instalments, in most cases you can set up a payment plan during the annual online registration process.

Paying your fees by instalment

If you have to pay a deposit

If you pay a deposit towards your degree programme, this will be deducted from the total amount of fees shown during annual registration.

If you wish to pay your deposit before completing online registration, there may be a delay before this shows on your student account. If this occurs, you must deduct the deposit amount from your total fees to avoid overpaying.

Tuition fee deposits

Financial requirements you need to meet for a Student visa

If you are applying for a Student visa, you may need to prepare financial evidence for UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI). Your documentation needs to show that you have enough money to cover your tuition fees and the living costs for the duration of your degree programme. 

Financial requirements for a Student visa

Any pre-payments of tuition fees and accommodation costs will reduce the amount of money you have to show to UKVI. There is a maximum amount you can deduct for accommodation. 

Your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) will show your tuition fees. You will need to ask for your CAS to be updated to show any pre-payments you have made.

How much money you need and what you can deduct from the amount you need to show

Contact us about updating your CAS

You must pay any remaining balance of student fees in full or by instalments. 

Advice on paying tuition fees for international students

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