Continuation charges

When will I start paying a University continuation charge?

The University continuation charge becomes payable in the term following completion of your standard period of fee liability. For most DPhil students this will be in the 10th term after starting your DPhil, excluding terms when you have been suspended and paid any University tuition fees. For some students it may be the 7th term or the 13th term depending on their current and previous courses of study. Students with reduced DPhil fee liability, due to having completed certain graduate taught qualifications, will be charged the University continuation charge once they have reached the end of their reduced DPhil fee liability.

What happens if I submit my thesis in a vacation?

Theses submitted in a vacation are considered to have been submitted in the term that runs up to that vacation. For the purposes of determining liability for a continuation charge, the final day on which you may submit your thesis before becoming liable for the charge for a given term is the Saturday of Week 0 of that term. For example, if you submit on or before Saturday of Week 0 of Michaelmas term you will be considered to have submitted your thesis in Trinity term and will not be expected to pay a continuation charge for Michaelmas term. If you submit your thesis in Week 1 of Michaelmas term you will be expected to pay a continuation charge for Michaelmas term.

Will I have to pay the University continuation charge if my thesis is referred back to me?

No, once you have submitted your thesis you will not be liable. You may be liable for a re-submission fee. Please refer to the other charges page, which can be accessed from the right-hand side of this page.

Does liability for the University continuation charge vary between the divisions?

The University Continuation Charge is waived by some divisions for students in certain years of a graduate research programme. These waivers are applied to all students in the relevant year of study and you should not be required to take any further action to receive the waiver if you are eligible. Arrangements vary between divisions, as set out below. For information on which division your department is in please visit the division information page.

Humanities

All postgraduate research (PGR) students who have exceeded the standard period of University tuition fee liability but who are still enrolled are liable to pay the University continuation charge.

Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences (MPLS)

For programmes within the Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences Division, all postgraduate research students who have exceeded the standard period of University tuition fee liability but who are still enrolled are liable to pay the University continuation charge: however, the charge is waived for the first three terms after completion of the standard period of fee liability for students on all PGR courses (including MSc(Res)) except for DPhil courses which have 12 terms university fee liability, for which there is no waiver.

The University continuation charge will therefore normally be waived for all students in the fourth year of their DPhil programme, and in the third year of their MSc by Research programme. That will be the full extent of the financial aid provision associated with the University continuation charge within the division. The University continuation charge will be levied on all students in the fifth and subsequent years of their DPhil programme and in the fourth and subsequent years of their MSc by Research programme, without any provision for waivers.

The Doctoral Training Centre programmes within the division are each of four years duration, and a student under active supervision is liable for fees in each of the four years; the University continuation charge and its waiver therefore do not apply to the fourth year of these programmes, but the continuation charge will be levied on all students on these programmes in the fifth and subsequent years.

Medical Sciences

For programmes within the Medical Sciences Division, all postgraduate research (PGR) students who have exceeded the standard period of university tuition fee liability but who are still enrolled are liable to pay the university continuation charge: however, the charge is waived for the first three terms after completion of the standard period of fee liability for students on all PGR courses (including MSc(Res)) except for DPhil courses which have 12 terms university fee liability, for which there is no waiver. For students on DPhil Biomedical Sciences: NIH-Oxford, the University continuation charge is waived for any period during which the student is registered at NIH.

The University continuation charge will therefore normally be waived for all students in the fourth year of their DPhil programme, and in the third year of their MSc by Research programme. That will be the full extent of the financial aid provision associated with the University continuation charge within the division. The University continuation charge will be levied on all students in the fifth and subsequent years of their DPhil programme and in the fourth and subsequent years of their MSc by Research programme, without any provision for waivers.

The Doctoral Training Centre programmes within the Division are each of four years duration, and a student under active supervision is liable for fees in each of the four years; the University continuation charge and its waiver therefore do not apply to the fourth year of these programmes, but the University continuation charge will be levied on all students on these programmes in the fifth and subsequent years.

Social Sciences

All postgraduate research (PGR) students who have exceeded the standard period of university tuition fee liability but who are still enrolled are liable to pay the University continuation charge. Departments/faculties in the Social Sciences Division will use a sum equivalent to at least one third of the net additional funds generated by the charge to add to, or develop new, graduate student support schemes. Please contact your department for further information.

Department for Continuing Education

All postgraduate research (PGR) students who have exceeded the standard period of university tuition fee liability for part-time students but who are still enrolled are liable to pay the University continuation charge (at one half of the full-time rate per term). The Department for Continuing Education will contribute a sum equivalent to at least one-third of the net additional funds generated by the charge to existing graduate student support schemes within the department. Please contact the department for further information.

What happens if I fail to pay the University continuation charge?

If you fail to pay the University continuation charge, you may be suspended. Suspension removes your access to all University services and facilities including libraries and computing facilities. Access to your University email account is suspended and you are expected to return your University card for the duration of the suspension. If you are suspended, you will not be able to submit your thesis and be examined until you have paid the charge and been reinstated.