Continuation charges

The University continuation charge becomes payable in the term following completion of your standard period of course fee liability. For most DPhil students this will be in the 10th term after starting your DPhil, excluding terms when you were liable to pay course fees but suspended your studies.

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.

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.