Graduate Continuation Charge FAQ

What is a continuation charge?

A continuation charge is a charge levied once you have reached the end of your standard period of fee liability. It is only payable by students registered on research programmes. The circumstances in which the University and your college may each levy a continuation charge are set out below. Information on any financial support that may be available is also provided below.

What qualifications are considered research programmes?

The DPhil, MLitt, MSc (by research), EngD, MSt Legal Research, MSt Socio-legal Research, MPhil Law are all considered research programmes.

Who pays the college continuation charge?

All graduate research students who have reached the end of their standard period of fee liability may be liable for a college continuation charge. The amount varies by college but is likely to be £100 per term. You should check details with your college.

Who pays the University continuation charge?

All graduate research students who started their research programme in or after September 2011 and who have reached the end of their standard period of fee liability are liable for the University continuation charge. Students who started graduate research programmes before September 2011 will not be expected to pay the charge. If you started one research programme before September 2011 but transferred to a different programme after September 2011, contact the Fees Clerk for information on your liability.

How much is the University continuation charge?

The University continuation charge for full-time students will be £400 per term in 2013/14, the first year the charge will become payable. The amount will be reviewed on an annual basis as part of the annual fee review process.  For part-time students, the termly charge will be half of the termly rate payable by full-time students.

How much is the college continuation charge?

The college continuation charge varies by college but is likely to be £100 per term. For more details of arrangements at your college, contact your college.

When will I start paying a continuation charge?

The 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. For some students it may be the 7th term or the 13th term depending on their course and course progression.

When will I stop paying a continuation charge?

You will continue to pay a continuation charge up to and including the term in which you submit your thesis. You will not be expected to pay a continuation charge for any term for which you are suspended.

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 Friday of 0th Week of that term. For example, if you submit in 0th week 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 1st week of Michaelmas Term you will be expected to pay a continuation charge for Michaelmas Term.

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

No, once you have submitted your thesis you will not be liable for University tuition fees, college fees or continuation charges. You may be liable for a resubmission fee.

Will I have to pay a continuation charge and a University tuition fee for the same term?

No, you will not be expected to pay a continuation charge and a University tuition fee for the same programme in the same term. A continuation charge only becomes payable in the term following completion of the standard period of fee liability for your programme.

Is there any financial support available to pay the college continuation charge?

Please contact your college for information on this.

Is there any financial support available to pay the University continuation charge?

Arrangements vary between Divisions, as set out below. For information on which Division your department is in visit the Division information page.

Humanities

All postgraduate research (PGR) students who have exceeded the standard period of university tuition fee liability¹ 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 (i.e. those programmes in the Departments of Chemistry, Computer Science, Earth Sciences, Engineering Science, Materials Science, Mathematics, Physics, Plant Sciences, Statistics, and Zoology, and the Doctoral Training Centre programmes: Life Sciences Interface, Systems Biology, Healthcare Innovation; Systems Approaches to Biomedical Sciences; Interdisciplinary Bioscience) all postgraduate research (PGR) students who have exceeded the standard period of university tuition fee liability¹ 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 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 continuation charge within the Division.  The 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 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 (i.e. those programmes in the Departments of Biochemistry, Clinical Neurosciences, Experimental Psychology, Nuffield Department of Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Paediatrics, Pathology, Pharmacology, Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, Primary Health Care, Psychiatry, Public Health, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, Radiation, Oncology and Biology, and Surgical Sciences, and programmes within the Medical Sciences Doctoral Training Centre), all postgraduate research (PGR) students who have exceeded the standard period of university tuition fee liability¹ 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 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 continuation charge within the Division.  The 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 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.

Social Sciences

All postgraduate research (PGR) students who have exceeded the standard period of university tuition fee liability¹ 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 students¹ 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. The charge is expected to be levied for the first time for part-time DPhil students in 2015/16.

¹ For periods of fee liability, see http://www.ox.ac.uk/feesandfunding/fees/information/maxlib/

What happens if I fail to pay the charge?

If you fail to pay the continuation charge, you may be suspended.  Suspension removes the student’s access to all of the services and facilities of the University including libraries and computing facilities. Access to any University email account is suspended, and the student is expected to hand over their University Card for the duration of the suspension. On receipt of payment for the fees or charges owing, the suspension is rescinded and full access to University facilities and services is restored.  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.